Issues using multiple swcs in Flex Builder 3.0
As most of the Flash development here is now pure object-oriented in AS3 my IDE of choice is now Flex Builder 3.0 for all ActionScript projects. We left behind Flash IDE for the same reasons as most: it’s text editor is inadequate and the code visualisation for pure object-oriented projects is not sufficient; it also enables us to bring in line our development tools with other languages such as Java. Let’s face it, the Flash timeline IDE was never going to cut it as a serious development model!
An aspect of not developing in Flash that I had to adjust to was coping without a convenient library of graphical assets to drag into my application. There are various ways of importing or loading graphical assets into a 100% code application which nearly all involve and temporary return to Flash IDE. My preferred method is to create my graphical assets in Flash IDE, giving each of them linkage names relevant to the class/package structure of my application. I then publish a swc and import this into my ActionScript project within Flex Builder (project Properties > ActionScript Build Path > Library path > AddSWC).
So far everything works like a dream. All of my graphical assets are appearing within code hinting in Flex and are totally accessible. During a large scale project I decided to try to segregate my graphical assets into different swcs to help me organise my assets. This alone did not present any problems however I occasionally needed to go back into Flash to change or add a graphic to a swc. On exporting the amended swc, I returned to Flex Builder and found that all of the graphics contained in this swc where missing from the project. I tried renaming the swc and re-exporting it in Flash and also removing it in Flex Builder and adding it again. The only solution to this problem was to create and entirely new Flash file and copy all the graphical assets from the old (broken) fla file into the new one and re-export it again.
In a later project the same issue occurred again and this time it only began when I added more than one swc. That is essentially the solution I came to however it does not by any means explain the problem in the first place. Anyone who can fill in the gaps please feel free.
Gareth started with UVd in 2006 when he fulfilled a placement during his degree at Bournemouth University, being excitedly drawn to the fact that the 2 directors were called Kirsten and Sarah. Suffice to say when he arrived to find Kirsten a boy and Sarah had left, he was most disappointed. Nevertheless he has stayed with us since and is now addicted to installing and utilising new fangled 'things' and puts us all to shame with his enthusiasm…. only dampened when I have to sort out his computer viruses from said activity.
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