Re: FLASH: John's flying text

[John Croteau]

Hi Cheri and all,


>> Can anyone send me to a simplified tutorial to get letters to follow the

>> cursor movements?

Hopefully Cheri's overview will help (included below).


> (How'd I do, John?)

Excellent, this is clear and to the point. I will include some of these

points in our next update (1.2) of Flying Text which will be available

this weekend. In the future I will get into more details explaining how

Flying Text works step by step, but before I do this (as I said before)

I need to do some preliminary tutorials so most everyone will be able to

understand.


Version 1.2 will include:

Autostart (still includes the click to stop in place).

New standard Settings frame with all (and only) settings in one common

place.

Newe basic Circular option that may be more suitable than my classic

asymetrical version. The new circular option will show visually how the

basic formula works I''l provide settings so you can see a clear visual

example of what is happening.


Version 2 due out next weekend will include Cheri's new work with

rotaion and stretching options.


------------------------------------

Cheri's Overview of the Flying Text:


> The plug 'n play was created, of course, so you "wouldn't" have to

> understand the programming behind it, but for those of us who can't stand

> not knowing...here's a summary


> All programming info is in the FB-Flying Text movie clip and a control

> button within the MC.  The MC starts at a parked frame (frame action

> "stop".)  Frame 2 sets the initial variables, ie., # of characters,

> acceleration wanted, deviation wanted (creates the bouncy effect), the

> initial position of the characters, and the spacing between them.  These 5

> variables are all developer-adjustable, within certain (specified) ranges

> that will work.

> 

> The meat of the action is in frame 3.  Here, the control button comes in.

> The control button is a Movie Clip that is draggable and starts the main

> (FB) Movie Clip, with the following action:

> On (Roll Over)

>       Begin Tell Target ("../")

>             Play

>       End Tell Target

>       Start Drag ("", lockcenter)

> End On

> 

> Now, we get to frame 3 of the main MC.  Without going into the specific

> mathematical calculations, a loop is used to cycle through the objects,

> using the variable name as an expression as well as the variable definition

> as an expression.  For each iteration of the variable, the position of the

> character is determined relative to the position of the control button

> (character 0) which then determines the speed of the cursor movement.  This

> speed is used in the calculations, along with the original spacing,

> acceleration and deviation variables, and previous position, to determine

> the new position of each character.  Thus, the current position is

> determined with a "GetProperty" (x and y positions) and the new position

> with a "SetProperty" (x and y positions)


> Now, if you take this summary & match against the Plug 'n Play, maybe it

> will make more sense?

http://www.FlashBible.com/Members/ActionScript/FlyingFonts/FlyingText.htm


-- 

Coming Soon    Flash 4 Web Animation F/X and Design

  http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1576105555/flashcentral

-----------                               -----------------------

John Croteau

croteauerols [dot] com (mailto:croteauerols [dot] com)

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