This is my first Flash tutorial. It will teach you how to create a timer that can be used within many aspects of Flash. Here we will be using it to count down to 0 then the movie will play.
Just as a note for any future Flash tutorial posts: I work on Adobe Flash CS3 Professional and I code in ActionScript2.0. Unless told otherwise, presume I am working in 2.0.
1. Okay, first we need to open Flash and set the Stage Dimensions to 300x300 by clicking on the Size button in the Properties panel.
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2. Now, select the Text Tool (T) and drag out a Dynamic Text Box. Change the following:
Text Type: Dynamic
Instance Name: "timer"
Variable: "timer"
Line Type: Single
Selectable: NO
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3. We now need to add the ActionScript. Deselect everything (Shortcut: Ctrl+Shft+A) and open up the Actions panel (Shortcut: F9). Paste the following:
stop();
_root.timer = 60;
clearInterval(id);
id = setInterval(function () {
_root.timer -=1
}, 1000);
Explanation:
stop(); - stops the main timeline on the current frame
_root.timer = 60; - the timer starts at 60
_root.timer -=1},1000); - time in Flash works in milliseconds, so this decreases (-=) the timer by 1 every one thousand milliseconds (one second).
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4. Test your movie (Shortcut: Ctrl+Enter). The timer will count down from 60 seconds. If you want to change the time it counts down from, change the line:
_root.timer = 60;
5. So the timer counts down, but what happens when it hits zero? -1...-2...-3... Not very helpful! Now you can make anything happen when the timer hits zero, but we're going to make it go to the next frame. So create a blank keyframe after the one you are working on. Put what you want on the frame, I'm going to write a piece of text denoting that the movie should start here. Remember to delete the timer if you created a normal Keyframe.
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6. Add stop(); to the frame to ensure that it stops on the next frame if you want it to. Now go back to the first frame and create a new Symbol (Shortcut: Ctrl:F8), select MovieClip. Use the Rectangle Tool (Shortcut: R) to draw a small square. The design of this does not really matter because it will later be hidden off stage.
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7. Hit the small blue arrow underneath the timeline to the left to return to the main timeline. Open up your Library (Shortcut: Ctrl+L), locate the square and drag it onto the stage. Then select it, open up the Actions panel and paste the following code:
onClipEvent(enterFrame){
if(_root.timer <= 0){
_root.gotoAndPlay(2);
}
}
Explanation:
if(_root.timer <0)- if the timer is less than or equal to 0
_root.gotoAndPlay(2); - the main timeline should go to the 2nd frame
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8. If you wish you can drag the square off the stage so it does not appear when you publish the movie. Hit Ctrl+Enter to test the movie. When the timer hits zero, it will display the 2nd frame.
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