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Author Simple navigation question.
thatssotribal

2007-03-12, 4:15 am

OK, so I am at a complete loss at how to accomplish a simple flash navigation
system. I am a graphic designer so flash is not coming as easily as photoshop
and static html pages do. Basically, I am wondering how to make it so that I
have four buttons, that when pressed, the one that is selected moves up while
the others stay at the same level, and also how to trigger content using the
buttons. to explain what i want to accomplish visually i have uploaded two
screenshots of the desired effect.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/...ribalx/help.jpg

to this after being clicked:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/...balx/help-1.jpg

This would be so much easier to code in CSS but for the content it will serve,
flash is better suited to this project. Please help! Thanks!!

The Feldkircher

2007-03-12, 7:18 pm

Hi

At first glance what your asking for seems easy enough, however when you start
to think about it - it quickly becomes a coding nightmare. You have to know the
button state of every button in every possible combination of up and down in
any user selected order.

How is the button reset to its original positon?
When the button is clicked it should Trigger content - internal or external
content?

Basically theres a lot to think about, I suggest you read the Flash Help files
for Buttons and Tweening.
As for loading content whether it be moving around the timeline or loading
swf's or even opening other html pages
this type of navigation is the most asked about in this forum and the most
difficult to answer.



thatssotribal

2007-03-13, 4:16 am

This would be a cinch using CSS...is there any way I can use CSS in conjunction with the flash file? Sorry I am very, very new to this.
The Feldkircher

2007-03-13, 7:23 pm

Hi

CSS with Flash - No Problem. Theres plenty of tutorials out there to help you

Google - Using CSS with Flash - I got 165,000,000 hits

Hope it helps
thatssotribal

2007-03-14, 4:15 am

alright...i guess if i am going to try to do this i want to learn, no matter
how hard it is. i am trying to emulate this template


http://www.templatehelp.com/preset/...=3Q2P7g93F4eju9
3em4J52LUq1hYM59

only with my own designs, but the same style nav bar....and the way it
displays the photos is something i'd want to learn how to do as well. any links
or directions on where to look to learn would be appreciated. thanks for the
help so far.

The Feldkircher

2007-03-14, 7:15 pm

Hi

Now I've seen a working example, its similiar to one of my photo galleries in
the way it presents the pictures.
This is done entirely in Actionscript, it could be done on the Timeline but
why give yourself a headache.

The navigation is relatively simple to organise now I've seen it in practice,
your first post was a little confusing in the description of the button
operation. Now I know what the template does - I now understand a lot more.

When you say you want to trigger content - is this within Flash ie: new
galleries and other areas of the website.

I'll work on a sample to get ya start and then you can go from there. I
strongly suggest you learn actionscript as fast as possible this type of dev
really really needs it.

I let ya know when its ready

thatssotribal

2007-03-16, 4:15 am

Yes, I would like to trigger the content within flash. So trying to do it using
the timeline is the hard way? I'll get on learning action script...and if you
could provide that example(s) I would appreciate it a lot. I know when I first
learned css it was from the veterans giving me actual code and me deciphering
it to see how it all worked. Thanks for the help so far.

The Feldkircher

2007-03-16, 7:14 am

Hi

I've got the code written for the buttons, send me an email address and I can
send it to ya.
I have explained each line with comments in side the fla.
You'll notice that the stage is blank - and the first frame of the time as a
little 'a' inside it - thats because this is all done in AS

I am still working on the Gallery animation part but getting closer.

a30n

2007-03-16, 11:14 pm

The Feldkircher, would you mind posting a link where I could see the fla. too. I am curious how you did it.
thatssotribal

2007-03-16, 11:14 pm

my email is christopherjphoto@yahoo.com

i really appreciate you helping me out so far.
The Feldkircher

2007-03-16, 11:15 pm

Hi

I have posted it http://members.inode.at/554689/flashgallery.fla

Enjoy
thatssotribal

2007-03-16, 11:15 pm

For some reason the file will not open. Flash MX crashes with the error report
that Flash 6.0 r25 has encountered a problem and needs to close. Any
suggestions on troubleshooting this so that I can open it?

The Feldkircher

2007-03-16, 11:15 pm

Ok! I assumed you had Flash 8 Pro, I will re-send as Flash 6
thatssotribal

2007-03-16, 11:15 pm

Hmm, sorry again, but now with the flash 6 file it says "Unexpected File Format".
Gosh, frustrating. I'm really sorry.
thatssotribal

2007-03-16, 11:15 pm

ok finally got it loaded up...now for a question...i am wondering now how i
import my photographs into the script, and i don't think i am sure how i am
supposed to code to load from an XML file....sorry if I sound ignorant...the
only programming experience i have under my belt is some simple basic and very
basic knowledge of c.

The Feldkircher

2007-03-17, 4:15 am

Ok Now I know your using Flash 6, so I will make the gallery loader in that
format
XML in Flash can be acheived in many ways - but I will concentrate on the
programming in Actionscript.
Programming for XML is relatively simple in Flash, once you see how its done
then you can use it any time you need to load external content.

Looking at the template you posted, it seems the photos in each gallery always
move to the same position on the Stage. This makes it easier to program the x,y
coords into the XML file. I will try and have an example up and running some
time over the weekend. I'll let ya know when its ready.

Caio for Now

thatssotribal

2007-03-18, 11:16 pm

Alright. Thanks a lot for doing this. I'm sure I'll pick up a few tricks from viewing the code when its complete. I can't wait!! Email me once you get it up and running.
The Feldkircher

2007-03-20, 4:16 am

OK Its ready. This was a real XXXXX to do in Flash 6 - You need to get up to F8
Pro - It's so much easier.

What it is - It's a strip down version of the template sample due to Flash 6.
It will give you an insight into Loading XML and Nested
Movieclips and how to manipulate them.

What it's not - A Full blooded rip-off of the template - I will leave that up
to you.
A complete answer - this will get you started, I
don't have the energy to do anymore.

You will need to save the .fla and the two .xml files to your hd, then create
a folder named 'images' in the same location.
Save/Copy the .jpg's into the 'images' folder - now your ready to run. - Enjoy.





Wagner Matos

2007-03-20, 7:15 pm

Hey Feldkircher,

Could you post a link to the final file?

Would be just great see how you made it!

Thanks
The Feldkircher

2007-03-20, 7:15 pm

Hi

Send me an email address and I will send you the files
Wagner Matos

2007-03-20, 11:16 pm

Hi

wagner.matos@orange.net
vagner.matos123@XXXXXXXXXX

Many many thanks!
Wagner Matos

2007-03-20, 11:16 pm

Hi,

wagner.matos@orange.net
vagner.matos123@XXXXXXXXXX
wagner.matos@wmgraphicdesign.co.uk

Many thanks!

Wagner
The Feldkircher

2007-03-21, 11:23 pm

Hi Wagner

The files are on their way

Enjoy
abell06

2007-03-29, 4:16 am

hey,
can you send me the flash 8 pro files you mentioned?
email: austin@kustedg.com
thanks!
The Feldkircher

2007-03-30, 7:16 pm

Hi Abell06

There are only Flash 6 files due to thatssotribal not having F8 Pro, I will
send what I have.
Because this was written for an older version obviously many of the features
now in F8 could not be used
Such as the Moviecliploader class, which would be a far better way of doing
this.

Cheers

rollingO

2007-03-30, 7:16 pm

Hi Feldkircher,

Would you mind sending me the Flash 6 files too? I'm using Flash MX so they
would work for me. I have been beating my head against a similar problem and
I'm hoping your files have the answer.

jessica.eichman@earthlink.net

Thanks!

The Feldkircher

2007-03-30, 7:16 pm

Hi

On their way, enjoy

The Feldkircher
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