Extensions

Creation of commands and new tools in the Flash editor is a new capability for us. Besides it, Macromedia has only recently released the JSFL specification. Here there is much work to do.

Even before the specification release I have written a special document «Ideas about Flash extensions», where I record tasks which need to be realized in the future. If I meet any disadvantage or there is a capability to automate something, I add a point at once in order not to forget it. There are more than twenty wishes to myself already, and new commands will appear very often.

In order not to loose the commands created by me among others commands which you have installed or will install in the future, I have put a prefix «[ J ]» - that means "John's commands" (John is my nickname).

Download extensions [mxp]

And one more advice - on this screenshot it is possible to see the shortcut keys which you need to indicate manually. For valuable work with commands it is better to do it immediately, otherwise it will be necessary to "move the mouse" once again.

Set transformation point to top-left

This commands solves a troublesome problem: when you select Transform Tool (key q), by default the report point is situated in the middle. And practically always (except for rotations) it is necessary that it is placed in the left-hand upper corner. To put a point precisely is practically impossible as it does not "stick" to the pixel grid. Each time after such transformations the object needs to be placed into the necessary coordinates. The problem is simple but very importunate.

Here is a picture demonstrating the work of this command:

The shortcut key expresses my emotional mood when I used this command in the first time: «here I am, get it on the nose... ».

Shortcut – CTRL+SHIFT+BACKSPACE

Pixelate position to all selection elements

How many times have you manually indicated an element place divisible to pixel? As for me, I've done it many times. AS certainly saves, but it is better to do it at once. Not all graphic elements, but movie clips.

Strangely enough, but it was not so easy to set a precise position. The method moveSelectionBy not always can move elements for the tenth parts of a pixel. Having taken advantage of the method setSelectionBounds, I have achieved absolutely precise positioning.

We select one or several elements, call up a command - and enjoy the time won.
A remark: this command does not work with ungrouped vectors. To work on the vector with this command you have to group it first.

Shortcut – CTRL+ALT+M

Pixelate bounds

The command is similar to the previous one, but it works with width and height. We select one or several elements, call up - and get precise dimensions.

A remark: this command does not work with ungrouped vectors. To work on the vector with this command you have to group it first.

Shortcut – CTRL+ALT+B

Get all instance names

When you make the code, it would be convenient to take the list of instance-names of all selected elements at once. Then we place this list into the code and describe their behavior.

Shortcut – CTRL+ALT+G

Instances naming tool

It's a gorgeous tool. Instead of selecting of each clip, button or text box and indicating its name in the properties menu, we select the elements at once and write their names in one place. And there is a small macro language permitting to use in the library current names, suffixes and counters.

The detailed description of work with this tool

Shortcut – CTRL+ALT+N

Search in Library

A simple and useful tool. To find a symbol in the library by its name. Usage of regular expressions, selection at the element type. It stores the previous inquiries as a list. It allows to add to the current selection. It is easy to find all elements of one type.

I decided not to divide components, movie clips and compiled clips - all of them are in one group (movie clips). Search in Library will hardly be used frequently, so this command does not require a shortcut key.

Replace library names

The tool for editing of "clumsy" names like: «Symbol 101» and «Bitmap 12» in the old source files and source files of younger colleagues. Besides it, it is convenient to quickly change the names in order to avoid a names conflict in different files (copy - paste).

If the names coincide, the current number will be automatically added. This command works with names of the selected elements of the library. It is necessary either to simply select them or to use a Search in Library tool.

Milti edit library properties

The tool spares nerve cells of the Flash developers. It is possible to select several library elements at once and to call the menu of their properties. I am especially pleased with the fact that it is possible to set for all selected bitmaps the compression "Lossess" without smoothing.