Break Apart Text

In Flash 4 and 5, the Break Apart command turns text into shapes. In MX, the text is broken first into individual letters. A second Break Apart then turns the letters into shapes. Workflow for text animations is greatly improved by the ability to break apart text and then Distribute to Layers to put each letter on a separate layer (automatically named after that letter). Note that dynamic and input text fields are changed to static text when broken apart.

Distribute to Layers

In order to tween a symbol, it must have its own layer. Separating multiple objects onto layers is a breeze with MX. Select the Modify -> Distribute to Layers command to send the selected graphics or symbols their separate ways. What's especially useful about this feature is that the new layers are automatically named after their symbols. Take advantage of automatic layer-naming in your workflow by creating and naming multiple symbols on one layer, then distributing to layers.

Layer Names

Copying and pasting frames produces varying results in the three latest releases of Flash. In Flash 4, the names of pasted frames would always override the names of frames being replaced. In Flash 5, frame names were never replaced by pasted frames. MX hcompromises: the an existing layer name is replaced only if it has not been changed from its automatic.

Layer Folders

Because each tween needs its own layer (see Distribute to Layers), complex animations can become massive stacks of layers, resulting in excessive scrolling to find anything. In MX, new collapsible layer folders make it easier to organize content and bring unruly timelines under control. Change a folder's properties to hide, lock, or outline multiple layers with one click. You can also place folders within folders.

Save as Flash 5

You can author not only Flash 5 SWFs, but Flash 5 FLAs from MX. Some MX content may have to be deleted in order to produce a Flash 5 FLA, but you will be warned if this is the case.

Symbol Conflict

In Flash 4 and 5, it was difficult to manage symbols with multiple files. If you copied some symbols into another file with the same name as existing symbols, the existing ones would not be replaced. In MX, you are given the choice, when symbols conflict, whether to replace the existing symbols or keep them.

Symbol Default

When you create a new symbol, the behavior (Movie Clip, Button, or Graphic) in the dialog box will default to the last behavior you selected. For example, if you create a new movie clip symbol, the dialog box for the next symbol will default to Movie Clip. This differs from Flash 5, where Movie Clip was always the default behavior, and Flash 4, where Graphic was the default.

Symbol Registration

You can now customize the placement of the registration point for new symbols. When you convert a graphic to a symbol, the dialog allows you to choose one of nine registration positions: top-left, bottom-right, center, etc. The default registration position is the one you chose for the previous symbol.

Templates

Flash MX comes with a number of useful templates:

• Ads: Flash advertisements are increasingly popular, and come in a multitude of sizes. MX has the most popular formats as templates, from banner to popup to skyscraper.
• Menus: The menu templates are actually quite sophisticated and dynamic. You can built a dropdown or tabbed menu system from an XML file in no time at all.
• Photo Slideshow: Import your photos into the FLA and you have an instant slideshow, with a customizable manual/automatic timer.
• Quiz: There is some fairly involved programming in this template. You can create an online quiz, complete with options for feedback, scoring and tracking. Useful for developing Computer-Based Training (CBT), in three available styles.
• Presentation: Don't even think of touching Powerpoint--there is a great template for making presentation slides, with four styles to choose from. The graphics are mostly semi-transparent white, making it easy to change the color scheme simply by picking a different background color.