Best flash site Structure?

[deefadog]

Hi all, I have been wondering about this for a while I would like some opinions on this. I did search for this, with no luck, so If there is another thread on this I apologise, please direct me to it!

What is the best way to structure a complete Flash site?

here's how I have been doing it:

Index.html - which holds holder.swf (blank holder - level0)

holder.swf then loads my main.swf to level50 (just so I have 49 levels to play with if needed) which has a blank layer where all content is placed and other lower levels will be seen.

all other sections are loaded into lower levels than level50

For smooth trasitions between each loaded level requires alot of checking actionscipt routines.

Another way is to load them into an empty movieclip like I have seen mentioned here before? if so what is the difference/benefits between using levels and empty MC's


This is why I ask is there another/better way? or am I doing it right!

Thanks

[baby_annie]

A good site is the site has a lot of good informations,(better if they are dynamic using Database), nice design etc...
U can check good Flash sites at CoolSites or SitesCheck forum here.

[deefadog]

Thanks baby_annie. It's not the actual contents etc of the site I am interested in, it's the way you structure the flash site, the interaction of the different sections. i.e is the best way to have all the contents of a site within one movie? well no not really as all the content would load at once and if it is a large site would take along time.

I have (as I stated above) always constructed my sites with the level i.e loading each section into a different level, as to have controll on loading. I just wanted to find out which is the preferred method of the more advanced uders here.

Thanks

[CyanBlue]

Well... I am not really qualified to write any of my opinion here, but what the heck... :D

I prefer loaing external SWF files for each section into an empty movieclip that works as place holder... As a matter of fact, I hate loading the external SWFs into the level...
I don't think there is any particularily good or bad things on each sides... It goes more with personal preferrences...

I had hard time understanding the path and level stuff when I first started using Flash, and the path with empty movieclip looked easier for me to understand... Yet, it is not so true... I find path hard to comprehend after all... :D

The bottom line is that both methods work exactly the same in the final results... Use whatever method(s) you are comfortable with... At least that will reduce time and headache... ;)

[deefadog]

Thanks CyanBlue, glad to know they are both more or less the same in principle :)

When I first started using Flash I used scenes :( now that was one big mess, as it was very buggy!

Have you an example of "empty movieclip that works as place holder" or is there a tut around I could look at?

I have never used that method before, I have alwas used levels!

Cheers

[deefadog]

Yeah, I'm on Flash 5 and yes it does work, but not sure if you attached the correct .zip as this examples loads in text from a txt file.

Unless you have misunderstood me I was after an example of loading external movies into an empty movie clip! :)

Thanks

[CyanBlue]

And, when I get home, I totally forgot about this... :(

[Rachelliu]

Thanks

[deefadog]

Thanks, nice example, quite easy really, I see you added the num, but you could simplify it by just targeting any movie straight, yes?

So if your holder mc was in layer 2 on the main stage below layer 1, I guess you could add you transation on layer one and add a preloader to check when the new movie has loading into the holder mc on layer 2 the transiton would reveal the new movie? is that correct?

If so what is the preloader code, to detect another movie has been loading in?

Sorry for dragging this out, it just getting to the good stuff now :)

Thanks

[cobo]

well, i also use this method instead of the level stuff, much easier to understand i guess. another pro is, that u are able to move or otherwise interact with the emptyMC...

cobo

[CyanBlue]

Howdy, deefadog... ;)

So, I guess you got the basics done, right??? What do you think??? I still think this is almost the same as using the level stuff... ;)

Preloader... Um... Eh... I do not know... I am not sure if I have told you that I hate the preloaderes or not, but I DO hate them... :p
I guess I can probably make one if it is for the FMX, but I do not remember how to do the preloader in F5... It's been just too long since then... Sorry... :D


Howdy, cobo... ;)

You still can move or interact with the movie that has been loaded into the level if you want to...
_level5._x = 100; might be one way of putting it... ;)

[cobo]

what about http://www.actionscript.org/tutorials/intermediate/multi_preloader/index.shtml

cobo

[deefadog]

Thanks CyanBlue, i promise not to mention preloaders, oops gone and said it have'nt I :)

cobo - thanks for the link to the tut, i think I have seen that one before, it's the basic standard one for preloading movies. which will work either using levels or loading them inrto an MC :)

Cheers