Was wondering how hard this would be to make for my classroom

[chicks797]

Hello, I'm an elementary teacher and wanted to make a little app for my class. For each lesson we write on a dry erase board what we are learning during that time. I thought it would be neat if I could make an app that would pop up, let me type a message, and then scroll it in a scalable window. That I could resize and just put up at the top of my screen. I use a projector and a smartboard. I wanted it to look like a store LED sign, with that kind of font, and just scroll by, repeating. Would that be possible in Flash? I've searched the internet but no luck, just keep getting signs for sale.

[Video Man]

You should Google around for a Flash "News Ticker". Some fade in/out, some scroll by. But they are updated by a simple xml text file.
Here's an example of fade in/out News Ticker (left side, below top banner):
http://www.worldbarefootcenter.com/index.html
You shouldn't have to embed your Font, since you'll be using something on your own machine.
For more examples Google, for "scrolling Flash news ticker". Lots out there.
Best wishes,
Video Man

[chicks797]

Thanks! Would it be hard to set it up so that on launch it gave you a text popup to enter the message? Still trying to find one that looks like an LED sign, but this is a start.

[marlopax]

AS2

var depth=0;

// This variable is for the level of the movie clips.
// If you duplicate movieClips with actionScript, it duplicates each in each level. It cannot be put two clips in same level.

function TxtField(nDepth) {
// This code format Text and can reuse whenever you want.
    var my_fmt:TextFormat = new TextFormat();
    my_fmt.blockIndent = 2;
    my_fmt.color = 0xB4DAFE;
    my_fmt.font = "Arial";
    my_fmt.size = 11;
// This code creates an empty clips to hold other elements inside of it.
    this.createEmptyMovieClip("emptyMC"+nDepth,nDepth);
    this["emptyMC"+nDepth]._x = 20;// x Position of this clip
    this["emptyMC"+nDepth]._y = 25;// y Position of this clip
// This code creates another clips inside of emptyMC.. clip as a header title.
    var mc = this["emptyMC"+nDepth].createEmptyMovieClip("headerMC", 1);
// This block of code is to create a rectangle inside of the headerMC clip with line colour and fill colour.
    mc.beginFill(0x2D95FD,100);
    mc.lineStyle(1,0x000000,100);
    mc.moveTo(0,0);
    mc.lineTo(250,0);
    mc.lineTo(250,18);
    mc.lineTo(0,18);
    mc.lineTo(0,0);
// This code creates a text field for the header title.
    mc.createTextField("headerTxt",0,0,0,250,18);
    mc.headerTxt.text = "Header Title";// text for header title.
    mc.headerTxt.setTextFormat(my_fmt);// formating text.
// This codes treat the header clip as a button and do the drag action.
    mc.onPress = function() {
        startDrag("emptyMC"+nDepth);
    };
    mc.onRelease = function() {
        stopDrag();
    };
// This is another text format for input text.
    var txt_fmt:TextFormat = new TextFormat();
    txt_fmt.blockIndent = 2;
    txt_fmt.color = 0x666666;
    txt_fmt.font = "Arial";
    txt_fmt.size = 12;
// This is for the text area where you can able to write your text.
    var txt = this["emptyMC"+nDepth].createTextField("txtFld", 0, 0, 18, 250, 100);
    txt.type = "input";
    txt.border = true;
    txt.wordWrap = true;
    txt.multiline = true;
    txt.text = "Type your text here";
    txt.setTextFormat(txt_fmt);
// end of the function.
}
// This code creates a button in the right corner of the Stage, which generate a new window with all the elements in it, every time you click it. 
var btn = this.createEmptyMovieClip("btn", 100);
btn.beginFill(0x2D95FD,100);
btn.lineStyle(1,0x000000,100);
btn.moveTo(0,0);
btn.lineTo(60,0);
btn.lineTo(60,18);
btn.lineTo(0,18);
btn.lineTo(0,0);
btn._x = Stage.width-80;
btn._y = 20;
btn.onPress=function(){
    TxtField(depth);
    depth++;// This change the depth or level of each clips and also change the name of each clip.
}

Are you looking for this kind of thing?

Then it can be done with Flash.


marlopax

[chicks797]

I'm not sure, I'm very new to Flash. Actually I'm trying to figure out if I should learn it, to be able to make what I need, so I'm not familiar with the code. Sorry!

[marlopax]

Well, its very easy to use the above code what I posted.
I comment on the above code to understand which code or block of codes is for what action.

I can help you if you want to learn Flash to achieve for your classes.

How to use the code:

1. Open Flash IDE.

2. Click File>New. Create New Actionscript2 file.

3. Press "F9" key on keyboard to open the Actionscript window.

4. Copy the entire above code and paste it in the Actionscript window.

5. Click Control>Test Movie. Flash will popup a window with a blue button on the right-top corner. Click the button. It will generate a window, which you can able to drag as you drag any window on you computer.

6. You can also write text in that window.

7. Each time you click on the right-top button, you will get a new window with same elements.

Try to give a go.....

You will be happy


marlopax

[chicks797]

Thank you, I tried it. But what steps do I need to take to get it to take that text, and scroll it along like an LED sign? Where do I start?

[marlopax]

If that is your goal, then it can be done with very simple structure in AS2.

But what do you mean by LED sign?

post an example..

marlopax

[chicks797]

You know the led signs you see for stores that scroll a message from right to left, little red dots? Like this:

[big-dog1965]

Thank you, I tried it. But what steps do I need to take to get it to take that text, and scroll it along like an LED sign? Where do I start?

I too am new to this flash stuff trying to learn it a little for fun
I copied the code below it is static and doesnt do anything that I can see

Here are some fonts you can get for the led look
Here is a power point example of what I think is wanted kind of sort of

[poltuda]

I too am new to this flash stuff trying to learn it a little for fun
I copied the code below it is static and doesnt do anything that I can see

The code marlopax posted is to create multiple text window, where you can able to write text of different subjects.

To me its dynamic because the code produce everything on fly. It create and generate everything with code.

To use this code you have to click on the button to generate text window.


I think he gave an example to understand what chicks797 is searching for.

Are you searching for Scrolling LED Sign Display thing?

Or to make text window, where you can able to write text?

Might, marlopax will give you all you want?

But here is my suggestion for LED display system:

1. Create multidimensional array map for all the letters, numbers and signs.

2. Create tile with rows and columns.

3. Create ON OFF condition with different colours, either manually in two frames or by coding it dynamically.

4. For animation, use eventListner or enterFrame or something else what suitable you think.

poltuda

[chicks797]

For a scrolling LED sign display, not just a text window. The text window part was saying that it would be nice if it would pop something open, I could type what I want scrolled into it, THEN it would put it into the LED sign things. I think Flash is a little over my head though!