Preloaders

[autumn_whispers2me]

Okay, I have a new site I'm working on and one of the sound files I LOVE is a bit long. *sigh* So, I'm considering using a preloader, and I've read a few things about them.. and now am more confused than ever.

I don't even know where to start. The movie is already done, it's short and simple, but I think I need a preloader. I don't know how to make one, and I don't know how to use one.... the tutorials online have only confused me more.

Anything I should know about starting, or a site/link to where there's a tutorial for someone like me (preloaders for dummies or something!).

[Webforumz Staff]

I've been meaning to write up a tutorial for some time, so here it is:

Flash Preloaders Tutorial

Parts of that are taken from posts and files I have made previously for Webforumz... Let me know how you get on, or if you have any problems with it. I think it's fairly self-explanatory, but seeing as I wrote it, that's a fairly pointless perspective!

[autumn_whispers2me]

Cool!! Thanks Sirkent! You're my hero... again. lol 8)

I have a couple of questions about the preloader... the movie is already made so what now?

[Webforumz Staff]

You could create a new scene before your movie content and put the preloader in that scene?

[autumn_whispers2me]

I'm not sure how to do that. You know, Sirkent, I'm still looking for a good Flash 5 book. Even Amazon.com says it could take 3-6 weeks to get one in.

Now, I know that when you add someting AFTER the end of the movie, meaning extra frames, etc.... the rest of the movie doesn't show in that location (am I making any sense?)... So I'm not exactly sure how to add a preloader BEFORE the first frame of the actual movie. Do I just add a new layer (on top) and put the preloader there? Also, I'm assuming I have to add new frames ahead of the movie---not sure how to do that.

I'm sorry I sound like an idiot. Your tutorial was awesome.... and I'll definitely use that in the future.

Thanks so much for your help, Sirkent.

[Webforumz Staff]

To insert a new scene, go to insert > scene.

Now bring up the scene manager window. It's under Window on the menu - possibly under another option on that menu in Flash 5, but definetly in the Window menu somewhere.

Using the scene manager, you can drag the new scene up above the first scene. Now put the preloader in the first scene (the empty one) and bingo... you have your preloader in a seperate scene before the movie.

If you wanted to insert frames before the start of your movie, you could select all the first frames on your layers and use F5.

[autumn_whispers2me]

Wow. I'm always amazed at how well you know that program!

One more question---I'm assuming I need to create a new layer to put that scene in?? And if so, does it go on top?.... If I remember correctly Flash loads from the top layer down?

[autumn_whispers2me]

Hey, I tried to load your fla file in Flash to see what it looked like, the preloader... and I got an error saying "unspecified file format" or something like that. It would open or load the program....

So what's the fla file for? Am I just using the actionscript you posted, or the fla file, or both?

UPDATE: I've been trying to follow your directions on that tutorial---and nothing's working for me. No, it's not your tutorial, of course---it's me. Now what?

[Webforumz Staff]

Ooh, yes.... That file is in Flash Mx format.

I've uploaded Flash 5 formats too, and changed the tutorial to link to those as well.

[autumn_whispers2me]

Okay, thanks... I'll go check that out. But... I have to say this....

...I just read a tutorial on preloaders written by a 13yr old! Good grief! And I thought I felt stupid before! lol

http://www.tutorialized.com/tutorial.php?id=4622

Also, I realize that the other fla file was for mx, but when I tried to put the actionscript in the appropriate frames... when I tested the movie one of two things would happen:

1. The movie just wouldn't play at all.

2. The movie would flash back and forth between scenes! lol

What the heck am I doing wrong there, do you think?

Okay, the ultimate question is: whose willing to create that preloader on my movie for me---before I go postal and drop kick my pc out in the yard? hehehe

[Webforumz Staff]

Could you possibly upload your FLA or send it to me? If I could see what you were doing then I could tell you where it is wrong.

[autumn_whispers2me]

I dumped the file with the bar loader I attempted because I couldn't get it to work. I have the original .fla file for the movie, but the preloader isn't on that.