Fall 09 week 1:—9/10/09: Thursdays. 12:25 - 3:25

Hi Everyone,
This is the blog for our class, DMA213, Interactive Multimedia.

Regarding this week's work, please make certain you understand most of what we did in class this past Monday. Each week, I will post two things: (1) the files that we produced in class that week; and, (2) the homework that will be due the following week.

Since I am really just now starting this blog, it will take me some time to get it into shape. So, if you have any difficulties with it, please let me know.
Carter-

1. WEEK 1
   
   1. Classwork
   • LINK    classfiles
   2. Homework
   • LINK    classfiles
   • The first file in the folder that you download contains a few things that may be new to some of you but which you should know about:
   1. an invisible button--This kind of button contains graphics in only one frame.
      To Do:
      1. Enter into edit mode for the invisible button to find out in which frame the graphic is drawn.
   2. a trace() action--

      The trace action functions similarly to the alert() function in JavaScript. It is simply used to provide some sort of information, some "output" to the user or to the person who is writing the script. Often, the alert() actions in JavaScript are only used temporarily, allowing the one who writes the script to find out something about what is happening in the script. That is the same for the trace() action in ActionScript; however, the trace() action is ONLY used by the programmer.

      In this case, we can see that the function is actually functioning. How do we know this? Well, we know that the button is calling on the function to activate this. How do we know this? We know it because the trace action actually 'happens'. If the function named invis_fun() weren't working, the trace action would never happen, even if you click on the invisible button. So, we know that the function is occurring simply because the trace() action actually appears.

      To Do:
      1. Enter into the ActionScript and tell me what is the name of the function and what is the instance name of the button that activates it.
   3. an animated button--This is a button that contains movieclips inside of it.
      To Do:
      1. Enter into edit mode for this button and tell me how many movieclips does it contain?
   • The second file and the third file do the same things, only the code for these two files is slightly different.
     To Do:
     1. Enter into the ActionScript for each of these files and then list for me the differences that you notice between the scripts you see there. Once you do that, analyze the differences and try to explain to me what would be the purpose of the differences may be. If you are not sure, that's fine, just create a hypothesis.
   3. Extra Credit
   • exercise 1:
   1. Create a rectangle.
   2. This rectangle should have both a fill and a stroke.
   3. Select ONLY the fill and convert it into a movie-clip symbol.
   4. Once you do that give it an instance name.
   5. You should then select the entire stroke (but not the fill) and convert it into a movieclip as well.
   6. It should also have an instance name.
   7. Then, select both of these new movieclips together and convert them into a single new movieclip symbol.
   8. Provide it also with an instance name
   9. Then, enter into symbol edit mode.
   10. Once inside, select the fill and stroke movieclips and select 'distribute to layers'.
   11. Create another layer (put it on top) with a dynamic text field inside of it.
   12. You should also give this text field an instance name.
   13. Exit edit mode
   
   
   
   14. In ActionScript, type the necessary code to make the stroke and the text change colors (both to the same color) when you mouse over the rectangle.
   15. You should also type the necessary code to make both the stroke and the text go back to their original colors when you mouse back off the rectangle.