Re: FLASH: Site Design in Flash?

[Marc Hoffman, Poison Dart Frog Media]

At 08:49 PM 1/23/00 , you wrote:

>For a basic site that is designed entirely in Flash 4, is it best to have

>one large .swf file on a single timeline utilizing optimization techniques,

>use multiple scenes, or call independent .swf files as needed?


Tim,


I will add a different point of view than what has been expressed.


If large segments of material will be called in a random fashion by the 

user, then it makes sense to me that you use Load Movie. This way they 

don't have to wait for things to load that they are not going to request, 

or which they will not ask to see until later. If the movie is linear, put 

it all in one movie. Not only will it load more smoothly, you'll be able to 

optimize the use of symbols by having them all in a single library.


In either case, the user should never have to wait long periods of time 

before seeing relevant content. The only reason to preload an entire Flash 

movie is when it constitutes a splash navigation page, where all elements 

must be present for it to function correctly. In that case, the movie 

should be as small as any Web home page -- around 50k or less. Use 

preloaders only where necessary, and make sure they are interesting and 

relevant, not just "fluff." Percentage bars are fascinating mostly to the 

developers who create them; most viewers are looking for information and 

will not hang around too long waiting for it.


Marc Hoffman


Poison Dart Frog Media: Specializing in Flash Animation and Digital Audio 

Production

Our latest Flash job is on display at <http://www.dartfrogmedia.com/rickfrnd>

See our Flash portfolio at <http://www.dartfrogmedia.com/sampler>

(featured in Flash 3 Web Animation, by Ken Milburn)



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