I’ve noticed that adding the standard UI components like checkboxes, radios etc. really bloat up the final .swf filesize. Branden Hall wrote something a while ago saying that although each component may be heavy filesize wise, most of them share resources. So if you add a checkbox, your swf goes up by ~6kb. But if you also add a combobox (or whatever) the final swf would only go up by little more (i.e. not 6kb more).
But I find that if Im trying to build a form using flash, I use a lot of the UI components together. Im looking at a project I’m working on that is mostly script. I have a few gifs for background, and a couple of embedded fonts. These put together with my scripts come to about 20Kb. Not bad I think. But put in a combobox, two groups of 4 radios and one group of 4 beckboxes and now i’m looking at 50 Kb. And thats compressed!!
Is anyone aware of more liteweight UI components out there? Or maybe some optimization techniques for script intensive projects?
a font adds more than components!?
it’s really just the 1st that’s a bit heavy,
try a new file,add just a scrollbar,
publish,
check size, add combo or scrollpane
publish and compare…
you can do a publishing report. it tells you the size of every component in your movie. file->publish settings->flash and check the box that says generate size report. You will get a text file telling you how much space each symbol, graphic, etc takes up.
The only solution is to build your own components. That’s the best way to be sure and use only the necessary scripts. Also embed only the font outline of the necessary characters you need!
