Chapter 3: Using Best Practices - MACROMEDIA FLASH MX 2004-USING ACTIONSCRIPT IN FLASH Use Manual

It is important for Macromedia Flash designers and developers to build applications or
animations while being concerned about writing code and structuring applications in a way that
is beneficial either to themselves, or to the other people who might work on the project with
them. Because Macromedia Flash MX 2004 and Macromedia Flash MX Professional 2004 are
powerful and complex programs, this complexity can sometimes create an uncertainty on how to
form a document, format code, or organize ActionScript in a project.
This chapter covers the following topics:
•
"Working with FLA files" on page 66
•
"General coding conventions" on page 69
•
"ActionScript coding standards" on page 82
•
"Using classes and ActionScript 2.0" on page 99
•
"Behaviors conventions" on page 105
•
"Screens conventions" on page 107
•
"Video conventions" on page 110
•
"Performance and Flash Player" on page 114
•
"Guidelines for Flash applications" on page 121
•
"Projects and version control guidelines" on page 127
•
"Guidelines for accessibility in Flash" on page 129
•
"Advertising with Flash" on page 136
Because it is common for more than one designer or developer to work on a single Flash project,
teams benefit when everyone follows a standard set of guidelines for using Flash, organizing FLA
files, and writing ActionScript code. The sections in this chapter outline the best practices for
using Flash and writing ActionScript. Following guidelines also encourages consistency for people
learning how to use Flash and write ActionScript. You should adopt best practices at all times,
whether you are a designer or developer, or working alone or as part of a team.
CHAPTER 3
Using Best Practices
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