I just downloaded the free trial of Macromedia Flash MX, and I was wondering if someone could direct me to some tutorials written FOR Flash MX.

The reason that I am asking is this: So far, I have only found tutorials for Flash 5, not MX. The Flash 5 "layout," so to say, differs from the "layout" of Flash MX in that some menu items aren't in the same places, etc.

So far, of the ten or so tutorials I have found for Flash 5, I have only been able to decipher two of them (one on how to create motion paths, and one on how to create basic animation [like an ellipse flattening itself out and changing color while it does so]).

Also, the only way that Flash MX allows me to save my files is as a .fla file, although I would prefer being able to save them as a .swf file, since they are more commonly used.

Thanks in advance!
SmokingTequila

to save as a swf
"file - export movie"

.fla is to Flash as .psd is to Photoshop. This is your native file. But here are some Flash MX tutorials for you.

http://www.macromedia.com/support/fl...tutorials.html
http://www.toddgallina.com/how/
http://www2.bc.edu/~bessetci/mc021/Flash%20tutorial.htm

And of course, the ever-popular
http://www.flashkit.com/tutorials/

Okay, thanks guys!

I've already made one animation using just simple motion tweening, I'm going to add some more stuff to it, and then I'll let you see it.

I've got another problem: I uploaded the file ( http://graphics.liquid-thought.com/golf_finish.swf ) but when I go to the link, it presents me with a download box. Is there a way to fix this. like, do I have to put it in an HTML page or something?

Works for me. Have you got the Flash plugin installed correctly in your browser? Not a bad start with flash!

The correct way to put flash in a page is to have in in HTML. I don't have Flash installed at the moment, but I think there is a Publish option which will generate both the HTML page and the swf file for you.

Might be of interest (even though it's only Flash 5):
http://www.freewebmasterhelp.com/tutorials/flash5/

Thanks, David! I'll go and upgrade my Flash Plugin...

Edit: Hmm, I just visited it again, and it worked fine... I could swear that it didn't this this morning and yesterday evening...

BTW: thanks for the link.

BTW2: I'm surprised that that whole animation was only a mere 2 kilobytes...

Heheh. That was cute. I especially like the extra conk on the head.

I have one more question: How can I make part of an image transparent? I tried editing it in Fireworks, so that I saw the checkered pattern, which meant I was down to a transparent background, but then when I put it back into Flash, it wasn't transparent.