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Flash Basics II: The Interface and Setting Up Your Workspace

First, we open Flash. Right now, we're using CS3 (although CS4 is already out, and CS5 is just around the corner). We're going to select  Flash File (ActionScript 2.0) under Create New.

Here's what you get. The parts of the interface you'll be using the most are:

The MAIN TIMELINE at the top, center

The TOOLBAR, on the left side

The MAIN STAGE, also called the MAIN SCENE (also called _root in Actionscript), the white rectangle in the grey field, where the action takes place

The PROPERTIES BAR, below the stage, and 

The LIBRARY on the right side.

Additionally, there are some other windows that may or may not be open or arranged like you see here. If you don't see a particular window, go to the Window menu, open it, and drag it to the PROPERTIES BAR or the LIBRARY bar. The additional windows you'll need right now are:

The INFO(rmation) window

The TRANSFORM window

The ALIGN window

I prefer to put those three windows near the LIBRARY on the right.Also, 

The ACTIONS window, which I group with the PROPERTIES BAR on the bottom. If I'm working with an extra monitor, I'll expand the ACTIONS window to the size of that monitor, because this is where I'll write my Actionscript.

OK,  when I'm happy with the arrangement of windows, my workspace for Flash, I will save this arrangement (Window > Workspace > Save Current):

I give the workspace a name, and click OK:

Next time I open Flash, if the arrangement has been changed, I simply select the Workspace I just created:

Flash is a challenging program to learn, so set up a workspace that's useful to you, and change it as your needs change. Now, continue on to the next tutorial and create a graphic symbol and buttons.