Flash CS3 Documentation

Using ActionScript 2.0 Components > Creating Components > Building your first component > Testing and exporting the Dial component

Testing and exporting the Dial component

You've created the Flash file that contains the graphical elements, the base classes and the class file that contains all the functionality of the Dial component. Now it's time to test the component.

Ideally, you would test the component as you work, especially while you're writing the class file. The fastest way to test as you work is to convert the component to a compiled clip and use it in the component's FLA file.

When you've completely finished a component, export it as a SWC file. For more information, see Exporting and distributing a component.

To test the Dial component:

1. In the Dial.fla file, select the Dial component in the library, open the Library context menu (Windows: Right-click; Mac: control-click), and select Convert to Compiled Clip.

   A compiled clip is added to the library with the name Dial SWF.

   NOTE

   If you've already created a compiled clip (for example, if this is the second or third time you're testing), a Resolve Library Conflict dialog box appears. Select Replace Existing Items to add the new version to the document.

2. Drag Dial SWF to the Stage on the main Timeline.
3. You can resize it and set its value property in the Property inspector or the Component Inspector. When you set its value property, the needle's position should change accordingly.
4. To test the value property at runtime, give the dial the instance name dial and add the following code to Frame 1 on the main Timeline:

   // position of the text field
   var textXPos:Number = dial.width/2 + dial.x
   var textYPos:Number = dial.height/2 + dial.y;
   
   // creates a text field in which to view the dial.value
   createTextField("dialValue", 10, textXPos, textYPos, 100, 20);
   
   // creates a listener to handle the change event
   function change(evt){
   // places the value property in the text field
   // whenever the needle moves
       dialValue.text = dial.value;
   }
   dial.addEventListener("change", this);
   

5. Select Control > Test Movie to test the component in Flash Player.

To export the Dial component:

1. In the Dial.fla file, select the Dial component in the library, open the Library context menu (Windows: Right-click; Mac: control-click), and select Export SWC File.
2. Select a location to save the SWC file.

   If you save it to the Components folder in the user-level configuration folder, you can reload the Components panel without restarting Flash and the component appears in the panel.

   NOTE

   For information about folder locations, see "Configuration folders installed with Flash" in Using Flash.

   
   
   

   The completed Dial component

   
   

Flash CS3