Optimize Preloading with Flash 5

Add The Preload Script

Now let's add the Preload script itself. Open Scene 1. Add one layer and call it "Preload". Make the Preload layer 5 frames long. Change each frame into a "keyframe" (keyboard short cut F6), as shown below. Converting the frames to keyframes will allow scripts and animation to be added.

Select frame 1. Using the "Text" tool add the word "Loading" in the center of the stage. Make the font Arial Black and 12 point in size.

Copy the word "Loading" from frame one and paste it into frames 2-5, as shown below. The word should appear in the same place in each frame. Select frame two. Select the word "Loading" and double click it to open it in edit mode. Immediately after the word add a single period.

Next, select frame three and edit the word "Loading" by adding two periods after the word. Add three periods after the word on frame four, and four periods on frame five. Now, when the animation plays it will display the word "Loading", and the three periods will animate after it.

Now, select frame 1. Open the ActionScript Inspector. From the Basic Actions drag "If Frame Is Loaded". Select the settings to "Scene 2" and "frame number 5", as shown here.

This script tells Flash that it must preload all of the content up to frame 5 of scene 2. If the animation were longer in scene 2, the number of frames would need to be extended. For instance, if your movie had 550 frames, you'd need to change the frame number to 550. All content, including audio, graphical and scripted content, will be preloaded with this script.