Better performance: break apart images or text fields on the fly

[dragonlau]

Currently I coded with AS3 my app in Flash AIR for iOS.
It seems (my feeling) that using dynamic text fields, created on the fly within a function, has a slower performance for the device than using break apart images.

I used 4 dynamic text fields on-the-fly with text formats from a non-existing font (Lucida Blackletter). Each textfield is faded in and out, followed by the next textfield in the same way. For the cross-fading I used TweenLite.
I am wondering if this is the best way to present the cross-fading texts or should I break apart the sentences of each textfield and convert it to MovieClips and then use Linkage to load in the cross-fading function?

Can someone advice me for the best option for the device?

[cancerinform]

Use the Flash Textengine if you did not do so already and don't embed fonts. Movieclips use a lot of memory so try avoiding them.

[dragonlau]

I already use this for showing the content with 4 textfields:

var textFieldFont:Font = new LucidaBlackletter();
var textFormat:TextFormat = new TextFormat();
textFormat.size = 50;
textFormat.align = TextFormatAlign.CENTER;
textFormat.font = textFieldFont.fontName;
textFormat.color = 0xFFFFFF;

var textField1:TextField = new TextField();
var textField2:TextField = new TextField();
var textField3:TextField = new TextField();
var textField4:TextField = new TextField();
var targetFields:Array = [textField1, textField2, textField3, textField4];

for (var j:int = 0; j < targetFields.length; j++)
{
targetFields[j].defaultTextFormat = textFormat;
targetFields[j].width = 630;
targetFields[j].height = 250;
targetFields[j].border = false;
targetFields[j].wordWrap = true;
targetFields[j].x = 40;
targetFields[j].y = 195;
targetFields[j].alpha = 0;
}

textField1.text = "Met zachte koebelletjes uit een muziekdoosje\n...";
textField2.text = "op de achtergrond,\n...";
textField3.text = "schrijft de eeuwige pennenveer\n...";
textField4.text = "een jaarrond.";

var i:int = 0;

function initFades():void
{
addChild(targetFields[i]);
TweenLite.to(targetFields[i], 2, {alpha:1, onComplete:fadeOutFirst});

function fadeOutFirst():void
{
TweenLite.to(targetFields[i], 2, {delay:5, alpha:0, onComplete:fadeInLoop});
}
}

function fadeOutLoop():void
{
if (i < 3) {
TweenLite.to(targetFields[i], 2, {delay:5, alpha:0, onComplete:fadeInLoop});
} else {
TweenLite.to(targetFields[i], 2, {delay:5, alpha:0, onCompletenFinishTextInvisible});
}
}

function fadeInLoop():void
{
removeChild(targetFields[i]);
if (i < 3) {
i++;
} else {
i = 0;
}
addChild(targetFields[i]);
targetFields[i].alpha = 0;
createNewStar(20, 690, 314, true);
TweenLite.to(targetFields[i], 2, {alpha:1, onComplete:fadeOutLoop});
}

Better stick with the code above than replacing it with mc's (regarding the performance of the app)?

[cancerinform]

http://help.adobe.com/en_US/as3/mobi...7189-7ff5.html

[dragonlau]

Thanks!
I will digg into that.

[dragonlau]

I am not convinced about the benefit of using fte over text fields.
It seems I need more code of lines to show 4 simple sentences with tfe than using text fields.

Just to be sure, I ask it again, do I need fte for showing 4 sentences with little format (font and size)?

[cancerinform]

I am only showing you what people at Adobe think. The rest is up to you. My opinion is that even you write more lines, if it saves you memory it is worth doing it.