Print from Flash

I spent the day trying to figure out how to print from flash using AS3

it took me a couple tutorials to find one that was not lame.

I wound up using this one:
http://www.flepstudio.org/forum/tutorials/3503-using-printjob-class-actionscript-3-0-a.html

I was able to get the tutorial to work (after two or three attempts)
Next I will have to work this into my habitat builder code.
This will allow users to print out the images they make.

Good news/bad news.  You can only print out a specific movieclip/sprite.

This is good because users will only print the important part of the screen.
Bad because it means ill have to make sure what they build rests within one movieclip.  This may or may not end up being a problem because of children/parent complications.
My money is on it being very annoying.  I'll find out in a day or two.

been busy

Did the presentation on Friday.

Got a good amount done in the last couple of weeks.  I have a shell for the site built now.  The next big step is to figure out how
-to send off an ecard
-make the 'habitat builder' application work and not be too lame.

I bought an actionscript book for reference over the weekend and found some tutorials on Friday.  Hopefully I'll have some progress made by Friday and pretty much know how it will all work within the next two weeks.  If I can get that stuff done, then I should be able to build everything else around it.

Building Prototype

I started building the prototype this week.  Extremely basic version.
I am concentrating on getting the HTML page built with the .swf movies tucked in there.

With the swf movies I have 5 stages to include.
-there is the welcome screen that comes up right away.  Millie the Meerkat (Super Cheesy i know) welcomes you
-you go down in the burrow with Millie and from there
-you can view the map of the zoo and choose which animal to visit.
-you hang out with the animal, look at some pictures and get some info
-lastly is the e-card building application.

I have built basic versions of those first 4 in flash and linked 3 of them together.  The next step is to figure out how to link my XML map to the next step.  I think this will just take some actionscript fooling around (that should eat up some good time.)


Right now I have just been quickly plugging in art and images.  That all could change.  All in all though, things are going pretty smoothly for this basic prototype.

I also started thinking about how the e-card builder will work.  I found a couple tutorials online that will hopefully be useful.  (of course they are written for AS2).  I plan on looking deeper into that next week after I get this initial prototype stuff all linked together.

Oh, before I forget.  Another annoying problem.  To make all the .swf files link together I have to have them all in the same root folder as the index.  This is especially problematic for my XML movie because that requires multiple folders and files itself to work.   I am not sure what to do about that.  It is a pain.  I'm sure there is some easy solution to this.

That is all for now.  Good luck me.

Christmas break is over

So what is new?

I recently started making a skeleton of the website.  I have all the divs and such roughly arranged.  I was able to add the .swf to the and it loads fine, but the xml information will not load.   So I will have to figure that out.

I will also have to think of a way to include 3D into my project.  I do not know exactly how I plan to do this yet.  I have a few ideas but I need to have a better understanding of what we can and cannot do with the imported papervision stuff.  For example, can we import a 3D file that has motion or a moving camera? How do we add materials to what we import?  Besides being able to rotate the 3D image around with the mouse, what other controls can we have (and do we do that using actionscript and will that be pain in the butt) 
We are still going to be doing that papervision 3d flash stuff in class so hopefully those questions will be answered sooner than later. 

Critical Review and Stuff

Critical Review is today.  We will see how that goes.  *update*  It went fine.
Because my project has changed a bit I have to write a new proposal, which makes a lot of sense.  So that will give me something to do on break. 

I have not posted in a while, but that does not mean that I have not been working on the project.  I completed my actionscript/xml project which relates to my final project. 
So far I have a map, and when you click on a spot on the map you see the animal that lives in that bit of the Zoo.  So that is a big step and a good jumping off point. 
I have a pretty basic storyboard.  it is only 4 frames and not really very detailed.  It has given me an opportunity to organize my thoughts and get a better idea of how things will be layed out. 
I have also drawn up a few characters in illustrator.  I have a meerkat, an elephant, and a giraffe.  I did not spend too much time on them, but they actually look pretty good for the time being. 
I also have a Gantt chart made.  Actually I made it three weeks ago and it looks like I am still on schedule.  

Hey, blogger is finally letting me upload images!
in order:
That is my interactive zoo map down there.
below are a couple examples from my very basic storyboard.  The first with the elephant is an example of where you would go after clicking for "more information" on an animal.  You can get some fun facts/information/photos and maybe little movies
the next picture is a fun "Create a habitat" application where you chose bits to make up a habitat for an animal to live in.  I am hoping that the user would be able to print this or send it off as an e-card... I'll have to look into how that is done. 

XML

Two posts in one day?  Whoa man.
I am starting work on my XML project for that Actionscript class.  Sean helped give me some direction.  I am going to try to tie it in with my major project.

I will be making a map of the zoo.  When you click on points on the map you will see some information on the animal that resides at that particular spot.

Zoo Meeting

I went to back to the Dublin Zoo today to meet with Una Smyth, education officer at the Dublin Zoo.

We talked about the educational programs they run there with younger and older students.  I was impressed how extensively they work with 2nd and 3rd level students.

She let me know that they are in the process of redesigning their website.  They have a gal who is working on it, so i could probably get in touch with her if necessary.

Una also seemed very interested in the idea of incorporating my project into their website in the future if it turns out well.  This is something that had crossed my mind, but i thought it to presumptuous to bring up.  So hopefully it will turn out somewhere between good and great and I can get it thrown up as a bonus feature on the new Dublin Zoo website.

I asked if there was an image bank that I could make use of if I needed and indeed there is and I could.

I asked a few questions about this and that and found out the following.
Among the favorite features of young visitors are the big animals and the reptile house.  School groups very much enjoy when they get to see the Keepers feeding the animals and talking to them.
She would like to see something interactive and fun that promotes their message of conservation.

I also got a big ol' folder of worksheets, program guides, posters and news letters.  Wow!