U7d1: The MX Movie Clip Handler---- Please complete the exercise on page 764, �Event Methods: The MX Movie Clip Handler.� After completing the exercise, write a brief summary and post it. Discuss the exercise summaries from your classmates. Ask questions and give advice on dealing with event methods. Comment on at least two classmates' exercises.

Here is the url for my exercise for the MX Movie Clip Handler:

rbloodworth.com/5514/tracker_oce.htm

I think action scripting is effective and powerful but every dot and letter has to be in the right place in addition to the precise wording so it is really like learning a foreign language since there are so many intricacies involved.

One issue I am not completely sure of is at what size to set the Document Properties in Flash since the full screen is: 1024 X 768 pixels and the default value is 800 x 600 pixels. But no matter at what dimensions I set the screen I always seem to get a (white, unless I set a different color in Page Properties in Dreamweaver) margin around the page when I set the Dreamweaver dimensions to 100%.   I noticed several examples had a mat or border around the movie clip image where the image would go behind. Was that done with a mask or with setting the page size in Flash?   Richard  

U7d1 comment to Natalie   I think that adhering flower idea would be effective if the user of the site had a choice of depositing or pasting it on to a tree of flower stem if they wanted (if that can be done).   Richard  

U7d1 comment to Charlotte   In mathematical terms the x and y axes in a graph usually describe the positions with 4 quadrants but with the computer's configuration zero is located in the upper left of the screen so that on the computer the screen would correspond to the fourth quadrant of a two dimensional graph having positive and negative numbers (illustrated in the diagram below):   1 | 2 ------ 3 | 4   Richard

U7d2:

U7d2 comment to Chris

I don't think your animated rollover effect is too much: it makes your web page seem that it is alive. Also, I like your intro/splash page but if someone visits your site often they might want the option of going directly to the home page. ----- Richard

U7d2 comment to Luis:

Your site has some interesting visuals but I don't think I would ever want to have any run-ins with the clients depicted. Did you make those composite creatures (with Photoshop perhaps)? ----- Richard

Check your Flash Web site for interactivity level, and answer the following questions:
How can you make your site more user friendly?

Where can a movie clip event, or a mouse drag behavior, or other movie clip property (pp. 754-756), be added to your project?

Choose at least one new method to add to your Flash project. Keep in mind that you should give your viewers choices of movement or interactivity throughout your movie. Post your responses.

Discuss the answers of your classmates, commenting on at least two classmates' answers. Make observations and give suggestions on how classmates might add more complexity and greater interactivity to their projects.

I am involved in a class concerning interface design (ED722) and we have discussed the issue of usability. One of the textbooks is Don't Make Me Think by Steve Krug which says that a website should be accessible and navigationally understood. There is always room for creativity and new ideas but the basic structure of all websites have essentially standardized navigational approaches.

These questions should be answered by the site's users:

What site is this?
What page is this?
What are the major sections?
What are the options at each level?
Does the reader know where he is within the scheme of the website?
How can the reader of the website perform a search?
And they should always be able to locate the home page.

The website designer should create a site so that people react in an almost instinctual, non-thinking way when using the website so that the interaction within the website forms a natural, flowing, and attractive interface. Though people sometimes enjoy a challenge, generally speaking, if something is difficult to do and given a choice then people tend not to do -- it especially if there is an easier and more efficient way of doing it.

My experimental idea for the site I am doing involves all of the pages immediately branching off from the main page so that the homepage is for the most part always visible and the user is always aware of where he is. I plan on using movie clips and the draggable piece we created in Unit 7.

My new method involves transferring VCDs and DVDs from CDs to the computer. I just got a program called MPEG4 for that purpose (I also got a program called Audiograbber for transferring music CDs into .wav and .avi files after Julie's information) and starting using it. The VCD transfers played back correctly but the playback image, when played on Media Player or Real Player, of the recorded DVD segments are upside down mirror images of the movies. But when I import the videos into Flash using the Sorenson compression the images show correctly.   So either that is the usual occurrence or Flash (or probably the Sorenson compression component) is able to recognize the mirror images and correct them. So I plan on using these videos as movie clips in my project. ----- Richard

From Amar Almasude: Hello Richard, I have never heard of such an experience! When I get sometime, I will try to replicate your test and see how it goes.  I would be very surprised if Flash recognizes mirror images and corrects them :-)  Your compression software is more likely to correct the problem. Thank you for sharing your experience! Thanks for sending Unit 7.  Go ahead and post it in the CourseRoom when you can access it!

To Amar Almasude: I was just going to send in my Unit 7 assignment but the CourseRoom is unavailable now. I'll send in the other discussions tomorrow but here is the url for u7d1:

rbloodworth.com/5514/tracker_oce.htm Thank you ----- Richard

To Amar Almasude: This is a follow-up to the previous letter. Concerning the mirror images:  When I play the recorded video segments on my computer using either Media Player or Real Player the images are the mirror images I was referring to but when I import the videos into Flash using the Sorenson compression the images show correctly.   So either that is the usual occurance or Flash is able to recognise the mirror images and correct them. ----- Richard

To Amar Amasude: Thank you for your letter. I have added more to both of the sites since I wrote to you so you can check them out when you have a chance.

For TS5514: http://rbloodworth.com/5514/Splash1New2AAA.htm

For ED722: http://rbloodworth.com/722/ED722HomePage1.htm -----Richard

P.S. One question:  I just downloaded an MPEG4 Direct Maker for making .avi files from DVDs and VCDs.  The VCD transfers are working out well but the playback image of the recorded DVD segments are upside down mirror images of the movies.  Do you know how that can be corrected or what is causing that to happen?

From Amar Almasude: Thanks for sending me your URLs.  It looks like you have got a start which is great! You do have a ways to go to finish up.  It will be great if you get some time to focus on the project... so it is good that you can do that without the Internet services. If you have any questions as you work feel free to contact. me.Thanks! Amar

To Amar Almasude: I am working hard on reading all of the assigned readings and am doing the exercises in the book and also am working on putting together a final project. My guest from Taiwan has returned to Taiwan and wrote to me that they had a typhoon and were flooded there and the apartment where I stayed is now under water so I am sorry about what happened to the people there but I left there at the right time based on that situation.

It seems it is always something: the telephone company was unable to install a telephone because of the location of the house and therefore no DSL connection for the Internet so I have been using my relatives' office space to connect to the Internet. I can do the design work and studying in my dwelling so it is about the same except that I have to carry my computer around with me.I am working on two classes now and plan on doing a lot in the next few days and weeks towards the completion of the multimedia project.

My url for TS5514 was: http://vle1.capella.edu/125836 and the content is now at: http://rbloodworth.com/5514/Splash1New2AAA.htm

There is a lot of cross pollination between the two classes since they both are about computer aided design. In ED722 I am using a lot of Flash as well so I am including that url so that you can look at what I have been doing in that class as well. I am still developing all of the sites and hope to get them all completed by the end of the quarter.

My url for ED 722 was: http://www.lc.capellauniversity.edu/~125836/ED722HomePage1.htm and the content is now found at:

http://rbloodworth.com/5514/ED722HomePage1.htm --- Richard