The Wildform
Linx Flash Editor is a very easy
way to combine, edit and manipulate any
Flash (SWF) file so you can create amazing
Flash files without knowing Flash. With
Linx you can import (or drag and drop)
any type of Flash SWF file, and edit,
crop, and change the properties of your
SWF, in addition to combining it with
other SWFs. This makes Linx a great tool
for making changes to your pre-existing
SWFs.
Want
to change a SWF file, but don't have the
FLA? Linx is great for making changes to
your existing SWFs. This tutorial shows
you how to crop and apply a new hyperlink
to your pre-existing SWFs.
This
basic tutorial will show you how to import a
pre-existing SWF into Linx, crop it and then
create a new hyperlink. The tutorial presupposes
no knowledge of Linx. It will show you how to
change the file displayed here
Getting
Started in Linx: Choosing An Output Path for
Your Project File
When
you launch Linx you will see the main window
where you import, layer, edit and preview the
project you are creating. This is the window
you will use the most. One of the first things
you need to do when beginning a Linx project
is to choose an output name and path for the
SWF you are creating. If you have not entered
one, you will be prompted by Linx to create one.
You can also enter this name and path in the
File Tab of the Movie Properties Window. (The
Movie properties window allows you to set properties
for your entire project. The settings applied
in this window will apply to the entire SWF file
that you output from Linx.) To launch this window,
go to the "View" menu and open the "Movie
Properties" window.
I
am going to label my output file "Crop_in_Linx_Tutorial.swf".
Next, I am going to save the settings file I
am creating. The settings file saves all the
settings and characteristics of your Linx project.
You will want to save this file often as you
go along, so you don't lose any of your work
by mistake. In the "File" menu, selecting "Save
Settings" will call up a dialog box in which
you can label the name of your Linx settings
(.lnx) file. I am going to call this file, " Crop_in_Linx_Tutorial.lnx".
I use the same name as the .swf file I am exporting
so it's easy to pair the Linx settings file with
the output file - but the output file has a ".swf" extension
and the settings file has a ".lnx" extension.
Next,
I am going to import my first SWfX text effect
file, "sale_ends_friday.swf" into Linx.
Under the "Import" menu, I select "Import
File". The file will appear on the timeline
in Linx's main window. You may also import your
file by dragging the SWF file from your hard
drive and dropping it onto the timeline. (There
are several other ways to import files but these
are two easy and obvious ways.)
Three
Ways an Imported File Can Play on the Timeline
There
are three different "play modes" that
you can choose for any file you import into Linx.
These affect the way the Flash player will play
your SWF. You must select a "play mode" for
each SWF you import. The three modes are "Play
on the main timeline", "Play with LoadMovie",
and "Play independently (in a sprite)",
which is the default setting. Files played in
a sprite do not affect the other files in your
Linx project. (You can change the default in
the Options window.)
In this tutorial we are going to use the default
setting and not worry about the other modes.
This sprite mode works fine for smaller files
such as the text effects SWFs we are importing
here, but if you plan on bringing larger SWFs,
such as audio and video SWFs into Linx, you will
need to familiarize yourself with the different
play modes. (Consult the Quick Start Guide in
your Linx Help File to learn more.)
Files played with any of Linx's three play modes
will appear in your Linx timeline and in the
Main window preview pane and can be moved, resized
and cropped in the preview pane.
Previewing
My File
Before
I do anything else, I want to see the SWfX effect
I just imported. To do so, I go to the "Preview" menu
and select "Preview SWF" (or I can
select ctrl>P on my keyboard.) The SWfX effect
I just created will play in the preview pane
of Linx's main window. Please note that every
time you make a change in Linx you must generate
a new preview in order to see the changes you
have just made, unless you turn on the "Auto
Preview" mode. You may turn on "Auto
Preview" from the Toolbar, or by going to
the "Preview" menu and selecting "Auto
Preview".
Next,
I want to crop the file to remove the black box
above my play controls. You can do this in two
ways.
Cropping
SWFs in "Preview Scale Mode"
One
way is to turn on the "Preview Crop Mode" by
clicking the "Preview Crop Mode" icon
in the toolbar (or from the Preview Menu select "Preview
Crop Mode".)
In
the Linx timeline, click on the SWF that you
want to move (to activate a .swf in the preview
pane you always click the .swf in the Linx timeline).
Notice that a box will appear in the preview
window over the SWF you have selected. You may
then use your mouse to drag one of the draggable
cropping markers on the edges of the box to the
dimensions that you want your SWF to have.
Cropping
SWFs in the SWF Properties Window
If
you want to crop your files with single pixel
precision, under the "View" menu, open
the "SWF Properties Window", and go
to the "Appearance Tab." Here you can
adjust a number of settings for the SWFs on your
Linx timeline.
Once again, to activate a SWF to apply settings
to it, you simply click on the SWF in the timeline.
In this case I am going to click on my "Player" SWF
in my timeline and then in the "SWF Properties
Window" click the "Appearance Tab" and
then adjust the Crop "Left", "Right", "Top",
and "Bottom" settings to get the exact
dimensions I desire.
Next
I want to move my SWF to the top of my output
file in the preview window. I can also do this
is two ways.
Moving
SWFs in "Preview Scale Mode"
One
way is to turn on the "Preview Scale Mode" by
clicking the "Preview Scale Mode" icon
in the toolbar (or from the Preview Menu select "Preview
Scale Mode".)
Click
on the SWF that you want to move. Notice that
a box with a cross in it will appear in the preview
window over the SWF you have selected. You may
then drag that SWF in the preview window wherever
you like.
Moving
SWFs in the SWF Properties Window
If
you want to align your files with single pixel
precision, under the "View" menu, open
the "SWF Properties Window", and go
to the "Appearance Tab." Here you can
adjust a number of settings for the SWFs on your
Linx timeline.
To activate a SWF to apply settings to it, you
simply click on the SWF in the timeline.
In this case I am going to click on my "player" SWF
in my timeline and then in the "SWF Properties
Window" click the "Appearance Tab" and
then adjust the "Translate X" and "Translate
Y" settings.
If
you want to clear the settings you have applied
to your SWF, just click the "Restore swf" button
in the SWF Properties Tab above.
Next
I am going to change the background color of
my output file in the movie tab. In this case
I am going to change the color from purple to
crimson. To do so I open the Movie Properties
Window and click on the "background color" box.
Clicking
on the box opens the Background Color window
where I can select the color I want:
Replacing
my original SWF file's hyperlink with a new link
My
original "sale_ends_friday.swf" file
contained a link to www.wildswfx.com and
I want my new cropped file to link to www.wildform.com.
Selecting
Transparent SWF
I
cannot remove the hyperlink in the original file,
but I can insert a transparent SWF to lay over
my "sale_ends_friday.swf" and then
assign a link to the transparent SWF. To insert
a transparent swf, I right click on an empty
space in my Linx timeline where I want to insert
the transparent SWF.
A
transparent swf appears in the same layer as
the "sale_ends_friday.swf" and looks
like this in my preview window:
Overlaying
a transparent SWF
Next,
I want to lay "transparent.swf" over "sale_ends_friday.swf".
First I will insert a new layer:
Then
I will drag the "transparent.swf" onto
the new layer, so it will be on top of "sale_ends_friday.swf".
[Linx layers the .swf's on the timeline from
top to bottom, so a .swf will appear over another
.swf in a layer below it.]
Next I want to resize the "transparent.swf" so
that it completely covers the "sale_ends_friday.swf".
I do this by selecting "Preview Scale Mode" and
stretching the "transparent.swf" to
the size of the "sale_ends_friday.swf".
Assigning
a link
Next
I am going to assign a link to the "transparent.swf" via
the mouse events tab of the SWF Properties Window.
I
am now ready to export my output file. Linx offers
a number of additional export options that can
assist you in the deployment and distribution
of your Linx encoded SWF files.
You may export your final SWF by clicking the "Export
SWF" button in the File Tab of the Movie
Properties Window, or you may click the "Export
SWF" icon in the toolbar.
To
play your exported SWF, click the "Play
Output" icon in the toolbar.
Export
HTML
If
you wish to deploy your SWF in a web page, you
may select "Export HTML", which will
produce an HTML file with the code to embed the
SWF in a web page. Simply copy that HTML into
whatever page you wish.
Export
E-mail
If
you want to send your output SWF file in an email,
select this box. Linx will automatically output
a text file that can be cut and pasted into an
html e-mail editor, such as Outlook Express.
The text file will be named according to the
following format: swfoutputfilename_email.txt.
Linx will also output both Windows and Macintosh
projector files. These can be very useful for
deploying your Linx output on CD and for other
methods of offline distribution. Projector files
contain the SWF output and player together, so
you can be certain that the viewer does not need
any additional players to view the files.
Export
Win Projector
Selecting
this box will cause Linx to export your SWF as
a Flash projector file for Windows (an .exe file).
Export
Mac Projector
Selecting
this box will cause Linx to export your SWF as
a Flash projector file for the Mac (an .hqx file).
The .hqx file created by Linx must be expanded
on a Mac user's computer prior to playing.
We
have now covered everything necessary to make
the SWF file included in this tutorial. You can
do much more with Linx including
adding images, audio, and even video to your
text effects. Future tutorials will cover these
subjects. The Wildform Linx help file also addresses
these topics.
Enjoy your work with Linx. If you come up with
anything you would like to share, please feel
free to email us and
we may feature your work in our gallery.
Wildform
provides a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all our software.
If you are not completely satisfied with our software
for any reason you may request a refund within 15 days
of purchase.
