DreamTemplate

Template Kingdom

OK, to start the tutorial. Let me tell you that you also need the Adobe Flash CS3 or CS4 editor. Now, this editor costs you a fortune $700. But don't get dishearten.  There are cheaper ways to get this done.

Open your flash CS4 editor and do a file open to select the .fla file from the other files.

You should type URL button will be linked to as get URL function argument. For example, if you want to link button to your contacts page type the following:

Actually, get URL function accepts three arguments: URL, window type and variables send method. Window type argument specifies where new URL will be opened. If this argument is blank the link will be open in the same window. If you want to open it in a new window, use the "_blank" argument. Variables send method should be used if you are parsing some variables through the URL string. The available options are "GET" and "POST". Next action script example calls products page with "item" variable with "9" value in the same window using a GET method.

If you are using flash intro template, you will need to redirect visitor to your website after intro finished playing. To do these follow next instructions.

Move red timeline slider to the end of flash intro movie. Select the last frame by single clicking it with mouse. Press "F6" to create key frame in this frame. Press "F9" to open Actions panel. Type the following code there.

Replace "your_url_here" text with appropriate URL of your website.

If you want some portion of text to be linked to some location on the web please, do the following. 

Locate the symbol containing text. Select the text you want to link with URL by using a Text Tool. Go to Properties Panel, press "CTRL+F3" if you can't see it for some reasons. At the very bottom of that panel you'll see the URL input box. It has the chain icon on the left of it. Just fill that empty input box with the appropriate URL.

Browse these symbols to find symbol your want to substitute. You can see symbols preview at the top of symbols library. When you have found necessary bitmap symbol double click the icon on the left of it as to see the symbol properties window.

Bitmap Properties

You'll see image preview and options there. Check the image size. It looks like 193 x 214 pixels at 32 bits per pixel. To make your image fit the original effects and animation the best way your image must be exactly the same size as in the original image.
 

Press "Import" button on the left and browse to location of your image file.

At the bitmap symbols properties window you can change the image quality. Make it lower to reduce published file size.

Finally, after you've made the appropriate changes to the flash animated header of your web design template you should publish and update it.

You may want to modify the publish settings to reduce the download time or increase the image quality. To do so, please, choose "File/Publish Settings..." from top menu. In "Publish Settings" window choose "Flash" tab. The main options that have significantly influenced the published "SWF" movie file size are Jpeg Quality, Audio Stream and Audio Event.

To change jpeg image compression ratio move "Jpeg Quality" slider or type it in the input box at the right of it. Low quality (high compression) extremely reduces download time by flash looses its professional look. Try to experiment with quality to get optimal size/quality balance.

Another way to affect movie size is to change Audio Stream and Event options. Press "Set" button on the right to change music quality options.

Actually, you can publish your movie directly from "Publish Settings" window, see "Publish" button at the bottom. Or you can publish it from every point of Macromedia Flash by pressing "SHIFT+F12" hot key.

Published "SWF" file will appear in the folder were corresponding "FLA" file is located.

Note: If some fonts in your published "SWF" file differ from original it means that you have not installed all the appropriate fonts.

Replace old "SWF" file in "/site_flash/flash" folder with a new one. Now it's time to check modifications you've made. Go to the "/site_flash" folder of your web design template and launch "index.html" file to see the changes.