Computer 101

[Obi]

I can help with the computer (software, though.... I don't know anything about hardware)...
These are my strongest areas:

• Adobe Flash (CS3, CS4, and Action Script 3)
• Adobe Photoshop (CS3, CS4, and CS4 Extended Edition)
• Adobe Illustrator (Illustrator 10.0.3 and CS4)
• iTunes
• Microsoft Word
• Pages (Mac's version of Word)
• iMovie
• iWeb
• iPhoto
• GarageBand
• Internet Explorer
• Safari
• Firefox

I also know some JavaScript, a few lines of Python, and other stuff.
If it's something not listed here, ask me and I'll see how much I can help you with it.

[Dudebot5000]

I happen to be learning HTML as I speak, and I'll start C++ in a few weeks. So I could help with that.

I also have skillz in general areas of computer tech, so I may or may not have an answer to most problems.

[Maplen13]

Software only? Because well, people who have this computer that is rotting, they want to upgrade it, and save money from the upgrader, so if they know the hardware, BAM you saved over $100.

Well... at least do you know HTML? The basis of the internet?

[Obi]

I know a bit (links, buttons, text, importing images, image links, components, and more), but I don't like it... I prefer JS..... But what do you need to know about HTML?

[MsRowdyRedhead]

I am pretty good with Front Page, PowerPoint, Excel, Adobe Acrobat9, troubleshooting programs, etc.

[[5025]]

  you know AS3.  I'll have some questions for you pretty soon.

[Ddude The Insane]

I'm pretty bad with computers. I can type pretty fast and I have most of the coding for this forum memorized, so if you want to know some basic stuff on how altering your posts work, such as crossing through words, I'm your man.

[[5025]]

Alright, check this out.  This is just a test for a real lightsaber I'm making.  It's made in AS2.  Tell me what AS I need to make the lightsaber retract.

http://up2share.com/file/mbp6vsn5i_Lightsaber%20Test.swf

[Obi]

O.K, I'm not sure if you have as3 or not, but I knew as2 at one point.... If you don't have as3, I'll figure it out (how to make it in as2). However, when I started learning as3, I forgot as2...

Anyway.... here's how to make it:

1. Create a new doc (as3)
2. Create the movieclips (lightsaber blade and lightsaber hilt)
3. Create 2 more layers  (to have 3 total)
4. On the first layer, put nothing (this is where the actionscript will be)
5. On the second layer, put the lightsaber hilt (instance name ls_handle)
6. On the last layer, put the lightsaber blade (instance name ls_blade)
7. Go to the actions layer (top layer. Make the layer name actions if you want, but keep in mind I will always refer to is as the actions layer)
8. Put in this code:

ls_handle.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, bladeOut);

function bladeOut(event:MouseEvent) {
      ls_blade.play();
}

ls_handle.buttonMode = true;

Now, here's what the code means:
1st line: This is creating the event listener (hence addEventListener). Putting ls_handle (the lightsaber hilt instance name) in front of it means, in this case (since it's a mouse event), that if you click on that (and only that), it will open and close the lightsaber hilt. And now, inside the ()'s. The event type is a mouse event (hence MouseEvent), and the event will be triggered when you click (hence .CLICK). The function name is bladeOut(hence bladeOut);
Line 3: This is creating the function bladeOut. You put the:
 (event:MouseEvent)

 in there to show that it is a mouse event, in case you have another event with the same name.
Line 4: This is triggering the animation (We haven't created it yet)
Line 5: This closes the event.
Step 9: Go inside the lightsaber movie clip, and create an animation of it going up and down. In the first frame, go into the actions panel, and type:

stop();

Type that in the 15th frame action panel as well.
Step 10: Done!

http://up2share.com/view/imfbwdgju

[[5025]]

K, thanks, I have AS3, but I hate it...  AS2 is hell, but AS3 is like dying and going to die some more.  Plus, the game I'm adding it to works with AS2 only.

Watch the language. -Dudebot5000-

[Obi]

Give me the code, and I'll translate it...

And I know how you feel... I hated AS3, but when I tried it, I found that is was WAY better and more flexible..... some things in it are harder, but it's worth translating...

BTW, watch the language...

[[5025]]

I tried that, and I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong... can you give me the fla of yours?

[Obi]

Here. This text is the link

[[5025]]

Did you make it in CS4?  I can't open it with CS3.

[Obi]

Ah.... Here's the CS3 version:

http://up2share.com/file/dvek64m2z_Lightsaber%20helpCS3.fla

BTW, give me the code for the game, and I''ll translate as much of it as I can into AS3.

[[5025]]

It's an MMORPG Private server... I can't give anyone who isn't part of our staff the code.

[Maplen13]

AHHH!!!! a Private server MMORPG, oh... that is what I dreamt in the days, hehehe, about that big MMORPG, and transforming it into... *sigh* good times.

May I ask what does ActionScript do? And most importantly does anyone know LUA?

[Obi]

It's a objective programming language... And I like it, because there's none of those $'s or #'s or @'s or %'s or &'s usually......
And, it can be linked with other files (such as PHP, C, Python, and every single coding language out there) to have those two codes work together... it's in AS3....

JW: Ah..... Well, oh well..... Though, do you mind if I ask some questions? Such as...
Who is on the staff
What programming languages are being used
What is it about?
If you cannot/aren't allowed to answer, that's O.K..

EDIT: I'm not sure, but I think the AS2 way to do it would be:
Make the lightsaber hilt a button
On that button, place the actions:

on(press) {
ls_handle.play();
}

[Maplen13]

I'm sorry but, can you specificaly state that again of exactly what AS3 does?

[Obi]

It's an objective programming language... such as Objective C.... though not as much code in the language...
However, you can link other files to it, and those will interact with it, as long as you computer understands that lanugage.

EX: In AS3, by putting this code in:

var varSend:URLRequest = new URLRequest("form.php");

I can get all the data from the file form.php, and have what's in that file (form.php) interact with the AS3 FLA (flash) file.