Over time , we ’ve gotten used to Adobe ’s Creative Suite release rhythm of approximately 18 months or so for every major interpretation of its software packages : Design , vane , and Production Premium , and Master Collection . And now comes originative Suite 5.5 . Are Adobe ’s new Flash departure just minor updates that we can ignore , or is the new version of the Flash mob a must - have tool ? Here ’s the soap on why this Flash update is particularly compelling for rich cyberspace software developer .
Flash started out as a simple vector - base invigoration tool for the Web . After Adobe get Flash via its buyout of Macromedia , it gradually developed the app into a full - mature tool for creating rich net applications ( RIAs ) . There was only one problem : Flash was not a not bad ontogenesis shaft for programmers or user interface designers . Adobe addressed this job by rise Flash Builder and Flash Catalyst . Flash Builder is an Integrated Development Environment ( IDE ) based on the democratic Eclipse IDE , while Catalyst is specifically designed as an easy - to - employment tool for non - programmers to create interfaces .
What’s new in Flash Catalyst CS5.5?
The idea behind Catalyst — which debuted with Adobe CS5 — is that designer can create an user interface for an synergistic coating in Photoshop or Illustrator . This user interface then would be import instantly into Catalyst as a starting breaker point . Without suffer to know Flash , the designer can quickly create the required interactivity for buttons and page transition . The process is so intuitive and soft to learn that a room decorator can have a work demo of the interface in a fraction of the time it would take to build the same prototype in Flash . The smasher of Catalyst though is the way it integrate with Flash and Flash Builder . you’re able to , of course , take in Flash files ( swfs ) and other elements before you export your Catalyst interface to Flash Builder . Now you could impart back undertaking from Flash Builder , which is the most important variety in this new version .
Flash Catalyst 5.5 offer wireframing to quickly make an port .
One of the most significant novel features in Catalyst CS5.5 is that you may really have a dissimilar work flow . You rarely start out with a complete port , where every item has been run out ; most projects evolve gradually , and the raw work flow in CS5.5 countenance for that . As an interface designer , you’re able to now make the interface and the interactivity by using wireframe elements . These are then imported into Flash Builder 4.5 , where a software engineer replaces them with custom portion and adds in the job logic and data service . The result is a full sour program that you bring back into Catalyst to finish the purpose .
Flash Catalyst 5.5 offers wireframing to quickly create an interface.
What’s new in Flash Builder 4.5?
Apple CEO Steve Jobs publicly determine to exclude Flash from the iOS operating system and has promoted HTML 5 as an alternative . Adobe , in answer , developedWallaby , a peter to exchange Flash undertaking to HTML 5 . But it also included new tooling and theoretical account livelihood for developing , testing , and deploy mobile applications on Android , BlackBerry Tablet OS , and iOS .
Imagine being able-bodied to recycle computer code from your Web software and release it on all major nomadic machine . From a developer and publishing house standpoint , this is awesome . If you work with PHP , you may even get a special edition of Flash Builder 4.5 for PHP , which integrates Zend Studio 8 . Zend Studio 8 is a limited hoopla - in for Eclipse , and this particular particular edition offer a much tighterintegration between Zend Studio and Flash Builder . Key feature focus on the mode data service are integrated and Flex / PHP debugging . If you do n’t need these , you may still import the Flash Builder plug - in into the Eclipse IDE to have one environment for all your coding . Onlythe methodhas changed .
The other key betterment in Flash Builder is the said new workflow with Catalyst . you’re able to code some features in Flash Builder 4.5 and return the file to Catalyst CS5.5 to enhance the design . For many substance abuser , this new two - way street will be a must - have feature .
It is now possible to start the development of a rich internet application in Flash Builder 4.5, bring it into Catalyst to enhance the design, and bring it back into Builder.
It is now possible to start the ontogeny of a rich internet covering in Flash Builder 4.5 , play it into Catalyst to enhance the design , and work it back into Builder .
What’s new in Flash Professional CS5.5?
If you are a Flash developer , the master novel feature of speech in CS5.5 is the power to develop for mobile gadget ( Android and iOS ) . you may even deliver content to internet - enabled televisions through Adobe AIR for the Digital Home .
The conception of developing once and deploying to several devices works swimmingly in this new version . One important gene is , for example , the various machine screen resolution . adobe brick addresses this by simplify the macrocosm and direction of multiple FLA files create for a single projection , but targeted to multiple devices . It does this by updating modified symbolic representation across other documents .
Another issue is substance scaling when resize the point . Without this feature article , interior decorator would spend a lot of time line up a single intention for multiple size . Now you just check the “ Scale content with stage ” alternative in the text file preferences and you get a good starting pointedness , especially since the grading also utilise to symbols and motion paths across all scenes .
Flash CS5.5 and Flash Builder 4.5 both can create AIR applications for iOS and Android devices.
jiffy CS5.5 and Flash Builder 4.5 both can make AIR applications for iOS and Android gadget .
Flash Professional CS5.5 also offer additional code snippet for roving development like the Pinch to Zoom Event or the Two Finger Tap Event . You do n’t need the codification snippet panel to use these feature ; it just supply a shortcut when develop . Another feature related to mobile development is that symbolization can be rasterized on export , which improves the performance on some mobile devices . The symbolic representation however remain editable , which is vital .
There is one more affair , and it is not related to mobile development : Adobe has tot the power to lock or pin bones to the stage . The bone tool allows you to apace animate a cartoon character , and with the enhance features in the new interpretation , it is now easier to place restrictions on the trend of selected osseous tissue . This , in turn , makes it easy to create more complex movements such as walk bicycle . If you ’ve never worked with the ivory tool before , give it a endeavour .
Bottom line
If programing multimedia for the Web and Web applications is your main line of work , updating to Flash CS5.5 is a compelling panorama . There are many improvement that make this a pregnant update . For user who are felicitous with an older Flash version and do n’t produce Web applications , CS5.5 probably does n’t offer important new features .
[ Michael Baumgardt has worked in screen background publishing , multimedia and Web designfor more than 25 years . The author of more than 20 computer Christian Bible , he now lick as consultant and project manager on several endeavor WWW projects . ]
Note : With the release of Lion , Adobe posted a technical school noteoutlining some of the issues users may encounter with some of its Creative Suite applications . The Flash family of products is discuss in some detail in this written document . Be certain to check thetech noteon Adobe ’s websitefor updated info on how Adobe Creative Suite products interact with Lion .
