Macromedia Director Training (5 days)

Macromedia Director Training Overview

In this Macromedia Director training course, students work through a series of project-based, hands-on tutorials to introduce you to every aspect of interactive content creation with Director MX 2004. As you work your way through the four major projects--a portfolio presentation, a training log (which employs an interactive calendar), a 2D game, and a 3D puzzle game--you'll cover topics ranging from setting up the interface to getting interactive, adding video, using MIAWs, packaging your projects for distribution, creating game assets, producing models, and more. Also covered are all of Director MX 2004's newest features: cross-platform publishing, Flash integration, and more.

Macromedia Director Training Course Goals

• Learn the basics of Director MX 2004.
• Learn to build an Interface in Director
• Learn to create interactivity
• Learn to use Video
• Learn about Lingo
• Learn to work with Flash
• Implementing a Database
• Learn to work with graphs and images
• Learn to use MIAWs
• Learn to package for distribution
• Learn to handle the keyboard
• Learn to detect collisions
• Learn to publish to Shockwave
• Learn to work in 3D

Macromedia Director Training Course Outline

1. Director MX 2004 Basics
   1. What's New in 2004
   2. The Director Metaphor
   3. Creating Your First Movie
   4. Introducing the Cast
   5. Introducing the Score
   6. Introducing the Stage
   7. Using the Property Inspector
   8. Introducing Panel Sets
   9. Setting Preferences
   10. Getting Help
   11. What You Have Learned
2. Building the Interface
   1. Setting Stage Properties
   2. Importing Bitmaps
   3. Placing Sprites
   4. Adjusting the Tempo
   5. Understanding Keyframes
   6. Creating Movie Sections
   7. Not Using the Tempo Channel
   8. Creating a Pause with Lingo
   9. Creating a Simple Button
   10. Introducing the Paint Window
   11. Creating Keyframes
   12. What You Have Learned
3. Getting Interactive
   1. Using Multiple Casts
   2. Creating Buttons
   3. Changing the Cursor
   4. Creating Custom Cursors
   5. Introducing Text
   6. Introducing Sound
   7. What You Have Learned
4. Using Video
   1. Understanding Formats
   2. Insuring Playback Success
   3. Using QuickTime
   4. Using DVD Video
   5. What You Have Learned
5. Introducing Lingo
   1. Understanding Events
   2. System Events
   3. The Director Object Model
   4. Building a Better Button
   5. Fading Sprites With Lingo
   6. Introduction to Publishing
   7. What You Have Learned
6. Using Flash
   1. Creating an Input Dialog
   2. Importing and Testing
   3. What You Have Learned
7. Implementing a Database
   1. Calendar Functions
   2. Database Xtras
   3. Using Arca
   4. Using SQL
   5. What You Have Learned
8. Graphing with Imaging Lingo
   1. Introducing Imaging Lingo
   2. Setting Up
   3. Drawing the Graph
   4. Creating Text Labels
   5. What You Have Learned
9. Using MIAWs
   1. Introducing MIAWs
   2. Implementing the Graph
   3. Cleaning Up
   4. What You Have Learned
10. Packaging for Distribution
    1. Pre-Publishing Checks
    2. Understanding Projectors
    3. Customizing the Projector
    4. Cross-Platform Projectors
    5. Making Hybrid CD-ROMs
    6. What You Have Learned
11. Setting Up the Game
    1. Getting Started
    2. Animating the Enemies
    3. Scrolling the Background
    4. What You Have Learned
12. Handling the Keyboard
    1. Introduction to Director Key Handling
    2. Creating a Key Helper Tool
    3. Creating a Film Loop
    4. Controlling the Ship
    5. Arming the Ship
    6. What You Have Learned
13. Detecting Collisions
    1. Introduction to Collision Handling
    2. Keeping Track of Your Enemies
    3. Adding Effects
    4. Adding Status Indicators
    5. Adding the Final Level
    6. What You Have Learned
14. Publishing to Shockwave
    1. Introducing Shockwave
    2. Creating a Shockwave Movie
    3. Understanding Publish Settings
    4. Using Xtras in Shockwave
    5. Using External Audio
    6. What You Have Learned
15. Introducing Director 3D
    1. Understanding the 3D Member
    2. Creating the Game Board
    3. Mapping the Cards
    4. What You Have Learned
16. Controlling the Game
    1. Picking 3D Models
    2. Introducing Transforms
    3. Tracking Flipped Cards
    4. What You Have Learned
17. Adding the Finishing Touches
    1. Pausing the Rotation
    2. Adding a Timer
    3. Solving the Game
    4. Adding an Ending Screen
    5. Adding a Camera Backdrop
    6. What You Have Learned

Macromedia Director Training Course Materials

In addition to a comprehensive set of materials, including course notes and all the programming examples, each student will also receive a one-year subscription to Webucator's online reference library, which contains hundreds of the most current electronic technology books - a $149.95 per student value.

Macromedia Director Training Technical Requirements

1. Macromedia Director MX 2004
2. Adobe Flash CS3
   • Download
   • System Requirements
3. Browser Options
   • Internet Explorer 6.0 or later
     • Download
   • Firefox
     • Download
   • Safari
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Class Files for Macromedia Director Training

The class files for this course are included on a CD that is shipped with the book.