IDE Report

Flash integrated development Environment

Adobe Flash is an interactive multimedia and software platform used for the authoring of vector based graphics, animation games and can also be used to make ‘rich internet applications’ or mobile applications. Adobe flash uses Actionscript3 when coding this is a language the software uses to talk to assets to give them a function or purpose within the file. Flash has a range of useful tools within the program, for example within the setting you can edit a bitmap and convert it to a vector graphic, I found this useful when creating my interactive story. Another tool within flash is code snippets, these are pre-written bits of coding that you can use script carton functions for example ‘click to go to scene and play’ this particular bit of pre-written script could be used to create a function to a button, this makes the process quicker for the user and means that they don’t need to write out the script themselves saving them valuable time, this is always important when working to a deadline.

Another valuable time saver that adobe flash has included in its software is hot-keys and short cuts for example to open your action script tab instead of going into windows then finding the actions scrip button you can just press f9 this with bring up the tab automatically. To create a new frame the hot-key is F6 , to extend a frame on the time line the hot-key is F5 these short-cut hot-keys save time from right clicking and selecting the individual action you wish to do, also important when working to a deadline as once you remember the short-cuts and hot-keys you have do the majority of tasks from you keyboard, even every tool on the tool bar has a hot-key  V is the hot key for Selection too/, ’B’ is or Paint Brush ‘E’ is for Eraser (rubber) all of these hot-keys are logically set on purpose so they are easy to use and easy to remember.

The library within Flash can help the user to organise they’re assets makes them easy to access when needed. The Library can do this by storing all of the assets you have made or imported into flash into alphabetical ordure. You can also organise your assets but categorising them into groups such as movie clips, buttons, graphics ext.  Flash has also incorporated a easy to locate search tool if you cannot find an asset within the liberty. I personally like the library layout and organisation as the name you have selected to save it in the library doesn't interfere with the instance name you have chosen.

As informed earlier Flash uses Vector based drawing, vector based graphics mean the graphic is made up of mathematical equations to determine length, shape and fill colour, this means that the graphic can be stretched and resized without any distortion or loss of quality the way that pixels can. This can also mean that the file sizes of flash files can be considerable bigger as Jpegs hold less information than a vector graphic. This could mean using vector graphics can slow down an application although it would be a better quality.

Flash Uses Timeline made of frames and layers, if animated correctly the graphics can more naturally when the flash document is played. Layers are an easy way to separate graphics and organise work, having a lot of graphic on one layer can become complicated because if they are layered on top of each other, they can become hard to locate. Flash allows you to change the name of each layer and rearrange them to how ever you wish as it’s not organised in an alphabetical order like the library. This is very helpful when working and if layers are logically named assets are easy to locate and modify. When having a lot of assets the organisation of layers can become very important, sound effect or other not graphical layers can be places at the bottom of layers as they do not affect the scene you are working on. 

When making a Mobile application or Game for a device Flash can provides templates for the users to work from such as ‘AIR for Android or IOS’ this can provide an approximate screen resolution for the device. Flash also has its own simulator that you can test your applications this is helpful to determine if the application will run properly and to make sure that the coding works to the specifications you wanted.

By Jodie Marie Sargison.