Populate the Template:

 

  1. The first step is to open the template!  Open the Flash Document (template.fla)
  2. Go to File=>Save As:  Save the document with another name (so as to not alter the original)

 

Now, alter the document to your liking:

 

To Change the Tutorial Title (Welcome to Class Title Here)

 

  1. Select the Text Tool  (the “A” in the toolbar on the left)
  2. Click and drag over the text
  3. Type in new text
  4. Position as needed on the screen.
  5. Hint!:  you can change the font and text color by changing the options pull down menu once you select the Text Tool.

 

To Change the Copyright (© 2001 Instructor Name)

 

  1. Unlock the Top Bar layer
  2. Click the Text tool once again
  3. Click and drag over the text “Instructor Name”  (leave the rest alone unless you’re changing the font style and color.)
  4. Type in your name
  5. Re-position as necessary if needed
  6. Lock the Nav Layer once again.  (To keep from accidentally changing the layer!)
  7. If ANY keyframes other than the first one are in this layer – you will need to delete them!  Right-Click on the keyframe and choose “Clear Keyframe” from the menu.

 

To Change the Tutorial Title

 

  1. Unlock the Top Bar layer.
  2. Click on the Text tool.
  3. Click and drag over the text “Tutorial Title: Goes Here”
  4. Type in the name of the Tutorial as you wish.
  5. Re-position as necessary if needed
  6. Lock the Top Bar Layer again
  7. Again, if ANY keyframes other than the first one are in this layer – you will need to delete them!  Right-Click on the keyframe and choose “Clear Keyframe” from the menu.

 

To Add Content in the Topics.

 

  1. Click on the Topic you wish to add text to.
  2. Click on the Text tool
  3. Click and drag over the text field to select all of the text.
  4. Type in the desired text.
  5. Don’t forget you can use returns to format the text as you wish!
  6. When finished, select the white arrow and position the text as you wish on the “slide”
  7. If you want to re-size the text field, with the Text tool selected, click on the “circle” handle of the text field and re-size as you wish.
  8. If you want to add a text field, just click on the text tool, click anywhere on the stage and start typing!

 

To Add Images to your tutorial

 

  1. Go to File=>Import and select the file you wish to use
  2. With the file selected, click the “Open” button.
  3. The file is now in your library of items for use.  To open the library go to Window=.Library to hide or show the library
  4. Select the keyframe in the images layer under the Topic you wish to place the image.
  5. Drag the image from the library and onto the stage.
  6. Position as needed.
  7. You may have to re-size or position the text so that the text isn’t covering up the image.

 

Continue these steps until you’ve populated the entire template.

 

Finishing Up:

 

  1. Save your work!  Go to File=>Save As.  This will save a copy of the Flash file so that you can edit it later.
  2. Go to File=>Publish
    1. I’ve set it up so that Flash will automatically export several files:  an HTML file that contains the .swf, and 2 stand-alone players (one for Macs and one for PC’s)

 

  1. You’re done!

 

Final Q & A

 

Q  What if I have 7 topics?  You’ve only allowed for 5.

 

A   Refer to the document:  “Modifying the Template” for information on how to add topics to your template.

 

Q  What if I have only 3 topics?  How do I get rid of the other topics?

 

A  At the very last topic – break the link for the forward button.  Once you do this, the presentation will go no further.  To do this, unlock the nav layer and double click on the forward arrow.  Select the Actions tab and keep hitting the minus “-“ key until all script is out of the script window.  That’s it.  Oh, and re-lock the layer to avoid accidental changes!

 

Q  I really like Flash.  How do I learn more?

 

A  Go to one of the 3 websites below for tutorials galore on Flash.

http://www.flash-underground.com

http://www.flashplanet.com

http://www.flashkit.com

There are MANY books written for beginners on using Flash.  Do a keyword search at Amazon.com using flash as the keyword.  You’ll see more than 20 books on the subject.

 

Q  I would like to change my buttons.  How do I?

 

A  That’s a subject that I can’t cover in this one-hour session.  For the most part it’s MUCH easier to create your own buttons that to modify the ones I’ve made here.  I would suggest going to one of the websites above and getting a tutorial on that topic.

 

Q  I would like my intro to have some animation and the like.  How do I do it?

 

A  Again, this is outside of the scope of this session.  Check websites and books for the appropriate tutorial.