Animating text

[wwwilson]

Everywhere I look, I see actionsript-driven animations in which text comes onto the stage one letter at a time, does something groovy, and then quickly settles into place. I would hugely appreciate someone pointing to me a reasonably comprehensible tutorial explaining how to do this.

[bluegel]

have you looked at the tutorials on this site?

Also, check out Billy T's tutorials too

[pixelwit]

Also...

Stop Crossposting!!!

-PiXELWiT
http://www.pixelwit.com

[bluegel]

yeah, just told him that on the other forum, pixelwit

[wwwilson]

bluegel asks if I've looked at the tutorials on the site. Of course I have. If I'd found what I was looking for, I wouldn't have asked for help in the forum. As for having posted my question in different forums, sheesh, what a bunch of grouches! If I'd known that was discouraged, I wouldn't have done it. Sheesh.

[pixelwit]

You seem to take offense to BlueGel asking if you had looked at the Tutorial section. I find that odd. I believe a few of the tutorials illustrate the concepts of scripted animation and the manipulation of strings. On the other hand maybe there wasn't an exact specific example illustrating exactly what you wanted to do.

So to that end I ask the next stupid question just above "Did you look at the tutorials" and that is, "Did you search through the Movies section of this site?" I'm guessing the answer is no. I could be wrong. It happens.

http://www.actionscript.org/showMovie.php?id=118

Next you seem to be upset that I put no less than 3 exclamation points at the end of my exclamation, "Stop Crossposting!!!", well quite frankly I'd visited your site prior to making that remark. You don't appear to be a newbie when it comes to the Internet. Crossposting is not only discouraged on this bulletin board but on every board on the net. Perhaps I gave you too much credit.

In response to the private message you sent me I have this to say, God may forgive you but that's not my job. People like you make my brain twitch. :)

I hope you continue to be an active part of the community. And remember, "NO Crossposting!!!" :)

-PiXELWiT
http://www.pixeelwit.com

[wwwilson]

Honest, folks, my idea of a good time isn't asking for directions to a tutorial that I was able to find on my own. And I did look. I did.

As for http://www.actionscript.org/showMovie.php?id=118, thanks. I'll certainly have a look. I think sometimes you actionscript aces overestimate the knowledge of persons such as I, who have used Flash in only the most rudimentary way, and never attempted an actionscript. I note with profound trepidation that the one cited is for the Advanced user.

I am not a (cringe) newbie on the Internet. At the same time, I have never belonged to a forum, and honestly didn't know the protocol. "Please post on only one forum," it seems to me, would have done the job of, "No Crossposting!!!" without causing umbrage.

I hope one day that this is all behind us, and that I am animating text with the best of 'em. Let us move forward boldly with that goal in mind. Hurrah!

[pixelwit]

Originally posted by wwwilson
I note with profound trepidation that the one cited is for the Advanced user.It's not something one can easily explain with one post hence the attempt to refer you to more in-depth tutorials or movies.

Originally posted by wwwilson
I hope one day that this is all behind us, and that I am animating text with the best of 'em. Let us move forward boldly with that goal in mind. Hurrah! I'll drink to that.

Keep posting.

-PiXELWiT
http://www.pixelwit.com

[bluegel]

yeah, sorry if you might have took what I said as an offensive, but alot of people do just post questions up asking things such as do you know where I can find a tutorial for... etc, but don't actually bother to look for them themselves.

Perhaps, next time, mention that you have looked at some tutorials already, and then people won't assume that you don't know anything. Not that is what I was assuming ;)

And as for the actionscript aces - don't put me in one of those categories, I just try and help people out as much as they try and help me out too.

Hope this sorts out any animosity ;)

[wwwilson]

Pixelwit kindly suggested http://www.actionscript.org/showMovie.php?id=118. I downloaded it and pored over it, but again, I think you folks underestimate the naivete of those of who have never done actionscripting; http://www.actionscript.org/showMovie.php?id=118 might as well be in Cyrllic for all I understand of it. (Note: I don't want people to have to type the text. I want it to fly onto the stage while they sit back and relax. I have no idea how to change the code to implement this.)

What I started out in the market for, and remain in the market for, is tutorial that will lead me, a babe in these particular woods, gently by the hand from start to finish, explaining everything that's going on en route. Failing that, if someone has a script I can just plug in will do handsomely!

(Note to bluegel: I did indeed look for Billy T's tutorials on the subject, but came up typically emptyhanded.)

[bluegel]

if you want some help trying to decode the script, just ask

[pixelwit]

http://www.actionscript.org/showMovie.php?id=427

This movie has an "intermediate" rating so it will probably be like reading French rather than Russian. Keep in mind you're taking on a fairly difficult effect for what sounds like your first Flash or at least your first ActionScript project.

If Jesse's movie doesn't do the trick then I'd highly recommend reading and following some or all of the beginner level scripting tutorials on this site. Any ActonScript code can be broken down into a few fundamental concepts. If you don't have a firm grasp of those core skills you'll forever be at the mercy of others to write your code or explain it to you.

You want text to come flying in or to "do something groovy". Have you tried animating a clip across the stage with ActionScript? This my not be very groovy but it would be a good first step. Do you know about "easing"? TextFields? Embedding fonts? For-Loops? Generating grids? EnterFrame events or setInterval?

You have a way to go yet. Search the Forums, the Tutorials and the Movies sections for some very good examples of these or any other basic fundamentals. If you have troubles understnding a specific line or small piece of the puzzle don't hesitate to ask for help but please don't expect someone to write a big chunk of code to do exactly what you want and then expect them to explain every aspect of it to you.

I hope this helps you on your way to becoming a "groovy text" god.

-PiXELWIT
http://www.pixelwit.com

[jdriscol]

... Strange but in the time taken to chastize Mr. wwwilson he could have been explained some of the basic steps involved, pointed to a proper tutorial, or any number of POSITIVE things. I've had nothing but good experiences on this board but I've seen other boards like this fall into some kind of eliteist mob mentality which in the end serves no purpose but to boost the ego of a few jerks who think they're the shiznittle snap shizsnaps because they've posted 3000 times.

...the "Golden Rule" and all that.

JD

[pixelwit]

To chastize is to To severely express official disapproval. What did I do that was so severe? Was it the "Stop Crossposting!!!" remark? Yes indeed that is severe. Almost as bad as skinning him alive, tarring and feathering him then finishing him off by having him drawn and quartered (which is what I considering before settling for the now infamous "Stop Crossposting" post). Severe indeed. I'm surprised he managed to live long enough to write a sarcastic private message. Fortunately for me, hence to be known as "PiXELWiT the Cruel", Wwwilson has apparently managed to live through the ordeal and Flash yet another day.

...he could have been explained some of the basic steps involved...You mean like this? "Have you tried animating a clip across the stage with ActionScript? This may not be very groovy but it would be a good first step. Do you know about "easing"? TextFields? Embedding fonts? For-Loops? Generating grids? EnterFrame events or setInterval?" I may not have given in-depth explanations of these concepts to Wwwilson but why should I? This site is a "reserve of knowledge" it would be foolish to "re-explain" concepts which are covered many times over on this site whenever someone asks for help.

...pointed to a proper tutorial, or any number of POSITIVE things...Like searching and finding 2 movies which demonstrate the effect he was asking about?

I've seen other boards like this fall into some kind of eliteist mob mentality...PiXELWiT the Cruel... a mob of one.

...serves no purpose but to boost the ego of a few jerks who think they're the shiznittle snap shizsnaps because they've posted 3000 timesFortunately for me I only have 1000 posts and don't fall into this group of people but for the record there's very little ego boost in reprimanding crossposters and running around deleting their threads so people trying to help others aren't wasting their time answering questions which have already been answered elsewhere.

So in summation: Crossposting is bad. Don't Crosspost!!!

-PiXELWiT
http://www.pixelwit.com

[jdriscol]

While deeply wounded by your sarcasm I can see nothing you added to thread other than to enlighten and re-enlighten us several times on the horrible practice of "cross-posting". The gentleman asks if anyone knows of a tutorial about animating text through actionscipt and you give him...

"Have you tried animating a clip across the stage with ActionScript? This may not be very groovy but it would be a good first step. Do you know about "easing"? TextFields? Embedding fonts? For-Loops? Generating grids? EnterFrame events or setInterval?"

Perhaps having not been satisfied by sarcastically throwing a plethora of related AS terms back in his face you say:

I may not have given in-depth explanations of these concepts to Wwwilson but why should I? This site is a "reserve of knowledge" it would be foolish to "re-explain" concepts which are covered many times over on this site whenever someone asks for help.

...Which I have to admit is mostly true while at the same time completely idiotic as he never asked you or anyone else for that matter for any specific help on those or any other concepts. If you return to the original post:

I would hugely appreciate someone pointing to me a reasonably comprehensible tutorial explaining how to do this.

I cannot figure out how that could be construed as a request for you personally to enlighten him with the finer points of "easing".

Lastly:

...Like searching and finding 2 movies which demonstrate the effect he was asking about?

I looked over the movies, and though useful to someone familiar with AS, neither were in any way suitable substitutes for a well written tutorial that explains from start to finish not just the how(s), but the why(s). If you removed all the self-gratification, and belligerency of your posts I would summarize:

"Sir, I regret I do not know of any specific tutorials on that subject. However, I have found some example files posted here on this site but as they are aimed at someone with experience perhaps you should begin with a few of the beginner tutorials available in the tutorial section."

- JD

[pixelwit]

The sarcastic tone of my reply stems directly from the sarcastic message PM'ed to me by Wwwilson.

I threw all those AS terms "in his face" so he would have some keywords to search for. Perhaps you're reading a bit too much into my posts.

The root of this problem is that Wwwilson wants to learn something which he has admitted is way beyond his means without learning any of the basics first. Just about any tutorial which deals with a complex effect is going to assume the reader has a certain level of understanding of ActionScript. What he is looking for most likely does not exist therefore the only way he will get it is if someone takes the time to make it for him.

In regards to "all the self-gratification, and belligerency of my posts" feel free to contact the administrators of this board and point out my shortcomings.

I also feel it "strange" that in all your criticism of my actions you have done even less than myself to help Wwwilson.

-PiXELWiT
http://www.pixelwit.com

[bluegel]

To Wwwilson - just hope that you managed to get some things sorted.

To jdriscol - I don't even know why you got involved in this thread, when you yourself haven't even attempted to help Wwwilson. Now, if you want to offer some constructive advice abouth things, feel free, there is no use getting irrate about other peoples comments.

To Pixelwit - the comments you made are perfectly reasonable. this is a forum and you offered your two cents on the subject to try and help Wwwilson. As for the crossposting comments, you are just doing your job. Chill man and keep smilin.

to all of you, chill out and happy flashin!


:)

[avelives]

hey pixelwit sorry to reopen an old post but i checked (serached) for the keywords you mentioned (specifically Generating Grids)
as id never heard of that, and nothing came up ??
any ideas why and what is Generating Grids?? im self taught and have never heard of this...

[pixelwit]

Generating grids isn't a function in ActionScript. It's just a way of creating rows and columns of a clip. This would be a handy thing to know if you're going to create a block of text (which is just a "Grid" of letters).

I'm currently helping someone else with a grid, if you'd like you can check their thread here (http://www.actionscript.org/forums/showthread.php3?s=&threadid=27068).

-PiXELWiT
http://www.pixelwit.com

[avelives]

aah i see ok ill check it out cheers man!!

[wwwilson]

<gentle irony> Well, I'm gratified to see that everyone's getting along so splendidly lately, but the woeful fact remains that I still don't know how to animate text, and wasn't that everyone's primary concern, teaching me to do so?</gentle irony>

[bluegel]

hey

is it something like this that you want:

animating text (http://www.actionscript.ca/tutorials/intermediate/animating_text_with_actionscript/index.shtml)

?

[avelives]

Well to be honest mate i didnt think that youd still be looking for a tute on animating text this long after your original post !!
The one bluegel posted above is good and there are others on actionscript.org and on kirupa.com i cant believe you havent found one yet??

[avelives]

also does anyone know why i have been listed as a senior member when im clearly not! Is this status purely down to the amount of posts ive done ??

[skee]

avelives
you have been promoted and we all have high expectations for you now...so buck up!

on a serious note, i think it has to do with the post count. just go into user cp and set it to "non-tenured member with hopes of seniorhood"

skee

[rrottman]

Don't know whether it's appropriate or not but maybe if you want to do complex text animations without learning ActionScript, why don't you possibly try one of the available third party products (like RoboFlash etc.) which obviously limits the amount of effect and your creativity but still would help you do some amazing stuff without having the need to dive too deep into it.

(I'm not recommending to NOT learn ActionScript as I am in the middle of it myself at the moment :-) but maybe it's an option for you.)

[tyard]

Either that, or download my free text animation component here (http://www.27Bobs.com/components/PuppetStrings_animator_online.html). If you want to know the Actionscript behind it, it's all open source, though perhaps a bit overkill for an AS novice.

[skee]

tyard,
you site looks to be a great resource...haven't seen it until now. i also really like the design concept. very unique.
skee

[tyard]

Thanks. I've been kicking around for a couple of years now, but a bit under radar. I try to keep my site updated and fresh with open source and tutorials.