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flash (macromedia) : Flash 8: More trouble than it's worth
Not sure what you hope to gain from your post, except maybe to blow off stream (which is fine, I guess). But in case a reply would be helpful, here goes ... [quoted text, click to view] > - Images exported now come out the size of your > finger nail, instead of actual pixle size When I export images from Flash 8, I have to option to specify resolution, depending on the format (PNG, for example). Images certainly do export at actual pixel size, though. Not sure what's going on in your case. [quoted text, click to view] > - ctrl + z is now done in such a way that after a few > hours of drawing and pressing ctrl + z, a computers > resources are almost completely leeched, and flash > will crash if you attempt to do it any more. I don't experience this at all. [quoted text, click to view] > I've gotten to the point where I was waiting about 5 > seconds for a ctrl + z to work, and I've got 4 gb of > ram. Sounds like an unusual case. I have 2GB of RAM (even less on my laptop) and simply haven't seen this issue. [quoted text, click to view] > - When using a wacom tablet, you can flip it for the > eraser. Well don't even bother, because the eraser > stays the same size as the pen you were just using, > so it's about the size of a pin head, and completely > useless. This one, I've heard about from someone else's post. I have a Wacom tablet but haven't tested this particular feature. This one ... you may have a point. [quoted text, click to view] > - When pasting in many frames (going from frame to > frame pasting things), certain pen strokes become > untouchable. You cannot erase them, or changes them. Haven't experienced this. [quoted text, click to view] > - Flash 8 claims to be able to export files so that flash > mx can use them. Nope. The files are corrupted when > opened with flash mx. Nope. Flash 8 makes no such claim. What it can do is export for Flash MX 2004, and those files open just fine. I regularly subcontract on projects where the other team members have only Flash MX 2004 and haven't had any problems. In the increasingly rare cases where other team members only have Flash MX, I save for Flash MX 2004, then open in Flash MX 2004 in order to save for Flash MX. [quoted text, click to view] > - When drawing with the pen tool, you occasionally > get an exploded line. It just shoots off in some direction. I begin to wonder if you have gremlins! This just hasn't happened for me -- I think ... ever. [quoted text, click to view] > - simple action scripts such as button command "onDrag" > are next to impossible to find without the index tool, and > even then I get errors in action script. Not sure what you mean by "index tool," but regardless, your best best for programming to get comfortable with the ActionScript 2.0 Language Reference. I realize it can be intimidating if you're only getting started, but I find it really helps if you can think of things in terms of objects, then look up the class entry for the object at hand. See if this article helps you get a better sense of footing ... http://www.quip.net/blog/2006/flash/tackling-the-actionscript-20-language-reference [quoted text, click to view] > - My biggest complaint is the color mixer. It has been > reduced to about 1/4 the size and I have to smash my > face up against the screen to fine pick a color. This one ... absolutely. The mixer really should be bigger than it is. [quoted text, click to view] > - A tiny, yet incredibly annoying, glitch for flash 8 is > also in the color mixer. It involves trying to pick a > color and having it immidiately snap back to black, > or white, or whatever color you had previously. I *think* I know what you mean here, but not exactly sure. I agree with you that color selection could be improved, and I'm not really sure why this particular feature went a bit astray. [quoted text, click to view] > There a few more things I have forgotten, but I'm sure > I've said enough. > ~Thanks for reading. Sure thing. I'm sorry to hear you're so frustrated. Aside from the couple issues where I concur, I personally find that Flash just keeps getting better. David Stiller Adobe Community Expert Dev blog, http://www.quip.net/blog/ "Luck is the residue of good design."
SM6601,
[quoted text, click to view] > Yeah, it must keep getting better as you pull your hair > out learning it. Of course! :) I felt that way with Illustrator. I feel that way with 3D modelling apps. [quoted text, click to view] > How about the glitch creating the Fade In transition, but > you have to live w/ it and its creation of the new transition > layer. What glitch? [quoted text, click to view] > I agree it keeps getting better when you see the results of > your development efforts, but learning it is almost a trial > and error process. That reminds me of my earliest efforts with Director. ;) I cut my teeth on that app, trial and error all the way. With each new version, I threw myself into the new features and trial-and-errored my way through those, too. Same with Flash. On many goals, I don't succeed -- at least not at first. It can definitely be tough. David Stiller Adobe Community Expert Dev blog, http://www.quip.net/blog/ "Luck is the residue of good design."
I'm an animator, so I do not use flash for it's more complicated tasks such as
action scripting. However, I have had so many issues with just drawing, and animation, that I'm about to go back to flash mx. I cannot remember all of them but here is a small list off of the top of my head: - Images exported now come out the size of your finger nail, instead of actual pixle size - ctrl + z is now done in such a way that after a few hours of drawing and pressing ctrl + z, a computers resources are almost completely leeched, and flash will crash if you attempt to do it any more. I've gotten to the point where I was waiting about 5 seconds for a ctrl + z to work, and I've got 4 gb of ram. - When using a wacom tablet, you can flip it for the eraser. Well don't even bother, because the eraser stays the same size as the pen you were just using, so it's about the size of a pin head, and completely useless. - When pasting in many frames (going from frame to frame pasting things), certain pen strokes become untouchable. You cannot erase them, or changes them. To fix this you have to click the pen mark, then the backround then switch to the tool you want again. This has to be done for every frame and can become very annoying as any animator will know. - Flash 8 claims to be able to export files so that flash mx can use them. Nope. The files are corrupted when opened with flash mx. - When drawing with the pen tool, you occasionally get an exploded line. It just shoots off in some direction. This happens mostly when holding shift and using the pen. - simple action scripts such as button command "onDrag" are next to impossible to find without the index tool, and even then I get errors in action script. I'm not an expert programmer and flash mx was easy enough for me. - My biggest complaint is the color mixer. It has been reduced to about 1/4 the size and I have to smash my face up against the screen to fine pick a color. All to make room for the now over-sized box that shows you the color you have picked. An alternative to this is to click on the paint bucket and then the color wheel, which isn't too hard... but as I explained, after doing it a thousand times, I'm sick of it. - A tiny, yet incredibly annoying, glitch for flash 8 is also in the color mixer. It involves trying to pick a color and having it immidiately snap back to black, or white, or whatever color you had previously. The color is indeed chosen anew, but if you want to choose a color and then lower opacity, I'm afraid flash 8 just doesn't allow it. There a few more things I have forgotten, but I'm sure I've said enough. ~Thanks for reading.
Supports my argument to wait for Flash to mature before diving in.
Unfortunately, it has won out everywhere you turn in the computer-based and web-based presentation world. So we're all forced to learn it as well as its programming language just to accomplish basic tasks. Adobe, get your act together!!!
Ill chime in here as well....
[quoted text, click to view] jjjooee wrote: > I'm an animator, Me too. [quoted text, click to view] > - Images exported now come out the size of your finger nail, instead of actual > pixle size Not a common problem. make sure resolution is the same. otherwise can not repro. [quoted text, click to view] > - ctrl + z is now done in such a way that after a few hours of drawing and > pressing ctrl + z, a computers resources are almost completely leeched, and > flash will crash if you attempt to do it any more. I've gotten to the point > where I was waiting about 5 seconds for a ctrl + z to work, and I've got 4 gb > of ram. Never had a problem like this. I have flash running literally 24/7. Hardly ever quit. hardly ever reboot. 1GB RAM and no memory issues unless i purposely choke it with a 500MB file (which I don't do). [quoted text, click to view] > - When using a wacom tablet, you can flip it for the eraser. Well don't even > bother, because the eraser stays the same size as the pen you were just using, > so it's about the size of a pin head, and completely useless. I use the eraser just fine - no issues. Can't repro your issue. Make sure you have updated wacom driver? Adjust wacom settings? [quoted text, click to view] > - When pasting in many frames (going from frame to frame pasting things), > certain pen strokes become untouchable. You cannot erase them, or changes them. > To fix this you have to click the pen mark, then the backround then switch to > the tool you want again. This has to be done for every frame and can become > very annoying as any animator will know. Can not repro this - not sure I even understand the correlation between pasting and pen strokes. [quoted text, click to view] > - Flash 8 claims to be able to export files so that flash mx can use them. > Nope. The files are corrupted when opened with flash mx. Again, can't repro this. I have never had a problem saving down to MX 2004 from 8. When you say corrupted - the FLA is corrupted in what way? It can't be opend at all? [quoted text, click to view] > - When drawing with the pen tool, you occasionally get an exploded line. It > just shoots off in some direction. This happens mostly when holding shift and > using the pen. I have heard some Mac users complain about this. I am on PC and have never experienced it. I have several wacoms here and 2 machines - no issues with either wacom. [quoted text, click to view] > - simple action scripts such as button command "onDrag" are next to impossible > to find without the index tool, and even then I get errors in action script. > I'm not an expert programmer and flash mx was easy enough for me. What do the errors say? [quoted text, click to view] > - My biggest complaint is the color mixer. It has been reduced to about 1/4 > the size and I have to smash my face up against the screen to fine pick a > color. All to make room for the now over-sized box that shows you the color you > have picked. An alternative to this is to click on the paint bucket and then > the color wheel, which isn't too hard... but as I explained, after doing it a > thousand times, I'm sick of it. This is the only issue I can agree with you on - I almost hate the size of the color mixer - it's way too small and bumms me out everytime. [quoted text, click to view] > - A tiny, yet incredibly annoying, glitch for flash 8 is also in the color > mixer. It involves trying to pick a color and having it immidiately snap back > to black, or white, or whatever color you had previously. The color is indeed > chosen anew, but if you want to choose a color and then lower opacity, I'm > afraid flash 8 just doesn't allow it. Can repro this at all. I pick a color, the color sticks. Chris Georgenes Animator http://www.mudbubble.com http://www.keyframer.com Adobe Community Expert *\^^/* (OO)
What glitch with Fade In transition? I don't use canned effects or transitions - i much rather make
my own with symbols and tweens. You mention glitches and problems but don;t specify them - are you asking for help? Chances are they might have solutions or work-arounds. Chris Georgenes Animator http://www.mudbubble.com http://www.keyframer.com Adobe Community Expert *\^^/* (OO) <----> [quoted text, click to view] SM6601 wrote:
> Yeah, it must keep getting better as you pull your hair out learning it. How > about the glitch creating the Fade In transition, but you have to live w/ it > and its creation of the new transition layer. I agree it keeps getting better > when you see the results of your development efforts, but learning it is almost > a trial and error process. The problems I see certainly shouldn't be in a > version 8 of such a popular software app.
Yeah, it must keep getting better as you pull your hair out learning it. How
about the glitch creating the Fade In transition, but you have to live w/ it and its creation of the new transition layer. I agree it keeps getting better when you see the results of your development efforts, but learning it is almost a trial and error process. The problems I see certainly shouldn't be in a version 8 of such a popular software app.
jjjooee;
I would guess that your image issue is due to an odd flash behavior concerning image import. Once known, it's easily worked around, so it has never been much of a problem for me--more a curiosity... For some reason flash takes the image dpi setting into account when importing images directly to the stage, and scales that "instance" if it is not 72dpi. You can see this by creating two test images with the same pixel dimensions, but different dpi settings. When imported to the stage the images will display at different sizes, however if dragged from the library--they will be the same size (the actual pixel dimensions). As for the other issues you bring up, I have not run into such problems... -Tom Unger
I'm giving Flash some time and I'm already very happy w/ the results I've seen
in just a month using it. But I'm unhappy w/ the flaws in it's design and usability, but I'm blowing my frustration off as I learn to live w/ it. You like it, and I'm assuming you have been working w/ it for several years- that's the diff!
david:
[quoted text, click to view] >> Sounds like an unusual case. I have 2GB of RAM (even less on my laptop) and simply haven't seen this issue.This may happen to me bacuase I draw very detailed drawings with a multitude of colors and when I do ctrl z, I sometimes hold it in to do many at a time, this seems to be the trigger of the epidemic which consumes ram. I also find it useless that flash 8 remembers me moving from frame to frame, and thus takes away from my already limited 300 undo's. As for the exploding pen lines, it happens when flash tries to auto smooth the line. When holding shift, sometimes a straight line will become a huge black hill. when I say index tool, I meant the booke with all of the action scripts right in it in order. [quoted text, click to view] >>>When I export images from Flash 8, I have to option to specify resolution, depending on the format (PNG, for example). Images certainly doexport at actual pixel size, though. Not sure what's going on in your case.<<< I actually have to make my images about 3000 x 2500 or more before they come out as 400 x 300. A quick way around this is to simply screen shot it, and crop it in another program... but it's flash... I shouldn't have to do that. I also forgot to mention the eyedrop tool now picks up background color. This is particularly agrivating when you try to eyedrop a symbol (won't work) but you think you've got the color because you're now holding a paint bucket. Jokes on you, you picked up the background color. Totally useless feature. for flash mx, I can recall the glitch when you have two tweens next to each other. I learned the hard way that you MUST seperate them with a blank, tween-less frame or else the two seem to mingle and become one. This is not undoable and ruins an animation. sad that it still does this in 8. btw I posted this to vent, of course, but also to get some work-arounds and to maybe get the developers to put thier minds back on track of making thier product work instead of adding features. That is, if they even read this. :D
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