preloader

[thomas199922]

Hi,
Recently I have been trying to make a preloader but I am unsure about one thing: where should I put the code for the preloader so that it takes place while the .swf is loading. When I enter the code, the loading does not take place until the .swf has loaded and by then the preloader is useless. This is probably a very stupid question but I could not find a solution

[henke37]

Put it as early as possible in the file. That is, in the first frame.

And most importantly: don't put anything else in the first frame.

[thomas199922]

so i could not put it in one of the classes?

[[afz]snickelfitz]

A common structure is to put the progress display within a main.swf.
Load other swf files into main.swf.
Add the progress display to the displaylist when loading a file; update it on progress; remove it on complete.

The main thing is for main.swf to be as small as possible in filesize; it should contain little other than a progress display movieclip, 1 frame only, and the document class code.
Navigation and pages should be separate files and classes.

>

BTW, check out the GAIA framework; all of the low level stuff (loading, progress display, transitions, depth management, etc...) is handled automatically.
All you really have to do is edit an XML file, build page displays and configure the navigation.
The real upside to learning this framework is that it provides an excellent example of OOP best practices and site organization. Not to mention saving hours of tedious project setup: <10 minutes to setup a functional site skeleton.
http://www.gaiaflashframework.com/
http://tv.adobe.com/watch/fitc/gaia-...r-adobe-flash/

[thomas199922]

thanks!

[henke37]

Technically, you have to put code in a class. Read my first article for the details.

[motrack]

You need to create a new project for the preloader.

This is your current application:
app.fla
main.as
example.as
etc..

When you build your app you get the app.swf file.

Your preloader has to be a separate project e.g.:
preloader.fla
main.as
example2.as
etc..

Your preloader should have code to load the app.swf from the server. That's where I believe you have been confusing things. The preloader code doesn't go inside the app but it's a separate project that loads the main swf.

[henke37]

No, he does not need to. It makes things easier, but it is not required.