Flashmech.net

(Download the presentation .swf here.)

Introduction

Extending Flash through 3rd Party Tools, using the Extension Manager, makes your life easier. Since other people have already devoted their time to create such tools, it brings about the following advantages when you use them.

• Save development time
• Improves work flow
• Do better things than you used to be able to do

Types of Extensions

• Components
  Window -> Components
• Libraries
  Window -> Common Libraries
• Panels
  Window -> Other Panels
• Tools
  Edit -> Customize Tools Panel…
• Commands
  Commands
  Edit -> Keyboard Shortcuts…

Links

• Custom Easing Tool (download)
• kuler
  • PixelFumes’ Extension (download)
• Adobe Exchange
  • JK Drawing Tools (download)
  • 3rd Party Extensions
• Guy Watson aka FlashGuru
  • Auto Save (download)
  • Extensibility Posts
• Papervision3D
  • Official blog
  • Components and Demo Files (download)
• Grant Skinner
  • gAlign (download)
  • AIR Project Panel in Flash CS3 (download)
  • Other cool stuff
• FlashExtensibility.com
  • Commands
  • Panels
  • Tools
• Test Separate MCs easily (download)
• Flash Partigen, particle system for Flash

Resources to learn more!

• Flash IDE’s Help -> Extending Flash
• Book: Extending Macromedia Flash MX 2004

Where are all these files stored after installation?

First, navigate to the configuration folder:

Windows 2000/XP:

C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Adobe\Flash CS3\<language>\Configuration\

Mac OS X:

Hard Drive/Users/<username>/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Flash CS3/<language>/Configuration/

From here it is easy to locate where the new files were installed.

• Components are installed in Components folder (.swc/.fla).
• Libraries are installed in Libraries folder (.fla).
• Commands are installed in Commands folder (.jsfl).
• Tools are installed in Tools folder (.jsfl + .png + .xml[optional]).
• Panels are installed in WindowSWF folder (.swf + .jsfl[optional]).

During the session, Ryan asked how did I placed my presentation slide in Flash IDE as a side panel. Simply copy and paste the desired .swf file into the WindowSWF folder and restart Flash IDE. After which, from the menu bar, navigate to Window -> Other Panels. You should find your panel there.

Ever tried the History Panel in Flash IDE?

Even though the history panel made it’s way into Flash since the MX 2004 days, I couldn’t find a good reason to use it. I mean, why would I need an extra panel to clutter up my screen estate when it’s already tough to juggle between the designer and developer related panels? I could easily do a Ctrl-Z(Undo) and Ctrl-Y(Redo) at any time that I want~

Well, times have changed. Since I’ve started messing around with JSFL, the history panel becomes the basic tool to learn JSFL commands. Don’t believe me? Follow me through then.

1. In Flash IDE, go to Window –> Other Panels –> History (Ctrl-F10)

2. Click on the options button , under View, you should see a menu as follows:

The Default view that you see, shows the commands in normal layman English that everyone will understand. I have still yet to find any purpose with the Arguments in Panel view, so I’m gonna skip that. The JavaScript in Panel view is what we’re interested with.

3. Here’s the JavaScript in Panel view.

Did you notice the lines and lines of codes in the history panel now? Well those are JSFL codes! If there’s something that you wish to create for Flash IDE, and have no slightest idea where to begin, yet you know that there’s something similar been done already, you now know where to look!

Further Reads:
Using History and Flash Panels for Faster Development

I first came across JSFL when I tried to compile a Flash file through FlashDevelop. That was the time when I saw in Flash IDE’s Output panel, this error message about a JSFL file failing to execute.

At line 8 of file "C:\Program Files\FlashDevelop\Tools\flashide\testmovie.jsfl": Exception thrown in native function.

Of course at that time, I had no clues about what JSFL was and I’m not bothered to find out what it might do. I’m more pressed with the concern that my Flash file is failing on me. (The dateline was so tight, JSFL don’t blame me. )

Recently, while reading Grant Skinner’s blog, I stumbled upon his gAlign extension tool for Flash IDE. In that blog post, he mentioned about using “custom JSFL calls” to accomplish his stuff. Seeing how JSFL is able to manipulate Flash IDE’s content, that got me seriously curious about the technology behind it.

Googled for JSFL as I had absolutely no idea where to start from, and found this introductory article by Guy Watson. In the article, he establishes facts about JSFL and where did it came from. Unfortunately, it didn’t seems to be what I’m looking for.

How can one ever forget about Flash Help? I did a search in there and found exactly what I needed. All the treasures and secrets about JSFL were all lying in the book Extending Flash, waiting for me to uncover them. hehe..

So now, I’m getting all excited about this new discovered “power” (of course the power itself is not new, and existent for a pretty long while. it’s just my ignorance. but no more!). Got some opinions from friends about what should I develop as an extension for flash, and Arul in particular gave an interesting one.

My first JSFL project will hence be a series of custom drawing tools!

Stay tuned!