FLASH: Generator 2.0

[Phillip M. Torrone]

Looks like Macromedia just officially released Generator 2.0. So now some

of us from the beta group can start talking :]


I have to say, it's a great product that we have been able to work with for

the last few months. Flash 4 and Generator 2 are wonderful together.



Here's a short summary- feel free to ask if you need more- or check it out

Macromedia's site.


What is Generator 2.0-

Generator is a server-based application that dynamically updates Flash

graphics static images and animation using external data sources. Designers

can create Flash movie templates containing variable elements, both

graphics and text, which are replaced with content by the server. Such

generated content can be played back in the client's browser as Flash,

Java, QuickTime 4 Movies, GIF, or animated GIF files. 


It can-

Replace Text

Insert, Replace, Transform, Replicate, and Plot movie clips and graphic

symbols.

Generate custom charts (Lots of new charts!):


Basic Charts		

-Bar, 3-D Bar, Stacked Bar

-Line, Stacked Line

-Area, Stacked Area

-Scatter, Scatter Line

Pie Charts

-3-D Pie

Stock Charts

- High-Low-Close

- Open-High-Low-Close

-CandleSticks


Create scrolling lists with dynamic data

Insert external jpeg files

Change JPEG, PNG, and GIF settings

Change color effects

Insert sounds


(Offline) Create Stand-alone Projectors and Quicktime 4.0 movies

(Offline) Create Text files (this is a way to catalog all the data from a

.swt file, for  search engines etc...


What's New in Generator 2-

· The Generator Objects palette and inspectors have been added to make it

quick and easy to create Generator objects and specify their properties.

· The Movie Settings, Insert External Media, and Data Encoding commands

have moved to File > Publish Settings > Generator tab.

· GIF Settings, PNG Settings, and JPEG Settings have moved to File >

Publish Settings.

· Set Environment and Set SQL Environment commands have moved to the

Generator Environment Variable button on the timeline.

· Insert Sound has moved to the Generator palette.

· New Generator objects have been added.


Generator 1.x templates should be fully functional with Generator 2.0*,

except that the parameters specified in the Settings dialog are not

converted. 

Generator 2.0 is not compatible with Flash 3; Flash 4 is not compatible

with Generator 1.0.

*-Watch out-, if you have any templates that use any "Undocumented Charts"

change those to Generator 2.0 charts. 


Cheers,


Phillip M Torrone

Director of New Media

Braincraft Learning Technologies

627 Broadway, Suite 504

New York, NY 10012

Phone: 212.539.1680

Fax:   212.539.1741

http://www.braincraft.com



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