Flash 6 wish list :: A few of my own wishes
I've been reading through all the pages in this thread(17 now isn't it) and I've seen alot of wish's for flash to support 3d and text effects. Based on this and a couple of annoyances and other wishes of my own I think I have a start to a solution.
While I'm not going to bore you with all the little details(I could. I even had a little flow chart syntax figured out that goes like this:
syntax:
1 :: <problem(s) description>
1.1 :: <sub problem(s) description>
1.1.1 :: <ectera description>
and/or:
<problem(s)>.<sub problem(s)>.<ectera> :: <description>
), I am going to try and makes some generic suggestions for a fix on some of the stuff. Why not make Macromedia's job a little easier by showing a way to meet our wishes rather, than just piling them on there head and expecting them to fix it.
List:
int num=1;
cout >> num >> ":: oops sorry slipping into the wrong state of mind here";
1 :: I would like to see some 3D abilities added.
2 :: I would like the ability to dynamically create new objects. Like the ability to dynamically draw a line or shapes from vector to vector instead of having to duplicate symbols. This goes hand-in-hand with 3D abilities: For having this ability allows people to make true 3D engines.
3 :: Symbols should be turned into classes and left open to the programmers interpretation. You should keep your three basic symbol templates(I like the smartclip ability in Flash5), but leave them open for modification, and also allow other users to create new objects/classes with class inheritance. Also allow user to define class/symbol templates in an external file so that they can re-use them in other sites(like your externa ul in smartclips).
4 :: Make an actionscript command that allows external functions to be read into the swf at compilation time: a command that is read by the pre-processor during compilation then is removed from the action script before final compilation. Example #include <oldFunctions.f>. A feature like this will greatly increase Flash development and create a more stable design standard for Flash media.
5 :: That brings me to my next point. Flash should have a new category of pre-proccesor commands.
6 :: The ability to have server side file access. It would be alot better if Flash could do simple r/w on local server files, rather than making the developer create a cgi file that may or may not work at his host to do the same thing.
7 :: Allow the use of realtime/runtime importing of bmp, png, jpg, and other picture formats. Who really wants to pay the price for Generator to do such a simple thing as this. It all comes down to this, if you can do it in html, people are going to expect to be able to do it in a much more advanced web developing program.
8 :: Full html support would be very nice, but if you can't get that I think some sort of layout templates would help speed Flash development up: Some tables perhaps. There's nothing nicer looking than having html with it's transpernt background overlayed over an interactive Flash program/site.
9 :: Turn off your auto select keyframe block function. I can't tell you how annoying it is to click on a single frame and to have all the block selected, making me re-click to get the single frame.
10 :: To add all of this functionality you don't have to create a big plugin. In fact I believe it would be better to split your plugin up into smaller bite size pieces for a faster download time dependent on the content of the site/program. Break them up into categories such as:
Basic plugin :: Holding all the basic info needed for a simple Flash site.
3D plugin :: For those using your brand new generic Flash 3D templates(note the high hopes hinted at here).
Advanced Audio plugin :: For those who want runtime control over there sound.
Advanced Fx plugin :: For really heavy movie animation and effects.
11 :: Hardware control, hardware control, hardware control. I can't say enough about this. I would love to one day have the ability to make a Flash OS, or to be able to change video modes on the fly. I would settle for API control ofcourse. That would make things easier in the windows enviroment.
12 :: A Linux Devolopment client so that I can fully toss my windows out with the rest of the trash. I know that in light of my previous comment this may seem like a contridiction, but let's face it, the world for the most part uses windows in one form or another, that doesn't mean that I have to suffer developing in an OS that might crash in the midst of my work or even in the middle of saving my work, thus forcing me to lose hours of work. I can't tell you how many times I've had only Flash running and my computers froze or corrupted. That rarely happens on my Linux OS.
I love Flash and I think that macromedias doing a great job developing it. If it were up to me I would make Flash my OS along as developing tools all rolled into one. I think that the Flash 5 layout is much more intuitive than Flash 4 was. Keep the moveable tabs; There great for orginizing.
One by one, each suggestion would be of great use, but if all the above suggestions where used together in a mix and match situation, you would greatly enhance, expand, and fleshout Flash for both artist, web developers, and software developers, on all levels from beginner to advanced. That's it. Thanks for allowing me to ramble on and I would be glad to help implement some of the suggestions, either by standards or by actual coding.
i don't know how to make quotes
You can have adjustable rotation pivot points. You just have to make a symbol to do so. If you make something into a symbol, then edit the symbol and move whatever is inside to someother place the rotation point does not move with it. Then go back out of then symbol and right click on it, select rotate and give it a try.
