Macromedia Studio MX Bible

You can access Publish Settings by choosing File ® Publish Settings. After your settings are all done, you can click the Publish button in the HTML tab if you want your movie in an HTML page or choose File ® Export for an SWF movie. The following options are available:

• Format tab — The default tab that opens is Format. The Flash (.swf) and HTML (html) are checked by default. SWF is the only format that maintains full functionality of your movie and ActionScript.

• GIF — GIF is used primarily for images with a lot of flat color and when you want a transparent background. Its main limitation is the fact that it supports only 256 colors. When you check the GIF option, a GIF tab is added to the Publish Settings dialog box.

  The options in this tab enable you to format your Flash movie into a static GIF image or a GIF animation, which can be used if a user doesn't have a Flash player installed.

• JPEG — JPEG is best used on images with more than 256 colors, such as photographs. Although gradients don't have that many colors, they also look better as JPEGs. Gradients in a GIF usually have banding, but as JPEGs they look great.

  Cross-Reference

  Full details of the JPEG options are covered in Chapter 23.

  JPEG images are compressed and then decompressed when they are opened. This means that although the file size is small more memory is needed to decompress the image in the browser than for a GIF image.

  When you select the JPEG option, a JPEG tab is added to the Publish Settings dialog box. From this tab you can make some adjustments to the image. For example you can change height and width, the quality, and whether you want to use the Progressive option.

  Note

  The JPEG options in the Publish Settings area do not override the settings you chose for the individual image in the Library under Properties. These settings are for static JPEG images you may want to export to the Flash movie.

• PNG — PNG (Portable Network Graphics) was developed as an improvement over GIF and JPEG, which it is, if all the browsers actually supported its wonderful features. Its biggest advantage is that you can have transparency and lossless compression. Unfortunately these features are not fully supported yet in the major browsers. Until they are, the PNG format will not be used widely on the Internet. The PNG settings in this tab also apply to exporting a static image of your Flash movie.

• Windows Projector — Choose this option if you want to export your movie as a stand-alone projector for use in Windows.

• Macintosh Projector — Choose this option if you want to export your movie as a stand-alone projector for use on a Macintosh.

• QuickTime — Starting with QuickTime 4, there has been built-in support for Flash SWF files as well as something called a Flash track. Flash can import QuickTime movies, add Flash content and then export the whole movie as a QuickTime movie. If you want to publish your Flash movie as a QuickTime movie, check the QuickTime option in the Format tab and make the appropriate selections.

  Note

  Real Player was supported in Flash 4 but not in Flash MX.

• Flash tab — The Flash tab offers a lot of control over your movie settings. The following list looks at each option separately.

  • Version — Choose the version of Flash Player you want your movie to be compatible with. Be aware that new features of a version will not be compatible with older Flash Players. The new features in Flash MX will not be present in the Flash 5 Player.

  • Load Order — If you check this option, you can determine how your frames load. Bottom up, which is the default, loads in ascending order: the lowest layer displays first, then the second, and so on. If you select Top, the frames load in a descending order.

  • Generate Size Report — The size report can be quite useful in determining problem areas in bandwidth concerns. If you check this option, the Publish command exports a Simple Text (Mac) or TXT file (PC).

  • Omit Trace Actions — If you used trace actions while you were developing your movie, check this option. The Flash player ignores any trace actions used in ActionScripting. The trace actions open the Flash Output window for debugging purposes.

  • Protect From Import — If you check this option, it protects your Flash SWF file from being downloaded and imported into Flash. But Macromedia Director can import and use even protected SWF files. Some hacker utilities can get at a protected file as well. SWF files can be read in NotePad to see variables names and values. Because of this, you should never include sensitive information, such as passwords, in your source file. The bottom line is, that protecting your movies helps discourage the general audience from using your movies. Those who know how and are determined to steal your work can do so.

  • Debugging Permitted — With this option checked, you could access the Debugger panel from the Debug Movie environment or from a browser, which has the Flash plug-in. (You'll need to install the Flash Debug Player plug-in or ActiveX control. You can find it in the Players folder of your Flash MX application folder.)

  • Compress Movie — The move is compressed to reduce file size and download time. This new option to Flash MX works only in the Flash 6 player.

  • Password — If you checked Allow Debugging, which can be accessed from an Internet browser, you should check this option so that the Debug Movie panel can only be accessed with a password.

  • JPEG Quality — The slider from 0-100 determines the JPEG compression applied to bitmap images. The higher the value you choose, the less compression applied. This setting doesn't override the choices made in the Library.

  • Audio Stream — The display you see listed is the current audio compression scheme for Audio Stream. If you click the Set button, you can alter the compression scheme. Like bitmap properties, the Audio Stream settings do not override the compression value if any compression other than the default is applied in the Sound properties dialog box in the Flash Library.

  • Audio Event — The display listed is the current scheme for Audio Event. The Set button enables you to alter the settings. Audio Event works very much like Audio Stream.

  • Override Sound Settings — This option enables you to override any settings you made to the Sound properties in the Flash Library.

• HTML tab — The settings in this tab control the way Flash publishes its movie to an HTML page. A lot of the options in this tab are self-explanatory if you understand how HTML works.

  The first option, Template, gives you options to choose from such as Flash Only for Pocket PC or Image Map. Make a selection; then click the Info button, which gives a description of the option and a bit of instruction. It would be a good idea if you haven't done so yet, to check out the info buttons on each option to familiarize yourself with everything you can do.

Make any other size, playback, quality, or alignment changes you want and click OK when you are done.