I'm having a problem using flash CS6 (or CS*), where I want to be able to create symbols in the interface and link them to an as3 class. The problem is that when editing the class the code hints don't work correctly, i suppose because the CS* interface doesn't tell the code the object types.
For example:
I create a symbol and link it to a class (myclasses.SomeDisplayObject)
I now create and edit this class in the flash pro code editor, but the editor doesn't know any of the object properties.
To combat the problem I've been creating private properties on the class and assigning them in the construct. This way I can set the type and code hinting works. This is a real nuisance and I have in one class 50 lines of variable assignments.
There must be a better way of doing it and I'm hoping someone here knows about it.
Just turn off "declare stage instances automatically" and declare them as public properties. For more specifics on how to deal with OOP on the timeline, check out http://www.developria.com/2010/04/combining-the-timeline-with-oo.html and http://www.meetup.com/atlflex/files/
The IDE (or any other code tool you choose to use, like Flash Builder), should then recognize your instances.
You could use a different editor. For instance, there is FlashDevelop
Related
So being new to AS3 but not development in general, during a recent project that I just started I hit an immediate snag where my normal method of OOD is causing errors in AS3.
I created a layer in Adobe Flash called code just to keep everything separate and in frame one under actions I used the following code to get started:
var GameContainerSize:int = 400;
class GameInfo {
var GameID:int;
var HomeTeam:String;
var VisitingTeam:String;
function GameInfo()
{
}
}
This simple code immediately causes an error though
Scene 1, Layer 'Code', Frame 1, Line 4 1131: Classes must not be nested.
And my best guess is this is because the timeline and all code on it exists within a class already. So what should I be doing if I want to develop this program using class objects, or is this even possible in flash?
You can't define classes on the timeline. Each timeline is exported as a class, var and function declarations become members of the class, and frame code is moved to its own frame functions which are called when the timeline reaches that frame. Thus the error is saying "you can't put a class in a class" because the timeline already is a class.
To define classes you must use external .as files with package blocks:
// GameInfo.as
package {
public class GameInfo {
public var GameID:int;
public var HomeTeam:String;
public var VisitingTeam:String;
public function GameInfo(){ }
}
}
In Flash Pro you can link a class to a timeline (document or symbols). Such a class must extend Sprite or MovieClip.
You can also refer to any of your classes from any frame script. For example, you could put on frame 1 of your main timeline:
var gameInfo:GameInfo = new GameInfo();
Typical OOP would involve using external .as class files for almost everything, with only minimal function calls on your timeline frames, like stop() at the end of a timeline or calling a custom function you've added to the class linked to the timeline.
I created a layer
That's not ideal. The problem is that it will not get you any closer to understanding the code, because it isn't code. It's a feature of the flash authoring environment. You might as well spend a day with the drawing tool drawing something.
to keep everything separate and in frame one under actions
Organisation is important, but layers aren't the way to go. As each class definition goes into its own external file, you have to create additional files anyway if you want to create more classes. And you want to create more classes because having only one is horrible object oriented design. Being consistent here is important. That's why people in the comments suggested to use a document class and have no code on any frames. All code is organised in classes. No exceptions1.
Having said all that, I highly advice against using Adobe Flash to learn As3. There's too much obfuscation going on behind the scenes. If you want to learn how to code As3, use a code editor. (or plain text editor + compiler if you prefer). Learning what settings dialog has to be adjusted in order to get what you want is not going to get you any closer to understanding OOD in As3.
I also see package, is this kind of like a namespace and does it need to be named, if not what is its purpose?
No, packages are packages and namespaces are namespaces. Apples and oranges.
Packages are used to organize classes just like a structure of
folders is used to organize the .as fiels of those classes. In fact,
the package is pretty much exactly that folder structure, for example:
flash.display is for all display related classes
flash.events is for events
A namespace allows you to control access to members of a class. Namespaces are very rarely used in As3. Here's an article from grant skinner about namespaces. Personally, I never needed to use namespaces. If you are jsut getting started, you can very well ignore them for now.
That sounds perfect! except I cannot get it to launch on my Win10 machine. I may just end up outsourcing this at this ratio
flash develop is the alternative editor. It's free, fast and lightweight.
my normal method of OOD
You want to extend your definition of normal with
always explicitly specify the access control modifiers
member names start with small letters
public class GameInfo {
private var gameID:int;
private var homeTeam:String;
private var visitingTeam:String;
function GameInfo()
{
}
}
1admittedly, there are top level functions that are pretty much free floating functions without a class. If you want to do oop, this is not what you want. It's for the occasional independent utility function. Stick to classes for now.
So I've been following this tutorial on AS3 and Flash. Its been going well until, note I have tried to contact the writer of the tutorial and had no reply. Here's what it tells me to do;
Right-click PlayScreen in the library, select Properties, and check Export for ActionScript. This time, instead of accepting the default value, enter the name of your document class. Click OK.
So it pops up an error, first we’ll have to make a new document class, since no two different objects can share the same class. Cancel the Properties box.
Hit File > New and select ActionScript File. Enter the (by now familiar) code.
Save this in the Classes directory as DocumentClass.as. (There’ll be no confusing the purpose of this file!) Now, back in your FLA, change the document class to DocumentClass.
Check everything’s fine by clicking that pencil icon — if it’s all OK, that should bring up the AS file that you just created.
// So this bits all fine, its the next that i'm stuck with:
Now you can set the PlayScreen‘s class to AvoiderGame. So do so!
// So I go ahead into the properties and change the name but then it pops up with the same error as before: 'Please enter a unique class name that is not associated with other library symbols'
What does this mean!? How do I resolve this!?
Full tutorial here:Flash Tutorial
Its hard to tell what you are trying to accomplish without knowing what all the parts you are referring to actually do, which are objects in the library and which are classes, but maybe this can help:
First of all, document class in AS3 typically refers to the project's main set of code that initializes the app. This class can be called anything but is often called Main, and is entered in the property panel that is displayed when you click the projects main stage in the field called class.
Now, when linking a class to an object in the library, its a little different. In the library object's property panel, tick the box for Export for Actionscript, and put a unique name in the top box. This is what you reference in your code to call it, like new somethingOrOther() or using the pic below as an exaample, new Ball(). The second box is the base class, pathed to where it lives in your code base. This is the class you will write that actually controls the object you've linked the class to. Giving a linked object a base class and a unique identifier allows you to use the same base class for multiple linked objects.
Note that when you do this approach, Flash will warn you that there is no class associated with Ball and one will be created for you. Don't worry, this is normal behavior. If you set this up properly, your object will still be controlled by its base class.
I'm looking for a list of flash.include.whatever.whatever for as3.
If no one knows a list then can someone tell me the flash.include to use for drawing rectangle with the startFill and endFill things? Thanks for any help.
I didn't find anything on either of these googling, and the place I got the code for drawing a rectangle of course didn't have the flash.includes included in the example code... is their a reason so many people do that? Any way I can get around it?
Do you mean you want a list of the packages and classes that come with AS3? That is typically called the documentation and can be found here:
Adobe ActionScript® 3 API Reference
For drawing a Rectangle, you can start at flash.display.Shape. It has a graphics object with the methods .beginFill() and .endFill().
you can using a Graphics.
The Graphics class contains a set of methods that you can use to
create a vector shape. Display objects that support drawing include
Sprite and Shape objects. Each of these classes includes a graphics
property that is a Graphics object. The following are among those
helper functions provided for ease of use: drawRect(),
drawRoundRect(), drawCircle(), and drawEllipse(). You cannot create a
Graphics object directly from ActionScript code. If you call new
Graphics(), an exception is thrown.
The Graphics class is final; it cannot be subclassed.
here is a sample
import flash.display.*;
this.graphics.beginFill(0xff0000);
this.graphics.drawRect(0,0,100,100);
here is a Adobe Tutorial
AS3 all display class list here
You do not necessarily need to default AS3 include. fine compile. But include only the code you can see the hint. perhaps, CS4 after that if you use a specific class will automatically include. or ctrl+space is autocompletion.
As follows by default when you install the flash is because of the SWC path.
As per I know, there is not such a thing like Flash.include. May be you're trying to ask something else or may be i am still unknown about this feature.
If you found any positive thing about this, please let me know, i want to know that new thing.
How would someone go about coding a 'window'? I'm starting to make a GUI, and I want to learn how to code one. One that can be skinnable, and one that actually loops and creates itself at runtime. I understand that this might be a bit vague, so I'll add details.
One that actually 'creates' itself. Most GUI tutorials I've looked on depends on an 'image' that just gets added on the screen. I want to be able to use skins in my windows. One where my 'skin' is just a collection of 'borders'. Then when I insert window.create(50,50) where 50,50 is my height, width, It would just create that window, following the skin.
I understand that it probably follows just like when a language draws a rectangle, it just follows a different set of rules (maybe?). However, for all my Google-fu skills I cannot find a tutorial that teaches me this.
Please Help. I didn't include the language I used as you can see, because I believe I just need to know how to create one. Anyway though, I am using Actionscript 3. A tutorial would be just fine, or even A SINGLE CLASS THAT HAS THIS FUNCTIONALITY, I'll just study the code. Or if you know one, maybe a whole book about GUI and programming it :D
Pure As3.0 GUI coding is quite troublesome. I try to Googling, but not come out well. anyway for my case, i generate using a SWC, and Class Mapping and Customizing. but i'm not sure best way. in other way i use a bit101 library. this is gives me want Window, Charts, Componets easily of high abstraction. see the below image.
It can be pretty hard and complicated to do, or very easy, it just depends on how flexible your solution should be. You need firstly to design a structure of your program and approach to the problem.
I like to go from the image of how it should look like from API point of view. I think I would create a GUI element like this:
var wholeGui:MyGUI = new MyGUI();
var window:IGuiElement = new GuiWindow(dataObject, skinObject);
wholeGui.addElement(window);
So what would you need?
1) Object that would manage all GUI elements. Why? Simply because your GUI elements shouldn't be destroyed by themselves if user will click "X" on your little window. The wholeGui object would manage them and listen for any events including those that would destroy them. You may consider creating custom events for interaction between the wholeGui object and your window object if this interaction is going to be complicated.
2) Interface for your GUI objects. Some problem here is that AS3 actually doesn't have interface for Sprite, and you would like to interact with it like with extended Sprite. The workaround here is to have in this interface a declaration like this:
function asSprite():Sprite;
And your implementation in GuiWindow would look like this:
public function asSprite():Sprite {
return this;
}
And your GuiWindow class should extend Sprite of course. Then you would have access to it's Sprite properties and methods by writing for example: window.asSprite.startDrag();
This interface should give you abilities that you need to operate on your GUI element.
3) Class for your GUI element, in this example GuiWindow.
4) Class for your data that would be injected into your element. If you would load data dynamically, and from some location, you would need to deal with the situation when no data can be provided - but that logic would be inside your window.
5) Class for your skin - so you would be able to dynamically create a skin object and use it to create your window in a way you want.
That's just few thoughts to consider.
PS. It may be good idea to fill GuiWindow object with data AFTER creating it, and not in constructor, as you would be able to visualize loading process then.
I have a MovieClip called PopUp where I wrote some code.
I need to make another MovieClip that uses pretty much the same code...can I just use the PopUp class as the base class for my other MovieClip?
They look different but they have the same instances on the stage and stuff.
You can just create a new class called PopUpBase, and let your new MC's extend that class. Generally changing the base class in the IDE can cause some problems, so it's best practice not to, but to create classes (and .as files) for each MC that needs code.
Depending on what you're doing with this, it might be okay just to change the base classes to PopUpBase (in the IDE) :)