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Getting Started with
Flash CS5
Introduction
Flash is an application for developing rich content, user
interfaces, and Web applications. Adobe Flash Professional
CS5 allows designers and developers to integrate video,
text, audio, and graphics into rich experiences that deliver
superior results for interactive marketing and presentations,
e-learning, and application user interfaces. Most major com-
mercial Web sites have implemented Flash content because of
its cross-platform consistency, rich graphics capabilities, and
small file sizes.
After you create and fine-tune multimedia content in
Flash, you can deliver it on the Web within a browser using
the Flash Player. Flash Player is a software product devel-
oped by Adobe for browsers on the Macintosh and Windows.
Flash is the world’s most pervasive software platform, used
by millions of professionals and reaching more than 97% of
Web-enabled desktops worldwide, as well as a wide range of
consumer electronic devices, such as PDAs and mobile
phones. You can also deliver Flash content as a separate
application using AIR or an application on an Apple iPhone.
Flash operates virtually the same on both Macintosh and
Windows versions, except for a few keyboard commands
that have equivalent functions. You use the [Ctrl] and [Alt]
keys in Windows, and the A and [Option] keys on a
Macintosh computer. Also, the term
popup
on the Macintosh
and

list arrow
in Windows refer to the same type of option.
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What You’ll Do
Prepare to Install Flash
Install and Start Flash
View the Flash Window
Create a Project Plan
Build a Flash Project
Create a New Document
Create a New Document from
a Template
Open an Existing Document
Change Document Properties
Work with Document Windows
Save a Document
Save a Document in Different Formats
Get Help While You Work
Get Online Updates and Support
Finish Up
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Chapter 1
System Requirements
Before you can install Flash Professional CS5
and development content, you need to make
sure your computer meets the minimum sys-

tem requirements. You can create Flash con-
tent on Windows and Macintosh computers.
As a Flash developer, you also need to be
aware of the system requirements for viewers
of your Flash movies in a browser using the
Adobe Flash Player. Web users need to down-
load and install the player in order to view
and interact with Flash content. The Flash
Player is free and widely distributed over the
Web at
www.adobe.com
.
Some Flash CS5 features require the latest
version of QuickTime. During the installation,
use the
Recommended
installation type to
install the required components. You can
obtain the latest version of QuickTime at
www.quicktime.com
.
For Windows Computers
You need to have a computer with the follow-
ing minimum configuration:
◆
Intel Pentium 4, Centrino, Xeon, or
Core Duo processor or equivalent.
◆
1 GB of RAM (2 GB recommended).
◆

2.5 GB available disk space.
◆
16-bit (thousands of colors), 1024 x
768 resolution.
◆
Microsoft Windows XP with Service
Pack 3 or higher; Windows Vista with
Service Pack 1, Windows 7.
◆
Internet or phone connection required
for activation.
◆
QuickTime 7.x or higher; DirectX
version 9.0c or higher.
For Macintosh Computers
You need to have a computer with the follow-
ing minimum configuration:
◆
Multicore Intel-based Macintosh.
◆
1 GB of RAM (2 GB recommended).
◆
2.5 GB available disk space.
◆
16-bit (thousands of colors), 1024 x
768 resolution.
◆
Mac OS X 10.5.x, or later.
◆
Internet or phone connection required

for activation.
◆
QuickTime 7.x or higher.
For Viewers in a Browser
Your visitors n eed to have a computer with
the Flash Player and the following minimum
configuration:
◆
For Windows 98/Me.
Internet Explorer
5.5, Netscape 7.x, Mozilla 1.x, Firefox
1.x, AOL 9, or Opera 7. 11.
◆
For Windows 2000.
Internet Explorer
5.x, Netscape 7.x, Mozilla 1.x, Firefox
1.x, CompuServe 7, AOL 9 , or O p era
7. 11.
◆
For Windows 7/Vista/XP/Windows
2003 Server.
Internet Explorer 6.0,
Netscape 7.x, Mozilla 1.x, CompuServe
7, F i r e f o x 1. x , A O L 9 , o r O p e r a 7. 11.
◆
For Macintosh OS X 10.1.x - Mac X
10.4.x.
Safari 2.x, Internet Explorer 5.2,
Netscape 7.x, Mozilla 1.x, Firefox 1.x,
AOL for OS X, Opera 6, or Safari 1.x.

Preparing to Install Flash
From the Library of Wow! eBook
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Chapter 1 Getting Started with Flash CS5
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To perform a standard application install, insert the Adobe Flash
Professional CS5 installation disc into the drive on your computer, and
then follow the on-screen instructions. Because the setup process is
different for Macintosh OS X and Windows platforms, general steps are
provided to help you get started, and the on-screen instructions will
guide you through the rest. Make sure to have your serial number handy
because you'll be asked to enter it during the installation process. If
you're updating from a previous version of Flash, you'll be required to
verify the older version with your serial number for the previous version.
The Flash installation includes all the components you need, including
the Flash Player 10, to develop Flash content. The Flash Player is soft-
ware installed on a user’s computer that allows them to view published
Flash movies (SWFs) in a Web page or through the player.
Installing Flash
Install Flash Professional CS5
Insert the Flash Professional CS5
DVD into your DVD ROM drive, or
download the software online to
your hard disk.
If necessary, double-click the DVD
icon or open the folder with the
downloaded software, and then
double-click the setup icon.
Follow the on-screen instructions
to install the product; the installer

asks you to read and accept a
licensing agreement, enter a serial
number, indicate the language you
want, enter or create an Adobe ID
or skip the step, and specify where
you want to install the software.
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Did You Know?
Most Adobe applications can be
downloaded.
It's all very simple, you
go to
www.adobe.com
, click the
Products menu item, and then select
the application you want to purchase.
You will need a credit card (of course),
and a lot of bandwidth.
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Chapter 1
You can start Flash in several ways, depending on the platform you are
using. When you start Flash, the computer displays a splash screen and
then the Flash window. When you start a new Flash session or close all
documents, a Welcome screen appears in the Document window, pro-

viding easy access links to open a document, open a recent item, cre-
ate new documents, create new documents from template, and display
online video tutorials to help you get started. You can also use links to
access many Flash related Adobe Web sites, including Adobe CS Live
Online Services (
New!
) and Adobe Flash Exchange, where you can
download additional applications and information.
Starting Flash
Start Flash in Windows
Click Start on the taskbar.
Point to All Programs (which
changes to Back).
Point to an Adobe Collection CS5
menu, if needed.
Click Adobe Flash Professional
CS5.
If you’re starting Flash
Professional CS5 for the first time,
you might be prompted to specify
the following:
◆
Enter or create an Adobe ID to
register the product, click
Submit, and then click Done.
The Flash Professional CS5
window opens, displaying the
Welcome screen.
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Welcome
screen
Did You Know?
You can hide the Welcome screen.
On
the Welcome screen, select the Don’t
Show Again check box.
You can set launch preferences to
customize how Flash starts.
Click the
Flash (Mac) or Edit (Win) menu, click
Preferences, click the General cate-
gory, select an option from the On
Launch list arrow, and then click OK.
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Don’t Show Again check box
From the Library of Wow! eBook
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Chapter 1 Getting Started with Flash CS5
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Start Flash in Macintosh
Open the Applications folder
(located on the main hard drive).
Double-click the Adobe Flash CS5
folder.
Double-click the Adobe Flash CS5

application icon.
If you’re starting Flash CS5 for the
first time, you might be prompted
to specify the following:
◆
Enter or create an Adobe ID to
register the product, click
Submit, and then click Done.
The Flash Professional CS5
window opens, displaying the
Welcome screen.
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Shortcut for Adobe Flash CS5
Did You Know?
You can create a shortcut on the
Macintosh.
Drag and drop the Flash
application to the bottom of the monitor
screen, and then add it to the dock.
You can work in other programs as
Flash starts up.
When you start Flash,
the Welcome screen no longer stays in
front, so you can work in other pro-
grams

(
New!
)
.
Launching Flash and Opening a Document
You can also start Flash and open a Flash document at the same time.
Double-click the Flash file icon in Windows Explorer (Win) or in a
Macintosh folder (Mac). You can identify a Flash document by the file
icon or FLA file extension. A file extension is a three-letter suffix at
the end of a filename that identifies the file type for the operating sys-
tem. The Macintosh doesn't need to use file extensions, but added
the feature to promote cross platform use. In the Mac Operating
System (OS) 10 or later, you have the option to show or hide file
extensions. When you are working on both platforms, using file
extensions on the Macintosh allows Windows and Flash to recognize
and open the files.
For Your Information
From the Library of Wow! eBook