Transcript Chapter 6

The Web Wizard’s Guide to Flash
by Michael Kay
Copyright © 2003 Pearson Education, Inc.
Chapter 6 – Slide 1
CHAPTER 6
Optimizing and Publishing
Copyright © 2003 Pearson Education, Inc.
Chapter 6 – Slide 2
Chapter Objectives
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Optimize Flash files that download faster and
display more quickly.
Use the Bandwidth Profiler to find
bottlenecks and simulate how a Flash movie
will load in the real world.
Build a loading sequence.
Export Flash SWF files and embed them into
web HTML pages.
Learn how to publish content that’s
compatible for your audience.
Copyright © 2003 Pearson Education, Inc.
Chapter 6 – Slide 3
Optimizing Flash Content
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Minimize file size and maximize bandwidth
Use symbols and keyframes strategically
Minimize the use of bitmap images and
sounds
Utilize compression settings for individual
images and sounds
Simplify vector images
Prioritize the content: Only create larger
files to those who would be receptive to it
Copyright © 2003 Pearson Education, Inc.
Chapter 6 – Slide 4
May Cause Rendering Problems
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Gradient fills
Alpha transparency
Masks
Intricate vector artwork
Large-area bitmap images
Long blocks of text
Layering or animating any of the above
A movie with large dimensions
Complex ActionScript
Copyright © 2003 Pearson Education, Inc.
Chapter 6 – Slide 5
Using the Bandwidth Profiler
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Access it from Control >Test Movie
Look at the Timeline graph to see how the
movie loads
Check the overall file size
Verify behavior of animations and actions
Is quality of images and sounds acceptable?
Review any error messages
View > Show Streaming simulates how the
movie will play over the Internet
Copyright © 2003 Pearson Education, Inc.
Chapter 6 – Slide 6
A Smoother Playing Movie
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Avoid unnecessary sounds and graphics and
optimizing the ones that are used.
Simplify the frames where the Bandwidth Profiler
show a gray bar rising above the red line.
Reduce the compression settings for the entire
movie or for the larger graphics and sounds.
Pace the download so that everything doesn’t
have to load at once.
Add a “loading” loop.
Copyright © 2003 Pearson Education, Inc.
Chapter 6 – Slide 7
Creating a Loading Loop (1)
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Set aside several frames at the start of the movie
Label the first keyframe “start_loop”
Insert a second keyframe at the end of the
loading section and assign a Go To action that
targets “start_loop”
Insert a third keyframe just after the second one
labeled “movie_resume”
Add If Frame is Loaded action to the first
keyframe
Copyright © 2003 Pearson Education, Inc.
Chapter 6 – Slide 8
Creating a Loading Loop (2)
This following should appear in the text pane
of the actions panel:
ifFrameLoaded (80) {
gotoAndPlay ("movie_resume");
}
Copyright © 2003 Pearson Education, Inc.
Chapter 6 – Slide 9
Publishing the Flash Movie
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A web page with Flash requires:
A “SWF” file
An HTML page
Use File > Publish Settings to access all
options for exporting a Flash movie
Click on the Formats, Flash, and HTML
tabs to change settings
Copyright © 2003 Pearson Education, Inc.
Chapter 6 – Slide 10
Key Flash Movie Settings
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JPEG Quality: Sets the default compression
for images.
Audio Stream: Sets the default compression
for stream sounds
Audio Event: Sets the default compression for
Event and Start sync sounds
Override sound settings: Applies default
sound settings to every sound regardless
Version: Can save a SWF file compatible with
older Flash players
Copyright © 2003 Pearson Education, Inc.
Chapter 6 – Slide 11
Key HTML Settings
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Template: Will generate HTML pages optimized
for specific purposes
Playback, Paused at start: Forces movie to be
stopped on loading
Playback, Display Menu: Allows users to modify
the play of a movie via a standard Flash menu
Playback, Loop: Allows movie to repeat
automatically
Quality: The display quality of the movie.
Copyright © 2003 Pearson Education, Inc.
Chapter 6 – Slide 12
Working with Published Files
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It’s easiest to use Dreamweaver or GoLive
Editing by hand, look at everything
between the <OBJECT> and </OBJECT>
tags.
Test in a web browser is most accurate
test.
Use an FTP program to post the Flash
SWF and HTML files to the web
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Chapter 6 – Slide 13
Providing the Correct Version
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For a mass audience export a SWF file
that requires an older plug-in
For a cutting edge web site with a
sophisticated audience, export a SWF
format in the latest version
In some cases, you can provide 2 versions
of a file
Control > Test Movie will warn about
incompatible features
Copyright © 2003 Pearson Education, Inc.
Chapter 6 – Slide 14