Please CAREFULLY read ALL of the information below; I know it's long, but it's all VERY important! (don't just skim it).

Welcome to the Beginning Flash class!

What Flash is...

When someone says "Flash" they might mean one of several things:

• The IDE (Integrated Development Environment; a.k.a. the software package) used to create applications. These apps may run in a web browser, or a stand-alone run-time environment (i.e. on a desktop or mobile device).
• The media files created by the Flash IDE are often (incorrectly) referred to as "Flash" (the IDE can output several different formats. The media type that runs in a web browser is the most common format: .SWF —which stands for "small web file" and is pronounced 'swiff').
• The browser plug-in required to display SWFs is sometimes (incorrectly) called "Flash" (the correct term is the Flash Player).

The Flash IDE —what this course is about— is an application development tool (calling Flash an animation program is like calling Photoshop a cropping program: it's just one of many things it does). The Flash IDE can output a number of formats, the most common of which is SWF (SWFs are often called "movies" even though they might not contain video or any movement at all). Flash movies can contain photos, drawings, interactive controls, sound, video, and even other SWFs. It can be a simple animation (like an ad or product demo), a user interface (like a web site), a dynamic web application (shopping cart, chat room, e-learning system), a game, or virtually anything!

SWFs are displayed on an HTML page like other media —but the user's browser must have the Flash Player plug-in to display the SWF, much as the QuickTime Player is required to view .MOV files embedded on a web page.

NOTE: Flash can also output animated GIFs, .EXE and .HQX files (self-executables that run on a Windows or Mac computer without a browser or plug-in), .IPSW and .IPA files that run on iPhones and iPads, and .APK files that run on Android devices. This course will only address using Flash to create .SWF files.
When people say "Flash doesn't work on iOS", they really mean the Flash Player browser plug-in isn't allowed on iOS, so .SWFs can't display in a browser. Apps compiled with the Flash IDE and sold through the AppStore work just fine on iOS devices.

What Flash is not...

Flash is not an HTML editor like Dreamweaver. Nor is Flash a graphics program like Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. Complex art is best done in a graphics application and then imported into Flash. Flash movies are in turn imported into web sites managed with Dreamweaver.

Death to Splash Pages!
Flash began almost 20 years ago as a simple animation tool, and some designers still only use it as such. The misconception that Flash is only for creating annoying splash-pages still persists among many developers in part because that's mostly what it was initially used for.

Course Credit

To receive credit for this course, you must complete and turn in the required homework assignments (including any revisions I request) by the date and time the class ends (listed in bright green above). This is a credit/no-credit class. I cannot award partial credit for partial work. You must satisfactorily complete ALL of the exercises to receive 'credit' for this class. Please don't wait until the last hour of class to submit your final homework—that won't give me time to review it, or you time to make corrections.

* * * You should plan to complete your work AT LEAST a day before the class ends to allow time for revisions * * *

Course Requirements

• Software: You must have a copy of Adobe Flash CS6 or higher. There is a 30-day trial of the current version available from Adobe.com
  You must have the Flash Player 11 or higher. Check your Flash Player version here. If you have an older version upgrade to the latest version.
  Note to Chrome users: If you experience any issue with Flash content you may want to disable Chome's integrated Flash Player and use the latest System-level Flash Player (see directions here)
  If you intend to view this course on your iPad while you work on your main computer, you need the Photon or Puffin browser to see the many Flash examples (or switch to your main computer to view them).
• Hardware & connectivity: It is YOUR responsibility to maintain a functional computer, software, internet connection, and email for the duration of an online course ("my computer crashed" is the 21st-century equivalent of "the dog ate my homework").
  
• Patience & motivation: Online courses are intrinsically more difficult than a classroom equivalent. (I always advocate classroom learning above distance learning—it's far more effective—especially for Flash!). But since you chose the online format, you must make extra effort to stay on top of the work, read directions VERY carefully, and ask clear and detailed questions (see "How to ask Questions" below).
  The class is self-paced; I will never badger you about your progress, even if I do not hear from you for weeks. It's up to YOU to initiate contact whenever you need assistance (and it's up to you to follow up if you don't get a timely reply. I normally respond quickly unless I'm out. If it's not the middle of the night and you don't get a reply within 4 hours, please follow up).

About the software

Flash is simply amazing, but it isn't simple! With its tremendous power comes complexity, and some people find Flash overwhelming. The Flash interface is complex and not particularly forgiving. Please do not attempt these lessons after a long, tiring day at work, when your concentration and patience are at their lowest. Send the kids to a movie, get your caffeine, and go into your Happy Zone—these lessons require focus and attention to detail, perhaps moreso than any class you've taken! I can't overemphasize how carefully you must follow the directions (you often won't know if you've done something wrong until the very end of an exercise when it doesn't work. Then you must redo the whole thing). If you're unsure about a direction, please ask immediately.

How the class works

The course is divided into five lessons (see the white links above). Each lesson consists of several pages (they show in the active tab). At the conclusion of each lesson, there is a homework project to upload (PLEASE use the Upload link at the top of the page—DO NOT send me email attachments*!):

I will look at your homework and ask for revisions if it does not meet listed parameters. I don't expect perfection, but major differences usually indicate a gap in your understanding. I hope that you wait for feedback before you dive too far into the next lesson (this can prevent you from repeating mistakes in future lessons). Even though most lessons consist of several exercises, I only ask for the one major exercise to be uploaded. However at the end of the course I will ask for several random exercises, just to be sure you've been completing them all.
* * * You must complete and save ALL exercises in each lesson.* * *

To email me, use the Email button at the top right. BUT...

*Please do not attach files to emails! (I teach many classes, so I may get many megabytes of attachments per day, which fill my mailbox. AND files with large attachments go to the end of the mail queue, so their delivery can be delayed for hours, or even days!).

To send me files, use the Upload link at the top right. The file-naming convention for this class will be

f_lastname_##.ext

where "f" is your first initial, "lastname" is your last name, "##" is the exercise number, and "ext" is the correct file extension. Improperly named files will be deleted, since I will have no idea who uploaded them!

If you need to correct a file you've already uploaded, just re-upload your file with the same name; it will overwrite the original.

Though the Flash curriculum takes 18 hours in the classroom, it will take longer online (you don't have me to help watch out for mistakes and recover from them swiftly, like in the classroom). Many students completely underestimate the time it takes to read, digest, perform, troubleshoot, and correct their assignments. You cannot race through this course in a couple of days. Please budget your time!

How to ask questions in an online class:

Please don't feel like your question is an intrusion on my time (I actually get paid for this). But when communicating via email, you must provide LOTS of detail. Please don't ask questions the way you might text-message: "not working... help." will only result in a response such as: "Need details; whole sentences; OMG."

I am not in the room with you; I have no idea which lesson you're on, what exercise you're doing, which step of that exercise is giving you trouble, which platform you use, or even which version of Flash you have. Please provide an abundance of detail.

Though you can't tell from this long page, my writing style in email tends toward being succinct and to the point, without the "why, hello, and what a great question you've asked, my friend... " pleasantries. Sometimes I try to lead you to an answer by asking another question, or referring to a prior exercise. In email this can be misinterpreted as sounding brusque or irritated, but my intent is to get you relevant answers quickly, and/or help you think through a problem logically (if I ask you a question, it isn't rhetorical— I'm looking for a reply so I can see if your thought process is on track).

Please leave the discussion thread visible in your replies to me; I carry on many simultaneous conversations, and cannot follow our conversation without the previous thread (and a meaningful subject line is always appreciated!). If you have your email preferences set to NOT quote the previous response, please change it now.

If you have difficulty articulating a question, you can show me your screen by taking a screenshot:

• Mac users press Command-Shift-3, rename* the "Picture 1" file that appears on your desktop, and upload it.
• PC users press ALT-PrintSreen, open a new image-editing document like Photoshop or Fireworks, choose FILE>Paste, then choose FILE>Save... and save a JPEG or PNG to upload*.

*name the screenshot with your first initial and last name; For example: j_smith_screen1.jpg. If you don't name these carefully, someone can overwrite it when they upload another generically named file!

Further Reading

An excellent intro Flash book is Adobe Flash Professional CS6 Digital Classroom (it is NOT required for this course).

And there are many online tutorials that show you how to achieve simple (and some complex) effects using Flash. I'll share my favorite sites later in the lessons.

(use the tabs at the top of the page to navigate the lessons in this course)