Quickstart Actionscript Tutorial

Quickstart ActionScript Programming Guide

Create a new flash document CTRL-N (Click File\New)
Press F9 to reveal the actionscript programming interface (Click Windows \ Action)
Enter Code
Press CTRL-ENTER to execute the program

Here is 8 lines of code to get you started:

Always comment the top of your program. Title, Name and Date as a minimum

The prefix 'mc' on the variable Line indicates that the variable is a movie clip (rather than a string, integer or boolean)

The mcLine is created and a default (or initial) style is applied.

Imagine a pen that can be moved around the stage. The moveTo and lineTo commands allow you to move the pen around and draw lines.

The properties Stage.width and Stage.height return the actual number of pixels across and down the Stage. 0,0 is the top left corner of the Stage.
The command trace will show output messages from your code in a separate output window.
Try adding trace('Hello World'); and trace('Stage.width ='+Stage.width); to your program.
Click on any keyword in your code and press Shift-F1 to pop a reference page. You will see an explanation of the command along with sample application code.

Try drawing the following items using only ActionScript:

Triangle
Picket Fence
Octagon
House (with windows and door)

If you create any of these items (or any other item) send it to me and I'll post it here with your source code giving you credit ! (daryn_bee@osapac.org)

The following code sample page will accelerate you through the process of creating great code to accomplish non-trivial tasks.

There are four versions of this program, each getting successful better until the final masterpiece version...

The following professional practices make version 4 of the String Art program a bonified masterpiece...

variable naming allows instant recognition of variable type and purpose
subroutine naming is of the form lowercase verb and capitalized noun. Ex. createGrid
constants declared once for stage width and height are used throughout program
main program has been reduced to 4 lines which call subroutines
createGrid routine can handle grid scaling through a parameter called intSize
grid routine uses variables x and y rather than a and b to reflect standard geometry terms for grid locations

If you have a complex and/or interesting drawing challenge that you have coded, send to me and I'll post it here! (daryn_bee@osapac.org)