Actions and Motion:

Actions

Actions usually take 2 forms in simple Flash movies. They are either on the frame, or on the object. The object is another term for a symbol, so this means the action is placed on the symbol in the timeline. When an action is placed on a frame, it is usually placed in a separate layer labelled 'actions'. This makes it clear where all the actions are in the frames, so as not to be confusing if frame actions need to be changed or edited.

Image 6

Image 6 shows the actions layer on the main timeline, for frame actions. Typically, it is usually kept at the top of the set of layers, to make it easy to see and edit if necessary.

The most common actions on a frame in the actions layer in a simple Flash movie will be:

gotoAndplay (frame number)
gotoAndstop (frame number)
stop

The most common actions on a symbol (button or movie clip) on the stage in the timeline in a simple Flash movie will be:

on(release) gotoAndplay (frame number)
on(release) gotoAndstop (frame number)

Image 7

This image shows the actions box, found underneath the main stage area in Flash MX.

There are many different actions available in Flash. Indeed, you can write your own custom scripts, much like any javascript behaviour, and add them to symbols or frames in Flash.









Motion

As said at the beginning, the way to create motion simply and easily in Flash is to use motion tweens on keyframes.

Place your symbol at location A on keyframe 1, then create keyframe 2 several frames ahead, and move your symbol, then create keyframe 3 several frames ahead again, and move your symbol again, and so on until you have the desired locations you may require. After you are satisfied that you have got the right placings, select each keyframe, then right click and select 'create motion tween'. This will make a small arrow appear that goes to the next keyframe. Repeat this on every keyframe except the last one. You should then achieve the right movemnt of your symbol on the timeline.

There are other ways of moving things, namely:

motion path
shape tween
Actionscript

The first two of these are quite simple, the last is a bit more complex. We will deal with them all later in the tutorials. Search the help files or the web if you are interetsed in these methods.

Other Information

Remember, SYMBOL behaviours or actions can be attached in the main stage timeline, OR inside each symbol. In other words, you can reuse a symbol many times in different contexts in the main Flash movie, by giving it its behaviour or action on the main timeline. You can alter and control what happens to a movie timeline by adding actions to the actions frame.

TERMS:
EMAIL penworks@gmail.com for any information or enquiries, or recommended Flash websites.