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[mmenashe]

Hello Everyone

Im more or less a newbie, so please practice some patience if Im posting in the wrong section or forum altogether, your redirection in any path is appreciated


Im looking to make an interactive flash presentation whereupon a flash video (or anything else playable within a webpage) runs, and has certain interactive elements whereupon the user can input data in particular fields, once inputted, they go away

there is something very similar to what I want on www.interviewwithari.com

anyhow, as mentioned Im a novice, so may ultimately end up outsourcing if I have to, but am not afriad to spend hours learning something....If It takes 200 hours to learn though, Ill have to skip the otherwise interesting experience


please respond with any questions or comments you may have

Matt

[perkiset]

Flash is not tough, but people have made a career out of it. There are a few elements to consider here.

First: Flash is a highly, HIGHLY graphical medium (duh) and if you're not pretty inclined towards graphics presentation and construction, that may be your largest problem. I'm a reasonable graphics artist, which means that I can see something I kind of like and copy it, modify it, extend and evolve it. I am neither fast or that good, but again, I am reasonable. I have to really get into a different space in my brains to do good graphics work, because I find that the programmers brain is the wrong space to work graphics.

Second: Flash itself is a somewhat complicated, but learnable tool. Doing simple presentations that swoop, beep, and tickle the eyeballs is not terribly difficult, but there is a learning curve. Start with Flash in 24 Hours by Kerman, (Sams) and you'll be up and running pretty quickly. Or you might be, depending on your previous experience and user strength.

Lastly, but most likely to do you in the pooter: ActionScript. Beyond simple graphics presentations, if you want to have your application make decisions or provide interaction like the URL you posted, you'll need to add code to your presentation. The language used in Flash is called ActionScript. It is rather object oriented, definitely event driven and not my favorite. It's doable, it's understandable. But it's a language that has been bolted onto a graphics rendering framework, which always carries some garbage and concessions with it.

If none of these 3 issues creep you out, then you're on your way: there are lots of books to take you through the steps. If any one of these steps creep you out and you have a deadline, I'd find an outsource quickly. If you have the time to learn a powerful new tool, you will not be upset having placed this into your toolbox. But you will pay in time and frustration, just as you would learning any new language.

Hope that helps,
/p

[mmenashe]

good reply, thanks

"I'm a reasonable graphics artist, which means that I can see something I kind of like and copy it, modify it, extend and evolve it"

I'm the same, except that I'm much less experienced and savvy with software, etc...but Im big time w/ vision

When I had a lot more money to play with, I just used to spend it with an in-house guy

nowadays I'm reduced to doing things myself, or looking to outsource

Ive gotten that book you mentioned also, going to print it out in a few minutes here

Ive made this decision, Im going to read through the book you've recommended and continue to go further in that direction

meanwhile, I really cant wait several weeks or months until I learn to do it myself, so Ill go with Elance and pray they understand me well, since Im going to hire the lower end of programmers

If you or anyone wants to see what I have going feel free to PM me

Matt