Actionscript Artist » Flash and Usability

Flash Shortcut Keys

Anders — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 01:22:22 +0000

The following is a list of shortcut keys that I find most used in Flash. These are the same for all versions of Flash to date. I have denoted these shortcuts using a PC. If your using a MAC, just change the CTRL to COMMAND.

Tools:

Selection Tool – V
Sub Selection Tool – A
Free Transform Tool – Q
Gradient Transform Tool – F

Line Tool – N
Lasso Tool – L
Pen Tool – P
Text Tool – T
Oval Tool – O

Flash Rectangle Tool – R
Pencil Tool – Y
Brush Tool – B
Ink Bottle Tool – S
Paint Bucket Tool – K

Flash Eyedropper Tool – I
Flash Eraser Tool – E

Zoom
Zoom In – CTRL + “+”
Zoom Out – CTRL + “-”

Frames

Add Frame – F5
Delete Frame – SHIFT + F5
Add Key Frame – F6
Add Blank Key Frame – F7

Symbol (MovieClip, Button, Graphic)

Turn Into Symbol – F8

Insert New Symbol – CTRL + F8

File

New Document – CTRL + N
Open Document – CTRL + O
Close Document – CTRL + W
Close All – CTRL + ALT + W

Save – CTRL + S
Save as – CTRL + SHIFT + S
Import to Stage – CTRL + R
Publish – SHIFT + F12
Exit – CTRL + Q

Modifying and Editing

Undo – CTRL + Z
Redo – CTRL + Y

Cut – CTRL + X
Copy – CTRL + C
Paste – CTRL + V

Paste in Place – CTRL + SHIFT + V

Testing Your Movie

Test Movie – CTRL + ENTER
Debug Movie – CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER

Alright I think that covers it. I’ve been meaning to put this up for a long time and finally its here. Comment on this if you want to add any Flash Shortcut Keys that you use frequently.

Which Scrollbar Navigation is Best?

Anders — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 02:20:18 +0000

When developing Flash Websites and applications you will occasionally have to insert a scrollbar. In terms of usability, it is a good idea to use a scrollbar that your users are used to. Everyone who has used the internet has used the scrollbar located in their internet browser (Firefox, or IE). Therefore this is a good standard scrollbar to use especially when developing applications.

However, there are instances where you will want to have your own “cool” looking scrollbar. If you are developing a site for a movie or a game where you want to portray a certain look or feel then it is okay to use your own custom scrollbar. Just be careful and don’t stray too far from the norm or else you users won’t know how to use your navigation and that can make your project unusable and therefore useless.

Screens White Out in Online HTML-based Applications

Anders — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 15:10:10 +0000

Think about the process of filling out a series of forms on a HTML based website. As you move from one screen to the next the screen goes completely white before going to the next screen. The amount of time that the screen goes white depends on you connection speed and the server’s speed. A usability study found that people get a little stressed when the screen goes white. Perhaps they think the signup process is going to crash on them as it probably has in the past. This ranks poorly on the usability scale. Most HTML based forms or applications are multi-page applications. This usually happens when the user’s session expires. This only happens in HTML based applications. There are ways around this using DHTML and other tricks but generally this is a problem for HTML.

If you were to use Flash to make applications then you would not have to reload the screen every time the conditions change. You could do everything on one page that dynamically changes to suit the application. Strike another one up for Flash in the long and controversial debate between Flash and HTML.

Search Engine Optimization for Flash Sites

Anders — Fri, 12 May 2006 17:40:57 +0000

Earlier this year Google adapted so that it would actually search some of the content contained in Flash Movies (swfs). Below are some interesting articles about optimizing you Flash Sites for Google and other search engines embracing Flash:

– How to Design Flash Pages for Google
– A modern approach to Flash SEO
– How to SEO Flash

Strike up Another one for Flash

Anders — Thu, 20 Apr 2006 17:45:26 +0000

This is another post about why online Flash Applications are better and more usable than online HTML applications. If you are using a wireless connection or even just an unstable connection then there is potential to loose your connection from time to time. If your in the middle of filling out an HTML based form or application and you loose your connection then all of your session data will be lost and you’ll have to start the process over.

This does not happen with Flash-based applications, you will retain all of the current state information offline. When you get back online you can continue using the application without loosing the data that you’ve entered in. This is just another reason why Flash is more usable than HTML for online application development.

Flash Intro’s are Bad Design

Anders — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 15:48:50 +0000

There was a time a few years ago where Flash Intro’s were gaining popularity. That time is long gone and now it is common knowledge that Flash Intro’s are considered bad design and should no longer be used.

When people visit a site they are interested in the content contained on this site. A Flash Intro delays the user from getting to this valuable content. In a world where time and speed is so important it is just “not cool” to waste someone’s time in this way.

If you already have a Flash Intro for your site, then I’d suggest removing it and maybe posting a link on your homepage to it or turning it into some type of advertisement. This way people who want to view it can and those who don’t want to view don’t have to. If your not willing to do this then at least let the users have the option of skipping the intro.