External ActionScripting class file

A CLASS is a flash object. In a generic way "a class" is the code portion of an object. Movieclips or buttons are flash objects with certain properties, the actionScript code that can control and modify those object is known as the "class"of the object (like the "movieclip class").

A class FILE is an external file that contains ActionScripting and is attached to a flash movie, providing the code for what the file will do when played as an swf. This type of file is named like: "name.as". Programmers don't work with the file timeline, they place the complete code for the project in an external file.

You have to be careful when you name this" Actionscript external file" because you will have to write the name it on a text field that says "document class" located in the Properties panel when you have no tool selected .This will make the swf find the code when it runs. You will also have to use that name inside the class as you will see below.
When you write one class file that will apply to the whole project we say we are using " a single class method".
We could also use a class file for an specific object in the project, like a movieclip.

As any other external file it should be kept in the root folder with the swf and html file and copied to the server.
The codein the file is slightly different that what you write when the code is attached to a keyframe on the main timeline of the fla, mostly because you have to begin by calling the classes that you are going to need to run the code.

An object constructor

You can build new objects directly with actionscript 3.0, without building them on the Stage attached to a frame. This is the generic formula for that. The name of the object is the only part of the code that you will make up.

var name: type = Newtype

Flash (display) objects are: TextField, MovieClip, Sprite, Bitmap, Shape...

Example: Creating a screen output with an ActionScript class

First, see the code used when attaching it to a keyframe on the timeline

var	Mary:TextField	=	newTextField()	;

variable	name: type	=	create a new Tf	;

Mary	.	text	=	"Welcome to my site"	;

variable name	.	text property	=	"text for the textfield"	;

addChild	(Mary)	;

place on Stage	variable name	;

Code for showing a text on screen through Action scripting

Same code when written in "a class file" attached to a flash project

You need to save the file and name it, in this case we will call it "maryFile.as"
We will also make sure that this file is linked to a flash file of the same name (maryFile.fla)
Notice the use of a type of function called a CONSTRUCTION function (only in .as files).
This is the main function of the class file that will run immediately, so code written in this main function will work faster (very important in gaming).

package	{		Begin of package*

import flash .		display*;	Prepare display information

import flash .		.text*;	Prepare text information

public	class	maryFile	extends Movieclip	{

class definition		MUST match the file name	This defines what the class will work with: a movieclip	open class

	public function	maryFile ()	{

indented	function definition	name MUST match the name of the class (and the file)	open function

Construction Function

	var	Mary:TextField	=	newTextField()	;

indented	variable	name: type	=	create a new Tf	;

	Mary	.	text	"Welcome to my site"	;

indented	variable	.	text property	"text for the textfield"	;

	addChild	(Mary)	;

indented	place on Stage	variable	;

	}	End of public function
}	End of public class
}	End of package*