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Flash Tutorial - Write Script

The ActionScript language that is part of Macromedia Flash Basic 8 and Macromedia Flash Professional 8 offers designers and developers a variety of benefits. With ActionScript you can control document playback in response to events such as elapsed time and loading data; add interactivity to a document in response to user actions, such as a button click; use built-in objects, such as a button object, with built-in associated methods, properties, and events; create custom classes and objects; and create more compact and efficient applications than you could create using user interface tools, all with code that you can reuse.

ActionScript is an object-oriented scripting language that offers control over how your Flash content plays. In subsequent lessons, you'll see how ActionScript has evolved into ActionScript 2.0 to comprise a core set of language elements that make it easier to develop object-oriented programs.

First, you'll open the start file for the lesson and set up your workspace to use an optimal layout for taking lessons.

1. To open your start file, in Flash select File > Open and navigate to the file:
   • In Windows, browse to boot drive \Program Files\ Macromedia\Flash 8\Samples and Tutorials\Tutorial Assets\ ActionScript\Write Scripts and double-click scripts_start.fla.
   • On the Macintosh, browse to Macintosh HD /Applications/ Macromedia Flash 8/Samples and Tutorials/Tutorial Assets/ ActionScript/Write Scripts and double-click scripts_start.fla.

   Note: The Write Scripts folder contains completed versions of the tutorial FLA files for your reference.

2. Select File > Save As and save the document with a new name, in the same folder, to preserve the original start file.
3. Select Window > Workspace Layout > Default to set up your workspace for taking lessons.

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