Overview

Developing commercial Flash Based Desktop Applications is an exciting and inspirational prospect for both the developer and the end user. Until now, Desktop Applications had to be coded in conventional programming languages such as Java or C++. Rapid Application Development software, such as Delphi and Visual Basic, help to streamline the process of developing applications, but they still require an enormous contribution of time and effort to learn and put into practice. Also, many Designers and Developers who are not strictly from a programming background tend to shy away from the magnitude and enormity of such developing environments.

Adobe Director brought designers and developers closer together with an application that could be used to deliver exciting CD-ROM's and Desktop Applications, fused with animation and various Media Elements. However, as Adobe Flash® began to exceed Director in popularity and ease of use, it was no surprise that many New Media Designers began to opt for Adobe Flash® when considering their CD-ROM Projects.

However, Flash has never been intended for the desktop and was primarily designed as an Online Streaming Media Format. For this reason, Flash Projectors (Standalone EXE versions compiled from within Flash) have always been very basic and lack the functionality of it's Big Brother, Director, to really be considered a viable option for creating Desktop Applications...

... which is exactly where Zinc™ v2.5 comes in. Zinc™ v2.5 bridges the gap between New Media Design Tool and Rapid Application Development Coding Environment! The exciting vector based animation and simple ActionScript architecture of the SWF format fused with the power and flexibility of C++, VB and Delphi combine to create endless possibilities! Now, as a Flash Designer/Developer, you REALLY can develop fully fledged Desktop Applications which rival those built with conventional coding practices. In addition, because your applications are based upon the Adobe SWF format, you can easily integrate video, sound, animation, graphics and much more which would take hours, if not weeks, to code in development languages!

Whilst previous tools allowed customization of Projector files, and the odd additional command, Zinc™ v2.5 has been the first SWF2EXE application to bring unrivaled functionality and features to your Flash Application Projects and promote Rapid Application Development for Flash! Zinc™ v2.5 has pioneered the introduction of Direct Database Communication, System Manipulation, Hardware Access and Control and Socket Communication - all features which have never previously been associated, or even thought possible, with Adobe Flash®!

And best of all, there is virtually zero investment of time learning a new language or software as Zinc™ v2.5 commands integrate with existing ActionScript! One line of code, one additional command and you can save a file, delete a folder, connect to a database and much, much more!

The following chapters have been put together to help you make the progression from the Web to the Desktop with the SWF format!