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Flash Tutorial - Actions Panel

034 Beginners
Flash Compatibility: Flash 8 - Flash MX 04 - Flash MX/5

Written by: Phil Schulz

Length: 400 words

Assumed Knowledge: General knowledge of Flash and ActionScript

Difficulty: Easy

Free Flash Tutorial

I have decided to write this as Macromedia keep changing the Actions Panel from version to version and this makes the tutorials hard to follow as the instructions for using the Actions Panel in one version of Flash can be quite different from that of another. Here is a simple explanation of the Action Panels in the different version:

The Actions Panel Flash MX/5: Window > Actions or F9 or Right Click > Actions (Mac: Ctrl Click) The Actions Panel has two Modes: Normal Mode: Use of Menus and Options only. Menus give code with full syntax. Syntax errors not possible! Expert Mode:Type, Copy (Ctrl C) & Paste (Ctrl V). Use of Menus gives partial code only. Note: In Flash 8 Normal Mode is now called Script Assist On and Expert Mode is Script Assist Off. Flash MX 2004: Window > Development Panels > Actions or F9 Important: The Actions Panel in Flash MX 2004 only has one mode so the information in this tutorial about two modes (Script Assist On and Off) does not apply as it only has an expert typing mode. You will not be able to use the Script Assist method described. The use of the Actions Panel Menus will give partial code only which is different to the code as stated in this tutorial. I recommend that you type or copy (Ctrl C) and paste (Ctrl V) then edit the code that you require. Flash 8: Window > Actions or F9 or Right Click > Actions (Mac: Ctrl Click) In Flash 8 Macromedia have brought back the old Flash MX Normal/Expert mode to the Actions Panel. Yeah!! (not available in MX 2004). To make it seem like a new feature they have re-named it: Script Assist which is either switched on or off. Look for the new button in the Actions Panel: Script Assist On: Use of Menus and Options only. Menus give code with full syntax. Syntax errors not possible! Script Assist Off: Type, Copy (Ctrl C) & Paste (Ctrl V). Use of Menus gives partial code only. Switching Script Assist On & Off: Click the Script Assist button or go to the Side Menu Button:    Script Assist is on if ticked :