MACROMEDIA FLASH 8-GETTING STARTED WITH FLASH, Getting Started

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18 Introduction
Object Drawing model
Previously in Flash, all shapes in the same layer
on the Stage could affect the outlines of other overlapping shapes. You can
now create shapes directly on the Stage that do not interfere with other
shapes on the Stage. When you create a shape with the new Object
Drawing model, the shape does not cause changes to other shapes that exist
underneath the new shape. For more information, see
“About Flash
drawing models” in Using Flash .
FlashType
Text objects on the Stage now have a more consistent
appearance in the Flash authoring tool and in Flash Player. For more
information, see
Chapter 6, “Working with Text” in Using Flash .
Script Assist mode
A new assisted mode in the Actions panel allows you
to create scripts without detailed knowledge of ActionScript. For more
information, see
Chapter 13, “Writing ActionScript with Script Assist” in
Using Flash .
Expanded Stage Work Area
You can use the area around the Stage to
store graphics and other objects without having them appear on the Stage
when you play the SWF file. Macromedia expanded this area, called the
work area, to allow you to store more items there. Flash users often use the
work area to store graphics they plan to animate on the Stage later, or to
store objects that do not have a graphical representation during playback,
such as data components.
Macintosh document tabs You can now open multiple Flash files in the
same Flash application window and choose among them by using the
document tabs at the top of the window.
Improved Preferences dialog box Macromedia streamlined the design
of the Preferences dialog box and reorganized it for improved clarity and
ease of use. For more information, see
“Setting preferences in Flash”
on page 78 .
Single Library panel You can now use a single Library panel to view the
library items of multiple Flash files simultaneously. For more information,
see
“Managing media assets with the library” in Using Flash .
Improved publishing interface
The Publish Settings dialog box has been
streamlined for easier control over your published SWF files. For more
information, see
Chapter 17, “Publishing” in Using Flash .
000_Getting_Started.book Page 18 Friday, September 2, 2005 12:22 PM