Actionscript Hero

[Update Octobre 22, 2003: Please read the new article in Convert Powerpoint in Flash here]

RoboFlash Converter for PowerPoint seems to be a solution. You can convert your Powerpoint presentations to Flash format with this add-on tools.
Read the post of Samuel Wan at the Flashcoders mailing list about RoboFlash:
"I use RoboFlash extensively at work, and have purchased multiple licenses
for my team. RoboDemo also outputs some interesting stuff [...]"

[Update August 12, 2003]
Slideshow and transitions classes by Bokel:
https://www.helpqlodhelp.com/archives/000036.html
Slideshow prototype "Slice of Life" by Pete:
https://www.flashling.com/slideshow/
img2swf: dynamic image loading
As Flashmagazine writes:
[quote]
" Since the release of Flash MX we have been able to load an image file into Flash at run time. Due to codec and player size issues though, this has been limited to files in JPEG format. img2swf changes all that."
[/quote]
Read the entire post at:
https://www.flashmagazine.com/html/832
Breadcrumbs: Dynamically Loading Images
Flashmagazine:
[quote]
"This tutorial will show you how to dynamically load images from any URL. This article assumes basic knowledge of Flash MX. "
[/quote]
Read the tutorial at:
https://www.flashmagazine.com/html/654.htm

[/Udpate]

Loading images dynamically in Macromedia Flash MX
https://www.macromedia.com/devnet/tip/025.html
How to Use the Easy Slideshow Component v1.0
https://www.actionscripts.org/tutorials/intermediate/Easy_Slideshow/SlideshowPlayer.html
Scaling Slideshow component. Scales to the image size.
https://www.flashcomponents.net/component.cfm?nav=2&id;=275
A thumbnail gallery based on the scrollpane.
https://www.flashcomponents.net/component.cfm?nav=2&id;=173
Loop Engine component for creating 360 panoramic viewer,sliding mc,menu and some other loop effect.
https://www.flashcomponents.net/component.cfm?nav=2&id;=165
* ZoomPane. * ExtendedFScrollPaneClass. (used to communicate between
ZoomPane and FScrollPane). * MouseCursors.
https://www.flashcomponents.net/component.cfm?nav=2&id;=223
Creating a JPEG slide show with XML
https://www.macromedia.com/support/flash/applications/jpeg_slideshow_xml/

Now we have SWF desktop for Macintosh. Many people have seen this software of ScreenTime Media at last month's FlashForward 2003 conference.
The windows demo version (one week) is available for download at:
https://www.screentime.com/swf_desktop/demo_form.html
As Peter Cohen wrote in MacWorld:
[quote]
The software enables content producers to develop wallpaper that can deliver updateable content, including images, animation, news, calendars, Web links, Web-based applications and games -- directly to the desktops of users who have installed the software. Anything that can be done in Flash in a Web browser can be incorporated into wallpaper, according to the developer.
[/quote]
https://www.maccentral.macworld.com/news/2003/08/07/swfdesktop/

Rocks! Rocks! and Rocks!
Installing Macromedia Central Public Beta
Requirements for using Macromedia Central Public Beta
Run the installer from the Macromedia Central home page.
Known issues with Macromedia Central Public Beta
What is Macromedia Central?
Macromedia Central: How it works
Collect Internet applications and information in one united environment.
Macromedia Central FAQ
Interested in developing Macromedia Central content?
Macromedia Central Developer Center
Macromedia Central Feedback Form
Macromedia Central Customer Support Center
Macromedia Central Progress Update
Macromedia Central White Paper
Macromedia Central Forums

Updates:
Mike Chambers on Macromedia Central Public Beta
Have Questions / Feedback on Macromedia Central?
List of discussions / comments about Central

I would like to share with you the vision that I had last night: I was in the beach, naked, and suddenly, a Tyrannosaurus Rex appeared. He comes to me like an angel out of time, and said: "Welcome to the real world Neo" and I said "You gotta be kidding me Tyr."

Ok, this is not true. But I really had a vision last night... about Macromedia Central. I know what are you thinking right now... but, let me tell you what I saw:
- I saw a legion of hardcore programmers seduced by Central and Flash with his new Java look like, waiting the moment when Central would be able to run with the new Flash Player...
-I saw hordes of developers sharing apps...
-I saw those who think that Flash is just an animation tool installing Central and never stop having fun...
-I saw the prophecy of Kevin Lynch became true: major banks, merchants and media companies turning to Macromedia Central to introduce cutting-edge Web services...
-I saw Flash taken the place that he deserves, recognized and respected... finally... and getting better and better...
-I saw the Flash Community strengthened... exploring new ideas, more creative and productive...
-I saw the users sending their feedback and ROE to the flash community, and the developers providing more value to the users, increasing the user experience, the usability, aesthetics, bussiness logic, support, etc...
-I saw my bank account growing... :coughs:
-I saw the Flash Community meeting in the chat developed by Mike Chambers and Greg Burch, commenting apps, testing, debugging, finding very quickly answers to developing issues...
-I saw the flash player penetration statistics growing and growing...
-I saw more employment offers to flash designers and developers...
-I saw a more networked, distributed and multidevice world...
-I saw more and more apps cooperating with other apps... leaving the isolation, the solitude...
-I saw Central making the daily activities more easy to handle, unifying tools and tasks in one light-weight and flexible environment...

Ok, I'm going to stop here because I know that some of you are saying: It's just a dream. But I'm telling you, Macromedia Central is an excellent product (Kudos for Macromedia). Now, it's time for us, Flash developers and designers, to have fun with it and show "what can we do with it".

Just follow the white rabbit...

... What are your visions?

[RELEASE: The Second and definitive Edition is online!! Tons of tutorials, tips and articles!!! You can check it here. TIP: Use the search feature with keywords or authors to find your favorites topics. Note: this page will not longer be updated with tutorials, check the new version.]



[Announce: January 10, 2004: RSS and JavaScript Generator launched! Now you can create your own RSS Feeds and JavaScript! Display listings of tutorials in your blog or website and syndicate The Definitive List setting your preferences! Read announcement here.]

[Announce: January 9, 2004: Content Syndication is available (RSS 2.0 - RSS 0.91 and JavaScript)! Read announce here and visit The Definitive List: you'll find the RSS feeds and JavaScripts at the top of every page.]

[Announce: December 12, 2003: Flash MX 2004 and ActionScript 2.0 Tutorials: The Definitive List (Second Edition) will be released the next week. New environment with search feature, new and updated tutorials. Stay tunned!]
[Update: October 27, 2003: 152 links]
[Update: October 15, 2003: 131 links]
[Update: October 14, 2003: 127 links]
[October 13, 2003: 117 links]
Below there are list of tutorials, tips and articles (In English, French and Dutch) on Flash MX 2004 and ActionScript 2.0 that I have begun to put together. I figured that it might be useful for the Flash Community, so here it is, a centralized and selected source since the release of Flash MX 2004 a month ago. Enjoy the series.

Download the Macromedia Central Software Development Kit (SDK) and have fun building applications for Macromedia Central!
And don't forget to send your feedback to Macromedia!

Visit the macromedia central beta blog.
Subscribe to Mike Chamber's central-dev list here.

I wrote some comments a while ago about RoboFlash. Samuel Wan recommended RoboFlash at that time to convert Powerpoint presentations to Flash. But Samuel withdraw his recommendation in September 30, 2003. To understand the reasons of this, please read his post here.
Basically, Samuel had some problems with the printer feature in Windows XP Professional. He wrote "The publisher, eHelp, does not offer live support for the RoboFlash Toolkit at any of its support levels, from basic to Gold support memberships, so I have not been able to reach a technical support rep in person to verify the removal of the Flash Printer feature from the toolkit. The only support offered comes in the form of an online community forum linked here, but questions by other users regarding the function or removal of the Flash Printer feature have not been answered on the forums. "
So Samuel withdraw his recommendation and said that they (Samuel's Team) are going to find an alternative solution and post a tutorial "when we figure out a better way to display and synchronize powerpoint files through Flash Communication Server applications."
But today, with the announcement that macromedia has "entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire eHelp Corporation" I believe that these tools are going to change for the best with Macromedia.
As Macromedia said today: "Adding eHelp痴 help and training software to the comprehensive Macromedia authoring family will provide developers with everything they need to create and deliver the rich user assistance and tutorial content that are integral to great digital experiences."

Yay! Claus has made the announcement: DENG, the "Flash MX Actionscript class library, wrapped into a Flash Component, enabling the Macromedia Flash Player 6 to render subsets of web standards like XForms, XHTML, SVG, XFrames etc." is free now for non-commercial use! Check it out! Don't forget to read the notes before the installation.

"The Macromedia DevNet Resource Kit Volume 5 is now available. Volume 5 delivers the latest functionality to your Macromedia MX 2004 tools with a new set of Macromedia Flash MX 2004 components, Dreamweaver MX 2004 extensions, and a host of components, tags, and utilities for ColdFusion MX. The CD also contains sample applications and an archive of the last three months of articles on the Developer Center website." Read more here.

Contents:

Macromedia Flash MX
Tab Bar Component
Updated Component Sets
Font Browser Sample Application
Selection to Drawing API
Image Sprayer
Pollster 2.0
Weather Sample Application

ColdFusion MX
Blog Man Application
Weblog Service Application
Lighthouse Bug Tracker Application
Pollster 2.0
Socket.cfc Component
CFID3 Component
HTTP Agent Tag
Query Randomize Function

Dreamweaver MX
Advanced Search
Conditional Region
JavaScript Panel
Polling Application Object
Privacy Policy Extension Suite
BCL WebContent

Fireworks MX 2003
Duplicate, Offset & Rotate extension

Additional Learning Resources
Developer Center Archive
Book Excerpts

Read details of these resources here.

Read the release notes for the DevNet Resource Kit Volume 5 here.

Note: Support actionScriptHero.com when buying the DevNet Resource Kit Volume 5 (DRK 5) by clicking on this affiliate banner just before you place your order at Macromedia.com. Thank you for your support.

I'm very pleased to announce that content syndication (RSS 2.0, RSS 0.91 and JavaScript) for "Flash MX 2004 and ActionScript 2.0 Tutorials: The Definitive List" is available!

You can add these feeds to your aggregators or display the contents of The Definitive List in your blog, website or application. You can also customize your own feeds: just send me a private message via the board.
Select your favorites lists-forums! You can display the contents in your blog, website or application and offer to your readers your "Definitive RSS Feed List" and "Definitive JavaScript Content Display List". If you have a list-forum, customize your own RSS feed and JavaScript!

The links for the Full Blend (Full blend: last 99 topics. Important note: Currently there are at least 415 tutorials, tips and articles listed!! So you might to browse the Definitive List via the search feature, don't miss anything!):
RSS 2.0
RSS 0.91
JavaScript

Check The Hall of Justhese, category aggregators, to see the RSS feeds (2.0 - 0.91) in action.
For the JavaScript syndication, check it out here the JavaScript Full Blend (cool isn't? Imagine your blog or website displaying the full blend like that or just your forum-list favorite!!!):
JavaScript Display - Full Blend - Last 99

Wow. The Alpha version has been unleashed today by Theodore Patrick (powersdk):

"Icon Professional 2004 is a commercial Pixel Icon editor that will ship in February. The application is a commercial Central application with a 30 day trial. The software lets you create icons and share them online. Below is a link to an alpha preview of the editor that will install within Central. This version of the editor lacks Save, Open, Share functionality and is intended for review only, as such it is licensed as free Central application. This will let you review the drawing tools and better understand what is possible with the format and editor in combination. The editor itself uses the icon engine for rendering all icons, cursors, and tool selections.
I would truly appreciate any feedback you could provide on the editor, the icon format, and icon engine. I hope you enjoy using the tools as much as I enjoyed making them."

Read more, see examples, install the application and send your feedback here link.

San Francisco友ebruary 9, 2004柚acromedia (Nasdaq: MACR) today announced the availability of the Macromedia Flash Ad Kit for DoubleClick's DART Motif, a joint solution between Macromedia and DoubleClick aimed at simplifying the often-complex rich media ad campaign process. Flash has long been the tool of choice for creating rich media ads, and the advertising kit adds functionality to Flash aimed at helping ad agency professionals efficiently create error-free rich media ads with in-depth tracking capabilities.
DART Motif leverages these features with a streamlined departmental workflow and advanced campaign reporting, including DoubleClick's Audience Interaction Metrics, delivered in one unified system. The combined solution allows ad agencies to better service their clients through faster campaign turnaround and centralized in-depth rich media campaign results. For more information, or to download the Flash Ad Kit, visit www.macromedia.com/go/flashadkit."

[...]

"The Flash Ad Kit includes authoring templates for standard rich media ad types including floating ads, expandable ads, in-page ads, pop-ups, or a combination of these ad types. Ad creators can have confidence that their ads will work properly by assigning pre-built ad functions built into Flash, such as expand, pop up/pop under, or by easily defining or changing ad properties like windowless mode, scroll bars, alt tags, page positioning, and display time."

[...]

"Rich media ads have been proven to be more effective, with up to seven times better click-through rates and improved brand uplift, according to DoubleClick and Dynamic Logic. According to Jupiter Research, rich media accounted for $376 million in spending in 2003, or eight percent of total media spending. By 2008, Jupiter predicts that number will reach $2.8 billion, or nearly 25 percent of total media spending."

Read the entire Macromedia Presse Release.

"Even with eyes protected by the green spectacles, Dorothy and her friends were at first dazzled by the brilliancy of the wonderful City. The streets were lined with beautiful houses all built of green marble and studded everywhere with sparkling emeralds. They walked over a pavement of the same green marble, and where the blocks were joined together were rows of emeralds, set closely, and glittering in the brightness of the sun. The window panes were of green glass; even the sky above the City had a green tint, and the rays of the sun were green."
L Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Chapter 11 - The Wonderful City of Oz

Technotes, tutorials, articles, samples, etc. New resorces: "Designing and Producing Effective Software Simulations", "Using RoboDemo Content with Macromedia Breeze" and "When Interfaces Change: Making RoboDemo Movies of Evolving Applications".

Visit the RoboDemo Developer Center here.