AIR:Flash CS3 Professional Update:Using the Adobe AIR Update for Flash CS3 Professional
From Adobe Labs
The Adobe® Integrated Runtime (AIR) update for Flash® lets you transform a Flash-authored, web-based application into a desktop application. Users can then run the application on their desktops and, in some cases, without an Internet connection.
You can use the plug-in with Flash CS3. It is not compatible with Flash 8.
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About the AIR update for Flash Professional CS3
This section contains the following topics:
Install the AIR update for Flash
AIR update for Flash overview
The Adobe AIR update for Flash lets you transform a Flash file into a desktop application. For example, you might have a set of Flash files that interact with each other to display XML data. You can use the AIR update for Flash to package this set of pages into a small application that can be installed on a user's computer. When the user runs the application from their desktop, the application loads and displays the website in its own application window, independent of a browser. The user can then browse the files locally on their computer without an Internet connection.
System requirements
To use the AIR update for Flash, the following software must be installed and properly configured:
- Microsoft® Windows® XP with Service Pack 2; Windows Vista™ Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, or Enterprise (certified for 32-bit editions); or Mac OS X v.10.4.x
- Flash CS3
The preceding requirements are only for packaging and previewing AIR applications in Flash. To install and run an AIR application on the desktop, you must also install the AIR runtime on your computer. To download the runtime, see www.adobe.com/go/apollo.
Install the AIR update for Flash
- Double-click the AIR update for Flash executable file in Windows Explorer (Windows) or in the Finder (Macintosh).
- Follow the onscreen instructions to install the update.
- After you're finished, restart Flash.
Use the AIR update for Flash Professional CS3
This section contains the following topics:
Create a new AIR file
You can only create AIR formatted files in Flash using the Flash Welcome Screen. This file format is not available in the New Document dialog box.
- Start Flash.
- On the Welcome Screen, click the Flash file (Adobe AIR) option.
- If you've disabled the Flash Welcome Screen so that it doesn't show by default, you can get it to show again by selecting Edit > Preferences, selecting the General category, and selecting Welcome Screen from the On Launch pop-up menu.
Set AIR publish settings
- In Flash, open the FLA file you want to package.
- Select File > Publish Settings and click the Flash tab.
- From the Version pop-up menu, select Adobe AIR 1.0.
- Note: Adobe AIR 1.0 files are automatically set to ActionScript 3.0.
- Click OK.
Preview an AIR file
You can preview a Flash page as it would appear in an AIR application. Previewing is useful when you want to see what the page will look like in the application without having to repackage the entire application.
- Make sure you've set AIR publish settings.
- Select Control > Test Movie or press Control + Enter.
Debug an AIR file
- Make sure you've set AIR publishing settings.
- Select Debug > Debug Movie or Press Control + Shift + Enter.
Package an AIR application
- In Flash, open the page or set of pages you want to package.
- Select Commands > AIR - Application and Package Settings.
- Complete the Application and Package Settings dialog box, and then click Package.
For more information, see the dialog box options below.
The first time you package each AIR application, Flash creates an application descriptor file and saves it as swfname-app.xml in the same directory as the original SWF file. This file serves as a manifest, defining various properties of the application.
NOTE: Flash also creates an application descriptor file whenever you test or debug a movie.
The following describes the options in the Application and Package Settings dialog box:
Application Filename is the name of the main file of the application.
Application Name is the name used by the installer to generate the application file name and the application folder. The name must contain only valid characters for files or folder names.
Application ID identifies your application with a unique ID. You can change the default ID if you prefer. Do not use spaces or special characters in the ID. The only valid characters are 0-9, a-z, A-Z, . (dot), and - (dash).
Version specifies a version number for your application. Optional.
Description lets you enter a description of the application to display when the user installs the application. Optional.
Copyright lets you enter a copyright notice to display when the user installs the application. Optional.
Window Type specifies whether to surround your application with system chrome (that is, in the operating system's standard window control) when the user runs the application on their computer. The Standard option displays the system chrome. To display your application without the system chrome, select None.
Icons lets you specify whether to use standard system icons or custom icons for the application. To use custom icons, click the Select Icon Images button. In the Application Custom Icons dialog box that appears, click the folder for each icon size and select the icon file to use. The supported image files are PNG, GIF, and JPEG.
Use custom application xml file lets you browse to a custom application descriptor file.
Destination specifies where to save the packaged application. The default location is the same directory as the SWF file. Click the folder icon to select a different location. The default package name is the application name with the .air file extension.
Included Files/Folders specifies which files or folders to include in your application. Click the Plus (+) button to add files, and the folder button to add folders. To delete a file or folder from your list, select the file or folder and click the Minus (-) button.
The following is an example of the dialog box with some basic options set.
