Class definitions

Do my class definitions have to be in the package brackets? I’m converting one of my programs from AS2 to AS3 for fun and I’m having difficulty finding any useful information of the topic.

Another thing is that if I don’t put the package around my class it’s as if my other classes can’t access them. I figure all the classes have to be in a namespace now then? Is that right?

On the root of my fla I can’t seem to figure out how to access my classes it just says:
1046: Type was not found or was not a compile-time constant: ClassName

I got this same error before I put the package keyword around my classes too.

Anyone know how to access classes on the root?

To get an idea if I have a class definition for ClassFoo and on the root/Stage I put
var ClassFooInstance:ClassFoo = new ClassFoo();
that just gives me a 1046 error.

This is probably a common problem, yet I don’t see any threads on it and I don’t think Senoculor’s Tip of the day cover it.