==================================================== AUTO BUTTERFLY v1 :: by Zachary Knight ==================================================== DESCRIPTION :: This drag-n-drop movie clip is a self-contained butterfly (or moth) that hovers around on its own. It stays in the general area that you determine and, best of all, it moves in perspective...getting smaller as it flies farther back and vice versa. You can add as many insect friends as you want and they will all do their own thing. Each butterfly can have a different color and/or flight area. FEATURES :: * added sense of "life" in your Flash movie * random movement means no boring patterns * tiny file size * drag-n-drop convenience * can be easily modified for different colors and groupings PLUS :: * descriptive naming of layers, Library items, and ActionScript variables * commented code * optimized graphics * ActionScripted animation * will not choke slower systems SWF STATS :: * Dimension = n/a * Published File Size = less than 4k (for 1 to 20+ butterflies) * Frame Rate = 24fps * Flash Player Version(s) = 7, 8 * ActionScript Version = 2.0 * Authored In Version = Professional 8 * Fonts embedded = none * Fonts converted to vectors (broken apart) = none * Font vendor(s) = none FILES INCLUDED :: * AutoButterflyV1__FP8_AS2.fla (Flash 8 authoring file) * AutoButterflyV1__FP7_AS2.fla (Flash 7 authoring file) * AutoButterflyV1__HELP.txt (this file) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOW TO USE :: (1) Open your FLA file. (2) Open the "AutoButterflyV1.fla". Now you have both FLA files open. (3) In Flash, click the "New Library Panel" button. It is located on the top right of the Library panel (directly under the Library's menu button) and the icon depicts two blue documents with an arrow on top of them. (4) When the new panel opens, drag it to where you can also see the original Library. (5) Use the drop-down menus on both panels to make sure each has a different Library displayed. (6) Drag the entire "BUTTERFLY" folder from one panel into your Library. (7) Close the floating Library panel, and the "AutoButterflyV1.fla" file. (8) Open the "BUTTERFLY" folder in your Library, in which you will find a movieclip called "05__BUG_(!!)". This is the movieclip that you will drag onto the Stage for each butterfly that you want in the movie. It does not matter where you drag it to...offstage is fine. It does not require an Instance name. (9) Continue below... ~ If you want all butterflies the same color and flying within the same area... (a1) You can delete the "05__BUG_(!!) copy" movieclip in the Library (a2) Open the "05__BUG_(!!)" movieclip for editing (a3) Open the actions in the first frame of the layer named "--> SCRIPT" (a4) Adjust the following variables as needed... v_BoundT = 91; // Minimum Y position...these are relative to the entire stage v_BoundB = 261; // Maximum Y position v_BoundL = 30; // Minimum X position v_BoundR = 420; // Maximum X position // v_BoundsAllow = 40; // When does the bug get too close to the bounds and need to go another direction?...in pixels (use higher numbers if the butterflies tend to go out-of-bounds too often for your needs) // v_Shadow = true; // Will the shadow be visible? v_WingColor = 0xFF77BB; // Hex color number ~ If you want butterflies of different colors and/or flying within different areas... (b1) You will duplicate the "05__BUG_(!!)" movieclip in the Library for each butterfly that will have differences in any of the above variables. (b2) To do so, right-click on the "05__BUG_(!!)" movieclip in the Library and choose Duplicate. (One has already been made for you.) (b3) Drag as many instances of this copy onto the Stage as needed. (b4) Continue with #a3 and #a4 above... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I hope you enjoy it! And please give it a rating when you have a moment. Zachary Knight :: Media Design ZacharyKnight.com ~ END ~