New to ActionScript

[Dark Horse]

Hi all,

I need your help.

I have 8 flash movies to create. All of them are simple picture movies, in fact I created the opening movie and two of the small movies already.

However, those three movies had 13 or fewer photos and no real interactive capabilities (except that the opening movie has 4 inset links on which someone may click, in order to get to the html I am currently creating), whereas these other movies have as many as 130 pictures (one has 40+, another has 60+ and the complete set movie contains 130+).

For the first movies I gave each picture its own layer and simply edited each layer to achieve my goals; specifically: 30fps, fade in one sec., display 6 secs.,fade out 1 sec. while new picture fades in 1 sec., then loop to beginning).

Clearly I cannot do this for the 130+, 60+ and 40+ and 30+ picture movies or it will take forever. So, I need to know how to do this using ActionScript (2 or 3, as I am using Flash CS3).

Here's what I have done thus far in preparation:
1. organized the pictures manually in Bridge and renamed them using a numeric reference at the end of the filenames, to set the sequence of each of the movies.
2. imported them as a series onto the stage (and into the library as a result)
3. created an actions layer and a buttons layer.
4. created a numeric navigation bar graphic along the bottom (without the dynamic numbers or functionality, that I refer to below)
5. created the buttons for "forward" and "back" and "forward to end" and "return to beginning" for the navigation bar.

Tried to work with ActionScript to create the movie as spec'ed above. No joy. Also, these movies have the added functionality of user interactivity.


Goal:

Action Script 1 (runs continuously in background)
1. 30fps
2. fade in one sec.
3. display 6 secs.
4. fade out 1 sec. while new picture fades in 1 sec.
5. then loop to beginning
6. upon interactive input, always resumes it's script run from the last picture shown prior to displaying the clicked photo
OR
6a. upon interactive input, always resumes it's script run from the last picture clicked during the interaction

Action Script 2 (user interactive control)

1. insert a dynamic number line into my previously created navigation bar, whose numbers are individually addressable and associated with a specific photo, and which scrolls horizontally as the buttons (fwd., back, etc.) are clicked, where necessary (because there is not enough room to show 30+ to 130+ numbers -so the bar will have to scroll)
2. highlight the respective numbers and show thumbnails of the respective photos on mouse-over of the numbers in the navigation bar (show pictures just above the number on the number-line, inset on the nav bar)
3. display the respective pictures in the larger stage area when the mouse is clicked on each number or thumbnail.

I've worked hard to learn this over the past couple of months, with research, etc., but I am running into a time constraint (read: deadline) and I really need some help. I can get back to the research with the next project, right now I need to deliver.

Thank you for all of your help.

dh

[varPBR:Tasty]

If you are doing this for money, I would consider finding a slideshow program online for the purposes of this project. Offset the cost by your income, and move on.

After you get past this project, go back and learn how to do what you want (before you take a similar job!)...you are asking for a massive program, and even if someone gets it to you, you probably won't understand what is happening, since you didn't write it, and don't know how to do it yourself. The apps one can find online are exactly for this kind of situation, but these forums are really better suited to asking questions on how to improve code or make it functional.

Good Luck,
varPBR

[Dark Horse]

varPBR:Tasty

Thanks for your reply. This one's not for money.

Just so you have the right idea about my request: I am looking for help, not for someone to do my work. I want to learn and I need to learn. I'd just like someone to point me to the proper syntax for these operations; I'll write the code.

What I need is help getting the actionscript ball rolling, so I can program it myself. I need to get an understanding of the control syntax (ex. "onRelease," "gotoAndStop," "gotoAndPlay," etc.) so I can program it myself.

If I can get an organized overview of the operations I need to perform at each step, I can lay down the code and test and fix the movie. That's why I laid it out like I did.

For example, the fades are controlled I am sure by some "fade" command and the time is counted in frames using a frame counter operation, etc. but I don't know them yet. I'll know it all a year from now but I don't know it right now.

Okay, I am just going to go get "The AS 3.0 Cookbook" and "Essential AS 3.0." I already have "Learning AS 3.0" but it is more of a step by step tutorial which I will be able to use like my Adobe CS3 Video Workshop (on DVD), going forward. At this moment though, I need answers for a specific situation and I don't have the time to learn the concepts in order to get them.

I still welcome all input and I hope you all understand the spirit in which I ask these questions.

Thanks again for your reply, varPBR:Tasty

dh

[Dark Horse]

This is exactly what I need.

XML Flash Slideshow v3: http://www.dwuser.com/flashslideshow/v3/index.php

Thanks Tasty

dh

[evride]

i have a flash xml slideshow you can have for free.