Using Flash Templates

When you start Flash, you are given the option to create a new Flash document, open an existing document, or choose to create a new document from a template. You can see under the "Create from Template" area that we have a CommandSim folder in which we have made several Flash document templates for you to simplify some tasks in getting start.

If you open this folder, you will be presented with a list of the available templates:

Once you create a Flash document from a template, you edit it and save it exactly as if you had created a new Flash document--you will not be overriding the template file.

Note: To ensure compatibility with Flash MX 2004 (Flash 7), we created the templates using Flash MX 2004. Therefore, if you are using Flash 8 or later, when you save your file, Flash will ask you if you want to convert it to Flash 8 format. Saving it in Flash 8 format will not affect playback--viewers will only need the Flash 7 player to see your scenes.

Here are some of the templates we provide and what customizations we have made in them:

Template Name	Description
Basic Image	A Flash document of size 640x480 pixels with a frame rate of 15 frames per second. It has one timeline layer named "photo" for putting your photos on.
Masked Image	A Basic Image document with two additional timeline layers: one for placing smoke and fire, and the second (top layer) for placing a mask. A mask lets you give dimensionality to your visual by letting smoke and fire appear like it is coming from behind structures or through windows, etc.
Basic Scrolled Image	This is for photos in which you want viewers to be able to look around (scroll) beyond what will fit on a single screen. The template contains the CommandSim picture scroller already, and instructions for bringing in your photo. Note: We recommend you gain comfort with basic images before you try to create scrolling images.
Basic 360 Scroll	This is like the Basic Scrolled Image template except that it assumes the image you bring in is a 360 degree picture of the scene. The template contains the CommandSim 360 panorama scroller already, and instructions for importing your picture. Note: Like the Basic Scrolled Image template, we recommend you get comfortable with basic images before you try to create 360 panoramas.