Advanced, ACE Edition
Frequently asked questions and instructor notes
Note for Adobe Creative Cloud users
This course as originally written and published was designed for the release version of Flash CS6. Adobe’s new Flash CC, while based on CS6, is a constantly evolving product, and software updates may frequently add or change features.
This book has been tested with Flash CC version 13.0.1.808, current as of November 2013. Most features and activities will be identical in behavior to Flash CS6, though not all screenshots and commands will be exactly the same. Flash CC also requires 64-bit Windows 7 or Windows 8: Windows XP is no longer supported. Changes are detailed in the following Course Notes topic, and instructors using Flash CC should review the course against their own software before class. Creative Cloud users may still install Flash CS6, by installing it onto a 32-bit version of Windows 7 or Windows 8.
Topic A: Classroom setup
All our courses assume that each student has a personal computer to use during the class. Our hands-on approach to learning requires that they do. This topic gives information on how to set up the classroom to teach this course.
Hardware requirements
Each student’s personal computer should have:
· A keyboard and a mouse
· An Intel Pentium 4, Intel Centrino, Intel Xeon, or Intel Core Duo (or compatible) processor
· At least 2 GB of RAM
· 3.5 GB of hard disk space
· A DVD-ROM drive for installation
· A monitor with a minimum resolution of 1280X960 at 24-bit color or better
Software requirements
You will need the following software:
· Microsoft Windows 7 (preferred), or Windows XP with Service Pack 3, or Windows Vista with Service Pack 2
· Flash CS6 Professional
· Mozilla Firefox
Network requirements
The following network components and connectivity are also required for this course:
· Internet access, for the following purposes:
– Downloading the latest critical updates and service packs for Windows
– Downloading the Student Data files from www.axzopress.com
(if necessary)
Classroom setup instructions
Before you teach this course, you will need to perform the following steps to set up each student computer.
1 Install Windows 7 according to the software manufacturer’s instructions. If the student machines have Internet access, and they are behind a software or hardware firewall, install the latest critical updates and service packs.
Note: You can also use Windows Vista or XP, but the screen shots in this course were taken in Windows 7, so students’ screens might look somewhat different.
2 With flat-panel displays, we recommend using the panel’s native resolution for best results. Color depth/quality should be set to High (24 bit) or higher.
3 Display file extensions and hidden files.
a In Windows, click Start and choose Computer.
b Click Organize, choose “Folder and search options,” and click the View tab.
c Clear the checkbox for “Hide extensions for known file types.”
d Select “Show hidden files, folders, and drives” and click OK.
e Close Windows Explorer.
4 Install Adobe Flash CS6 Professional according to the software manufacturer’s instructions.
5 Start Adobe Flash CS6 Professional. Choose Help, Updates to open the Adobe Updater. In the Adobe Updater, click Preferences. Clear all of the checkboxes for automatic notification and reporting on Adobe updates.
Warning: The activities in this course were tested with updated software as of September 2012. If any subsequent Adobe updates include significant changes, some activities might not work exactly as described and some screen shots might not match what students will see on their screens. Therefore, if you choose to update the software, we strongly recommend that you go through the entire course, noting any changes so you can point them out during class.
6 Install Mozilla Firefox and make it the default browser. It can be found for free at Mozilla.org.
7 Install Flash player, available at www.adobe.com.
8 Install the Toolkit for CreateJS extension. It is available at http://www.adobe.com/devnet/createjs.html. This extension is needed for only one activity.
9 If you have the data disc that came with this manual, locate the Student Data folder on it and copy it to the desktop of each student computer.
If you don’t have the data disc, you can download the Student Data files for the course:
a Connect to www.axzopress.com.
b Under Downloads, click Instructor-Led Training.
c Browse the subject categories to locate your course. Then click the course title to display a list of available downloads. (You can also access these downloads through our Catalog listings.)
d Click the link(s) for downloading the Student Data files. You can download the files directly to student machines or to a central location on your own network.
e Create a folder named Student Data on the desktop of each student computer.
f Double-click the downloaded zip file(s) and drag the contents into the Student Data folder.
Topic B: Frequently asked questions
There are no frequently asked questions for this course at this time.
Topic C: Course notes
Flash CC changes
When using Flash CC, there will be several changes to setup and activities, as detailed below:
Course setup
· Flash CC is compatible with 64-bit versions of Windows 7 with Service Pack 1 or Windows 8. Windows XP and Windows Vista are not supported.
· The Toolkit for CreateJS extension is now included as part of Flash CC, so there is no need to install it separately.
Activities
In general, many panels and dialog boxes have been changed in layout. When a dialog box or panel differs from a screenshot, use ToolTips if necessary to verify the correct option.
The Project panel is deprecated in Flash CC. Unit 1, Activity B-1 cannot be completed. This also affects Step 1 of the corresponding Independent Practice Activity.
The Library panel in Flash CC classifies all bitmap images as type Bitmap. Selecting GIF, JPG, PNG, etc must be done by file extension. This affects the independent practice activity of Unit 1.
The Actions toolbox is deprecated in Flash CC. This affects activities beginning in Unit 2, Topic A.
The Auto Format and Check Syntax buttons have been deprecated in Flash CC. However, since the left column in ActionScript windows now shows the open/close of each block, the lack of a closing brace is now more apparent. This affects activities beginning in Unit 2, Topic A.
TLF Text is deprecated in Flash CC. This affects Unit 3, Topic A. Steps 3 and 4 of Activity A-1 can be skipped without otherwise affecting the activity.
F12 no longer previews in browser in Flash CC. Instead, you can publish the file, or use Crtl+Enter to preview it as a Flash Video. This affects activities starting in Unit 4, Topic A.
The Bandwidth Profiler is deprecated in Flash CC. This affects Unit 5, Topic C, and activity C-1 cannot be completed.
Flash CC by default publishes to AIR 3.6 for Desktop, instead of 3.2. This affects Unit 5, Topic D.
Since Toolkit for Create JS is now a part of Flash CC, it can be accessed directly through the Window menu, instead of Window, Other Panels. This affects Unit 5, Topic E.
Topic D: Additional information
There is no additional information for this course at this time.