Free Flex SDK

programming flash
1

Hi !

I’m trying to compile AS3 with the free Flex SDK.

I’ve been using FlashDevelop as an editor.

Flashdevelop.org doesn’t have a tutorial posted yet to show how to do things if you are using this type of workflow.

Here’s what I’ve been doing:

  1. I’ve installed the Flex SDK and Java 1.6+ which I understand the SDK needs.

  2. I’ve installed FlashDevelop and followed the instructions for enabling it to use the SDK and Flashplayer 10.

  3. I enter AS3 code in FlashDevelop - for example (file name is Test.as):

package
{
import flash.display.Sprite;
import flash.events.Event;

public class FirstAnimation extends flash.display.Sprite {
    private var ball:Sprite;
    
    public function FirstAnimation() {
        init();
    }
    private function init():void {
        ball = new Sprite();
        addChild(ball);
        ball.graphics.beginFill(0xff0000);
        ball.graphics.drawCircle(0, 0, 40);
        ball.graphics.endFill();
        ball.x = 20;
        ball.y = stage.stageHeight / 2;
        ball.addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, onEnterFrame);
    }
    private function onEnterFrame(event:Event):void {
    }
    }
}

(This code is from Keith Peters’ very wonderful AS3 Animation book.)

  1. When I go to FlashDevelop/Project/Test Movie I just end up with a blank swf.

  2. When I try to compile by directing Flex SDK to my AS file using the Windows command prompt like so…

C:\AS3Classes C:/Flex/bin/mxmlc.exe Test.as

…I get this error message:

Exception in thread “main” java.io.FileNotFoundException: C:\Flex\bin\mxmlc.jar
(The system cannot find the file specified)
at java.util.zip.ZipFile.open(Native Method)
at java.util.zip.ZipFile.(init)(Unknown Source)
at java.util.jar.JarFile.(init)(Unknown Source)
at java.util.jar.JarFile.(init)(Unknown Source)

I notice in the Flash workflow tutorial Flashdevelop.org has posted that they tell you this:

** Writing the main class **

When working with Flex you must create a main class. This will be the “entry point” of the SWF:

[LIST]
[] select the main class in the project tree,
[] right-click, select “Always compile”.
[/LIST]
package
{
import flash.display.Sprite;
import flash.events.Event;

public class Main extends Sprite
{
public function Main():void
{
if (stage) init();
else addEventListener(Event.ADDED_TO_STAGE, init);
}

private function init(e:Event = null):void 
{
  removeEventListener(Event.ADDED_TO_STAGE, init);
  // entry point
  addChild(new MySymbol());
}

}
}

OK, after painting this picture, let me boil things down to a couple of questions:

  1. Is that error in the command prompt because I somehow haven’t installed Java 1.6+ correctly?

  2. Is that thread “main” the SDK can’t seem to find actually a Main class I need to write?

  3. Am I missing some vital piece of information I need in order to set up a workflow like this?

OK, well, it’s true I AM in several fathoms over my head!

I’ve always gotten truly excellent support here, and any help anyone may offer me for this quandary is as usual, most gratefully received.

Thank you & regards,

Galland@squareheadsRus
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