eLearning with Flash & XML

By: Joseph Johansen

About Me

• BA Fine Art with Computer Art Emphasis

• MA in Professional Communications• Employed as Web Master/Senior

Designer for VELUX America• Adjunct Instructor for The Art

Institute of Charlotte• I love this stuff!

Disclaimers

• Developed from designer perspective• Needs some tweaks to conform to

best practices

A Look at XML<?xml version="1.0"?><presentation> <section title="introduction"> <slide> <headers>Course Objectives</headers> <main> <![CDATA[ <p><b>Welcome</b></p> ]]> </main> <image></image> <audio>AT4_0_1_Welcome.mp3</audio> <interactive size=“quarter”>objectives.jpg</interactive> </slide> …… </section> ……</presentation>

XML and Flash

• XML.load– Accessing nodes directly

• Shell

– Accessing nodes through an array

• XMLConnector– Glossary and Objectives

CDATA

• Allows text to pass through parser unscathed

• Special Characters• HTML formatting

Core Flash Pieces

• Shell• Glossary

– Pulls from several xml files (A-Z)– Modified from Macromedia Trails and

Trips tutorial

• Objectives– Pulled from objectives slide <main>

node

<interactive size=“ “>

Needed Improvements

• Centralize audio and sync with loaded swfs

• Convert parsing to arrays• Add pngs with transparency when

upgrade to Flash 8• Use remote content for CD updates

Conclusion

• For a generic version of this application, or the presentation, email me at :

joseph.johansen@velux.com