The 7.4.2 release of Koolmoves cleans up nearly every problem utilizing the new TweenMax 11 package from Greensock. For a list of all the changes to this build click here.
Koolmoves is having some trouble compiling if you are using the newest TweenMax package from Greensock (v11). Fall back to version 10 until further notice (it’s still found here and there). The Koolmoves developers are aware of the situation and working on it.
I’m releasing a second version of my KM-CODEX Desktop app today.
The newest version (Power Windows) now supports Video Objects. Users can insert a video object (remotely hosted FLV path) into any post and set it’s size and alignment. Like all other objects, the video object can be re-edited at anytime (all users can edit their own posts) or removed completely from the list of objects that define that post. It’s hierarchy in the post can also be adjusted (like all other objects) by simply dragging it in the Object Outline and dropping it where you want it placed. If the stored path to the FLV is valid, other users can download any video posted. If for some reason the path is not valid (either on purpose or because the hosted server is down) the user attempting to download it is informed that the video is no longer available.
What I am trying to do is get users to add or obtain videos that interest them, be they video tutorials or any other type of video. Since all valid videos ever posted in the desktop app are ones that can be downloaded, they can be shared and hopefully spread around to whoever has need of them.
Only the Power Windows version supports video. If you feel like taking part and have videos worth posting, myself and all users would appreciate anything you can submit.
Nearly all my website content will be migrated into this desktop app in 2010 (for instance all my downloads are inside there now) and it is an ongoing effort.
You can find Power Windows in my sidebar. It’s free, has no advertisements and is offered in good faith. These apps are also available from the Adobe Showcase and if you do not have the Adobe AIR runtime installed, the desktop forum installers in my sidebar (and at Adobe) will install it for you.
Screenshots follow:
The answer is easy. It’s currently where the Actionscript language is and whether you realize it or not as a Koolmoves user you are creating Flash (SWF) movies that target Flashplayer.
Staying behind and focusing on AS1 Koolmoves is a choice and a choice that has ramifications. Bob has done his level best to make the UI backwards compatible for users who want to do so but AS1 is yesterdays news and by dragging your feet to migrate to AS3 you are deprecating yourself as much as Adobe has deprecated the language version you are holding onto. Can you still make movies with AS1? Sure you can. The question to me isn’t whether you can or not but more along the lines of “Why would you want to?”.
The usual reasoning people have when they explain why they do this is by saying “I don’t code much” or “AS3 is too difficult to understand or grasp and I’m doing fine with AS1”. Users who I have heard this from, especially ones who also submit to the KoolExchange defy their own logic as nearly every AS1 based movie I have ever opened (be it mine or someone else’s) has something written in the Actionscript Editor. If you write even one line in there you are in fact “scripting”. This does not mean there are not people who drag things onstage and manipulate them with the AS1 based commands or component parameters and never write a line of code, I’m just saying this is a very minor percentage of the Koolmoves userbase these days IMO and each day finds them more and more behind the eight ball as far as being “current”.
The surprising fact to me is, the vast majority of users I see in Koolmoves are web designers and why they would want to cement their feet into a language version a full two versions behind the current version baffles me. In a field that is so competitive, how can you justify NOT staying current with the language that is at the core of what you create and the Flashplayer you target? It’s the equivalent of a Doctor who refuses to acknowledge advances in medicine and clings to what he learned back in the day because it’s “comfortable” or because he refuses to accept “current standards”. Much like everything else in life, things change folks and the ability to adapt goes hand in hand with the ability to code and is what makes you progress and grow as a coder.
Anyway, back to my original point. If you are envious of the new things offered in Koolmoves that are AS3 based and not AS1 based, blame yourself…not the developers. All Koolmoves is doing is adapting to it’s surroundings and progressing and growing as a platform. It isn’t going to do that focusing on AS1….and either are you.
There is hope though. The new Script Editor might help you help yourself and get you current. It actually may be the best thing that ever happened to you as it relates to Koolmoves. It may just be exactly what the Doctor was looking for 
In the never ending quest to make Koolmoves the best bang for the buck, Bob Hartzell over at Lucky Monkey has added a new feature to Koolmoves called the “AS3 Script Editor”. This little beauty is much more than a simple script editor though, it is more like a script repository that allows you to create your own scripts or share scripts by other users in the Koolmoves community.
How it works is there is a folder named “Script library” in the Koolmoves/Bin/AS3 directory that has subfolders underneath it. The script editor reads these subfolders dynamically so if you create a new subfolder (meant to allow you to categorize your scripts), the next time you load up Koolmoves the new subfolder will show up in the script editor.
Inside these subfolders are xml files that contain one full script and are also read dynamically when Koolmoves loads up. Any xml files found in any particular subfolder are added to the AS3 Script Editor. Taking a look at one of the supplied xml files will have you understanding how to write your own very quick and I guarantee you will be creating subfolders and scripts for some of your favorite things before you know it.
The new Editor itself is found in the KM Actionscript Editor and has a Toolbox Icon
When you click the Toolbox Icon the AS3 Script Editor itself reads the subfolders and then opens with all your categories on the left, a search panel to search your scripts, a description of the script, any parameters that are required to be filled in and a script viewer that lets you see what the contents of the finished script will look like.
What is so great about this new addition is the fact it has something for everyone no matter their skill level. New users not up to speed on AS3 or simply having a hard time with it will benefit by having all kinds of AS3 scripts to choose from that requires nothing from them except filling in some parameter fields and inserting the finished script into the Actionscript Editor. Advanced users benefit by being able to make their own scripts and either use them for personal use to speed up coding repetitive things or share them with the community and spread the FUN.
I see a big future for this feature. Mark my words, it will be one of the most popular KM features and one of the most actively talked about and shared in the Koolmoves community.
I only wish Koolmoves components handled things this way and read custom components and added them to the UI in some way to make it easy for us to insert them as well (hint, hint).
