FLASH CS4 -- FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS       Rev. 06

Four file types are associated with Flash CS4, ending with the
suffixes .FLA, .SWF, .HTM and .AS, as follows:

a. The .FLA Flash file is the file we create by using Flash CS4.
   It contains all of our original work: the original graphics,
   original GIF and JPG files, sound files, video clips,
   animation frames, ActionScript code, etc. This .FLA file 
   resides on our hard drive.

   Note: Images, sounds, and video clips can be stored within
         the .FLA file (and .SWF file), or can be downloaded
         on demand during Flash movie execution.

b. The .SWF Flash file is the object file that actually executes
   on the user PC (via the Flash Player). While using Flash CS4,
   when our work is completed, we "Publish" our .FLA source file
   in order to produce this .SWF object file.

c. The .HTM file is a small "skeleton" HTML file that calls and
   executes our object .SWF file (via Flash Player). We can create
   this file ourselves or we can use the .HTM file that is created
   by Flash CS4 when we "Publish" in step b.
 
d. If we write ActionScript program code for our Flash project, 
   this code can reside within our .FLA file, or we can store
   it in a separate file with the suffix name .AS.

                     Example Flash CS4 Project

Assume that we are developing a Flash project named "Dancing Daisies".

Note: See this Flash project at www.patmoss.com/flashcs4/dancingdaisies.htm.

These four files have been created:

1. .FLA

   Our Flash source file is named "dancingdaisies.fla".

   As we develop the animation for the Flash project, we
   will store the result of all our work in this file
   on our computer hard drive. No one else will see
   this file. It will hold our private source work.

   See www.patmoss.com/flashcs4/fla/52dancingdaisies.fla

   Note: We need to use Flash CS4 to view this source file.

2. .SWF

   When we are ready to produce the object result of
   our work, we click on the Flash menu options "File",
   "Publish Settings", and "Publish". 
   
   The object file "dancingdaisies.swf" is created.
   This file can be downloaded by our browser and
   executed by a Flash Player on our user PC.

   See www.patmoss.com/flashcs4/swf/52dancingdaisies.swf

   Note: We can use our Flash Player 6.0 to execute
         this .SWF file, directly, without using an IE
         browser and an HTML file to call it. But HTML
         page formatting will not be present.

3. .HTM

   We create a small HTML file to use along with 2.
   It will be named "dancingdaisies.htm".

   See www.patmoss.com/flashcs4/htm/52dancingdaisies.htm

   To view the HTML source statements, click on the IE
   browser menu "View" and "Source". Within the HTML
   file, the "<OBJECT>" and "<EMBED>" HTML statements
   used to call the Flash object file "dancingdaisies.swf"
   will be displayed.

4. .AS

   Many Flash projects contain ActionScript program code,
   in addition to Flash graphics and frames. This code
   can be stored within the Flash file "dancingdaisies.fla"
   or it can be stored separately as "dancingdaisies.as".

   In this example, ActionScript program code is used to
   animate the "Dancing Daisies".

   See www.patmoss.com/flashcs4/src/52dancingdaisies.as

There are some 55 examples of Flash CS4 items 1. through 4. at these Urls:

a. Master Index: www.patmoss.com/flashcs4

   Note: To see how to view/copy associated .FLA, .SWF, .HTM, and .AS
         files, click on "Notes" at top of the Master Index web page.

b. Flash source .FLA files
   A complete index is at www.patmoss.com/flashcs4/fla

   For example, see www.patmoss.com/flashcs4/fla/52dancingdaisies.fla

   Note: We need to use Flash CS4 to view this source file.

c. Flash object .SWF files
   A complete index is at www.patmoss.com/flashcs4/swf

   For example, see www.patmoss.com/flashcs4/swf/52dancingdaisies.swf

   (Same as the file www.patmoss.com/flashcs4/dancingdaisies.swf)

   If we browse to an .SWF file, our Flash Player 6.0 will be
   used to execute the .SWF file, directly, without assistance
   from an HTML file to call it. But HTML page formatting will
   not be present.

d. HTML files
   A complete index is at www.patmoss.com/flashcs4/htm

   For example, see www.patmoss.com/flashcs4/htm/52dancingdaisies.htm

   (Same as the file www.patmoss.com/flashcs4/dancingdaisies.htm)

   To view the HTML source statements, click on the IE browser 
   menu choices "View" and "Source".

   Within the HTML file, we will see the "<OBJECT>" and "<EMBED>" HTML
   statements used to call the Flash object file "dancingdaisies.swf".

e. Flash source ActionScript files 
   A complete index is at www.patmoss.com/flashcs4/src

   For example, see www.patmoss.com/flashcs4/src/52dancingdaisies.as


We can execute the Dancing Daisies Flash movie project in one of two ways:

a. Normal way: Browse to www.patmoss.com/flashcs4/dancingdaisies.htm

   This HTML page uses "<OBJECT>" and "<EMBED>" HTML tags to call and 
   execute the Flash object file 
   www.patmoss.com/flashcs4/dancingdaisies.swf.

b. Flash only: Browse to www.patmoss.com/flashcs4/dancingdaisies.swf

   This calls and executes the Flash object file 
   www.patmoss.com/flashcs4/dancingdaisies.swf,
   directly, without using HTML. But HTML page formatting will not 
   be present.

   Note: In order for a. or b. to work, the user PC must have a copy
   of Macromedia Flash Player 6.0 installed on the user PC hard drive.

   See Flash Player Detection.

   If the Flash Player is not installed, the browser will display
   a message asking for permission to download and install this 
   software from the web site www.macromedia.com/flashcs4.

After we create the .FLA and .SWF files by using Flash, we can
use the associated HTML file (also created by Flash), or we can
create our own HTML file (which is my approach).

Or we can create this HTML file by using FrontPage, or DreamWeaver,
or other web page creation software.

The .SWF file is what actually executes on the user PC (via the Flash
Player which is installed on the user PC).

The HTML file provides page formatting, plus (in the case of a client/
server combination) the HTML statements to send data to the server.
Also, multiple Flash .SWF calls can be embedded within an HTML web page.

Note that Flash CS4 pages can also send data to, and receive data from,
a server, directly, without assistance from HTML.

So, as can be seen in this brief introduction, there are numerous choices
available for web page designers to select from.

And Flash CS4 will continue to play an important role, to provide high
quality/low bandwidth animation, to add "sizzle" to our web page designs.