Preloaders

I find the Preloader property for Flash apps wonderful, especially the application type of preloader. The way that this feature is implemented is great too, it is super easy to understand and use.

I wonder if CT could expand on it, and let us choose .fla files as preloaders? Do you think that this is possible?

For those who wonder, I'm still trying to use MMF-made SWFs with FLA preloaders provided by possible sponsors (and I'm not alone). Examples of sponsor preloaders can be found here:
http://www.newgrounds.com/downloads/preloaders/

PS: I couldn't find a way to do it in Adobe Flash directly, i.e embedding an external MMF-made SWF into a regular FLA file. If someone had a clue or two.. :)

Could you not play the fla with the extension inside of the preloader app?

What extension?

A few weeks ago I was experimenting with AS3 and MMF-exported SWFs.

I managed to embed an MMF SWF into my own AS3 code, compile it into another SWF and run it successfully (with caveats; see link below).

I am assuming, therefore, that it should be possible to embed a compiled preloader and an MMF SWF into the same the same AS3 code and run one after the other, although I have not done that yet.

Alternatively, as you already have an FLA preloader, you should be able to embed the MMF SWF in a class within Adobe Flash.

I posted my AS3 prototype code here:

http://www.clickteam.com/epicenter/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=192767

I haven't done anything else with the code, but will probably need to in the next few weeks; I am currently working on another project and am desperately trying to avoid being sidetracked!

If you do anything useful with the code, then I'd be grateful if you could let me know.

But then we need AS3 :-/

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Originally Posted by RickyRombo

But then we need AS3 :-/

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Obviously that makes you unhappy! Does it present you with a particular problem (for example coding requirements), or is there another reason?

I will be happy to help if I can; for example, when time permits (and assuming that the requirements are achievable with my skills), I will create the relevant AS3 code template(s) so that a preloader SWF and MMF SWF can be dropped in place.

I am fairly clueless with regards to the Flash IDE, but as I understand it, if it can be done in pure AS3 code, then it can also be achieved in the Flash IDE.

I code in AS3 primarily because part of my skills background is coding, and secondarily because FlashDevelop and the Adobe Flex SDK are both open source and thus entirely free of charge.

If I can help, I will be happy to do so.

SF

I think it would really be helpful to be able just to load it into MMF2 like Oliver was suggesting, rather than having to build twice each time we updated it etc.

Then why not simply use one of few extensions for flash that can load and display .fla animations?

That's not a preloader then.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RickyRombo

I think it would really be helpful to be able just to load it into MMF2 like Oliver was suggesting, rather than having to build twice each time we updated it etc.

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I agree, but in the absence of flexible loaders in MMF, an AS3 preloader facility is an option, and it is easily automated.

Also, I would guess that flexible preloaders in MMF are likely to be available only in the developer version, which would preclude many MMF users. I may be wrong of course.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RickyRombo

That's not a preloader then.

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What did you think a .fla was? An flv? An fla is just a video file wothout sound.

I forgot about your first post - I was merely thinking that if you played it within the application, the application was loaded already. I forgot that developer allows you to make applications for preloaders :)

Thanks for having posted a sample code Digitalic. I've tried to copy/paste your code into a blank .fla file under Adobe Flash (didn't want to install Flash Develop yet). Unfortunately the debugger throw me this error:

Quote:

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1037: Packages cannot be nested.

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I must say that I'm a complete beginner with Adobe Flash. :/ It would be nice if we could do this under MMF directly, but I wonder if it's possible.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Olivier

1037: Packages cannot be nested.

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I am by no means an expert on the Flash IDE, but a couple of things spring to mind...

1) I think you are getting the nested package error because the code you enter in the IDE is already in a package. I think you would just need this (but read the rest before attempting to use this code)...

Code:

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import flash.display.*;

    public class Main extends Sprite {
        [Embed(source='MyMMF.swf')]
        private var MyMFF:Class;

        public function Main() {           
            var mmfSWF:Sprite=new MyMMF();
            addChild(mmfSWF);
        }
    }

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2) I am fairly certain that you cannot use the [Embed] tag within the Flash IDE (so don't try the above).

I think what you need to do is save the code (including the package{ }) into the same folder as your FLA as Main.as and then enter "Main" (no quotes) as the document class in the FLA properties.

I'll have a go myself, but it may be a couple of days.

Alternatively, download FlashDevelop and the Flex SDK and compile it that way (it's so much easier!)

@ Digatilic: Sorry to sound stupid... but would FlashDevelop and the Flex SDK allow us to build Flash files for free? Are there any drawbacks?

Yep, it's quite a common way to build SWFs (I use FlashDevelop for my flash runtime extension dev).

Drawbacks - it's conventional programming, not Flash. There's no timeline or anything.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Steven

@ Digatilic: Sorry to sound stupid... but would FlashDevelop and the Flex SDK allow us to build Flash files for free? Are there any drawbacks?

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It's not a stupid question at all!

FlashDevelop is an open source IDE which supports AS3 3 syntax. It is entirely free of charge.

www.flashdevelop.org

The Flex SDK is the open source framework for Flash programming and, again, it is entirely free of charge.

http://www.adobe.com/products/flex/

It's very easy to set up a develop system using the above tools, and last time I looked, there was a tutorial on the FlashDevelop web site to help you get started.

Once you have downloaded FlashDevelop and the Flex SDK, you have a complete development environment in which you can code in AS3 and create SWF files.

There are dozens (probably hundreds) of web sites and blogs devoted to the AS3 coding, and I frequently note that many professional coders prefer FlashDevelop to Adobe's Flash Builder which is a proprietty AS3 coding IDE.

I suspect that 'disadvtanges' are purely subjective. If you are expecting a replacement for the Flash IDE, then you will be disappointed. FlashDevelop is a 'traditional' programming development environment and as Jamie has already stated, there is, for example, no timeline; FlashDevelop is 'pure coding'.

For me, this is not a disadvantage at all; I really don't like the Flash IDE and have been coding for over two decades, so a programmer's IDE is what I like to use.

As previously stated, I am not a professional programmer, nor am I an expert in AS3 coding, but I will be happy to help if I can.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Olivier

I'm still trying to use MMF-made SWFs with FLA preloaders provided by possible sponsors

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So...can this be accomplished with MMF2 + FlashDevelop + Flash SDK? Is it über-difficult? :)

Before it all can be done in MMF2, it would be great to have a workaround like this.

[quote=MJK]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Olivier

So...can this be accomplished with MMF2 + FlashDevelop + Flash SDK? Is it über-difficult?

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I think that it probably can be done, but I cannot commit to saying "yes" until I have tried it myself (or someone else does it)!

I have demonstrated that an MMF2 SWF can be embedded in a standalone SWF created with FlashDevelop. The next thing I need to do is to get some other code (the pre-loader) to run prior to the MMF SWF. I see that as fairly straighforward, but what I am not sure about is the 'trigger' to end the preloader and show the embedded MMF SWF.

I have not looked at any preloaders provided by a third party, but I will when I have time, and will try to get it all working.

If I can get it to work then it can't be too difficult! If I am successful, I will happily provide a template with step-by-step instructions so anyone with FlashDevelop can implement it, in which case, no programming skills would be required other than copying and pasting some code, and perhaps changing some variables.

I am, of course, aware that I may be, to a certain extent, wasting my time if this feature is likely to be made available within MMF2 or via an SDK, but it's an interesting experiment which applies not only to SWFs created with MMF, but any SWF, so when I have a few hours spare, I'll give it a go.

Ok, thanks for the clarification. Looking forward to the results of that experiment.

By using FlashDevelop I was able to build a new SWF file out of my original MMF-made SWF. It was quite straightforward, so thanks again for your instructions Digitalic.

But I have noticed a serious drop in framerate after having converted my original SWF, a drop by 50% I would say. That's bad. Also, the converted SWF is sized 500*375 which is not the resolution of my original SWF. I have yet to find out how to get rid of these problems.

The funny thing is that after the conversion the SWF acts like a Flash-made SWF, i.e. that it is scalable and opening URLs don't get caught by anti-popup measures.

EDIT1: For the moment the conversion is pretty useless, as I wasn't able to use a sponsor's MFA preloader. And still don't know how.
EDIT2: Your code has a typo Digitalic. The correct code is: private var MyMMF:Class;

Thanks for the update Olivier; when I get a chance, I will have a look in more detail at the issues you mention.

Some of your problems may be resolved by using compiler directives, e.g.:

[SWF(width="800", height="600", backgroundColor="#ffffff", frameRate="31")]

The above line needs to be placed inside the main package but outside of any class definitions. If you place it immediately before or after any import statements, that should do the trick.

Apologies for the typo; I had my own SWF filename in there, which I did not wish to disclose, so I renamed it to 'MyMMF' (badly)!

I know how frustrating it can be getting started with a new compiler and language; I have been there myself! I regret that I cannot spend more time on this issue at the moment, but I have other projects relating to my work which must take priority.

Olivier, perhaps the following links may be of assistance to you; I refer to them frequently (in addition to many others):

www.actionscript.org

www.emanueleferonato.com

www.theflashblog.com

www.flashandmath.com

They are all great sites; the FlashAndMath site is fantastic, not just for AS3 coding, but for coding concepts and formulae.

I have also come across this one recently, which looks useful, but I have not referred to it very often:

http://gamedev.michaeljameswilliams.com

Hope that helps.

I have coded with that IDE for a while and it is great, hopefully MMF Flash will allow AS3 coding at some point also.

These links are useful thanks :)

The compiler directives you have posted solved my problems indeed, thank you so much Digitalic! :) I'll check the links to learn more about action scripting.

Now I have to find a way to embed a second SWF (compiled MFA preloader provided by sponsor) and make it act like a preloader via FlashDevelop.

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Originally Posted by Olivier

Now I have to find a way to embed a second SWF (compiled MFA preloader provided by sponsor) and make it act like a preloader via FlashDevelop.

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Ah..I was already about to congratulate you as I misread first "Now I have found a way..." :D

I might have found something MJK! :) FlashDevelop lets you use a project template called "AS3 Project with Preloader", and the preloader is a FLA file. Detailed instructions can be found here.

Hopefully I'm on the right track. But I already feel overwhelmed by the complexity of the article! :/

Hehe, yes, that's why we need Francois to build it to MMF2. :D