flash data integration: I've been asked to create a Flash file that gets ALL its information from an
XML file, including document size, colours and just about everything that has
to do with layout. Is that even possible to do? This is my first attempt at
using XML with Flash, so I don't have any idea where to start (online tutorial
URL's welcome...) .

You cannot change document size, document background color, and other document
specific properties from within the Flash movie itself as those things are set
outside of the flash player. There are methods of accomplishing similar effects
using JavaScript.