Getting started with Flashblocks 2.

This tutorial will show you how to a create quick site, upload it and finally edit the site's contents.

Let start by creating the Flashblocks 2 powered website. It will be very basic but contain two areas for us to edit.

Creating the Flashblocks powered website.

First drop the Flashblocks component onto the stage. This is the Flashblocks Engine and is required for every Flashblocks powered website. Open up the Component Inspector and enter your unique Flashblocks License into the license field.

Drop a Button component onto the stage from Adobe's "User Interface" Components, that come with Flash. We will be able to edit a few of its properties shortly. Drop an Editblock component onto the Button, from the "Flashblocks" Components. The Editblock icon should snap to the upper left corner of the button.

Lets do the same thing with a text field. Create a dynamic text area on the stage as usually in Flash. Now drop an Editblock onto this text area.

Thats it - you just created your first FlashblocksML powered website! Nothing else to do... Unless you want. Try it with the FLVPlayback component - now you can change movie in the video player. Try it with a TextArea component and a Label Component - they work as well.

Now compile your Flash movie for Flash Player 7 or 8.

Now we will upload out new site to the server

Make sure that your Flash move is in the directory containing the "flashblocks" directory and the "include.php" file.

Upload these files to your server - your new movie and the entire "flashblocks" directory and the "include.php" file.

once uploaded, give the "flashblocks/data" directory write permission - chmod:777.

Everything should be ready to go - So lets start editing.

point your browser to the flash movie that you just uploaded

"Right Click" or press "Ctrl/Shift" and select "login"

just press enter because the username and password are both blank.

You will see the button and text field light up when you mouse over them. Now to edit the button. "Right Click" or press "Ctrl/Shift" over the Button and select "Label Text". A simple text editor will open. Enter the word, "Buy Now" and press "Insert Text." The editor will close and the Button's label will change to,"Buy Now".

Now go ahead and edit the text field that we created in the same way.

Lets save out new content. To save, open the edit menu again by "Right Click" or pressing "Ctrl/Shift". Select "Save" and follow the instructions.

Thats it! Congratulations - your (very simple) Flashlocks powered website is done. Your content is created and it will remain there untill you change it next time.