About Actionscript - MACROMEDIA FLASH MX 2004-USING FLASH Use Manual

Updating imported files in the Library panel
If you use an external editor to modify files that you have imported into Flash, such as bitmaps or
sound files, you can update the files in Flash without reimporting them. You can also update
symbols that you have imported from external Flash documents. Updating an imported file
replaces its contents with the contents of the external file.
To update an imported file:
•
Select the imported file in the Library panel and select Update from the Library options menu.
Working with common libraries
You can use the sample common libraries included with Flash to add buttons or sounds to your
documents. You can also create custom common libraries, which you can then use with any
documents that you create.
To use an item from a common library in a document:
Select Window > Other Panels > Common Libraries, and select a library from the submenu.
1.
Drag an item from the common library into the library for the current document.
2.
To create a common library for your Flash application:
Create a Flash file with a library containing the symbols that you want to include in the
1.
permanent library.
Place the Flash file in the Libraries folder located in the Flash application folder on your
2.
hard disk.
Note: The Libraries folder is located in the application-level configuration folder, one of several
configuration folders placed on your hard drive when you install Flash. For the location of
configuration folders, see

About ActionScript

ActionScript is the Flash scripting language that lets you add complex interactivity, playback
control, and data display to a Flash document. You can add ActionScript within the Flash
authoring environment using the Actions panel or create external ActionScript files using an
external editor.
You don't need to understand every ActionScript element to begin scripting; if you have a clear
goal, you can start building scripts with simple actions. You can incorporate new elements of the
language as you learn them to accomplish more complicated tasks.
As with other scripting languages, ActionScript follows its own rules of syntax, reserves keywords,
provides operators, and lets you use variables to store and retrieve information.
ActionScript includes built-in objects and functions and lets you create custom
objects and functions. For more information on ActionScript, see Chapter 2, "ActionScript
Basics," in Using ActionScript in Flash.
"Configuration folders installed with Flash" on page 17.

About ActionScript

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