Guidelines for Creating a Flash File Before Exporting to Harmony
Scene Root
What can be at the scene root:
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Only symbols. A minimum of one symbol is necessary. It could be a MovieClip or a graphic. |
What cannot be used at the scene root:
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Shapes: Colour shapes and line shapes |
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Groups: The group works differently at the scene level. They are understood as shapes at the scene level—see Mixed Layers. |
Timeline
These features can be used in the Flash file, but will not appear in :
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Guide layers for references |
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Folders in the Timeline view |
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Other: Several symbols on the same layer/keyframe. In this case, will separate them, giving them a proper layer/Drawing node. In other words, a Distribute to Layers action performed in the process of exporting/importing. |
Not recommended:
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Symbols with shapes, bitmaps, or group on the same layer/keyframe |
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Symbols with drawing objects |
Library View
In the Library view, the following will not be exported:
Effects
The following effects will not be exported:
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Adjust Colour
Drop Shadow
Blur
Glow
Gradient Bevel
Gradient Glow
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| Colour Effects (other than None)
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Alpha
Advanced
Brightness
Tint
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| Display
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Blending (other than Normal):
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| Render: Cache as Bitmap |
| Component parameters |
Drawing Features
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Width tool: Any change on the thick and thin of a line |
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Cap: Any change of the line cap will be replaced by the round cap (None and Square) |
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Join: Any change of the line join will be replaced by the round join (Miter and Bevel) |
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Gradient (Flow): Reflect colour, Repeat colour |
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Import Bitmap: When importing .swf files, you can import files that have an image compression of Photo (JPG) or Lossless (PNG). |
Mixed Layers
Mixed layers are something you must seriously consider before trying to export a Flash project to Harmony. Otherwise, there can be unexpected results or no export at all. In fact, it's best to avoid having mixed layers altogether.
A mixed layer is defined as a layer that has more than one instance of objects at the same keyframe. It could be a mix of symbols and groups; groups and drawing objects; symbols and shapes, and so on. Since Harmony understands symbols better than groups or drawing elements, some information can be lost along the way.
Understanding Drawing Objects and Groups
Drawing Objects
No matter what is inside a drawing object, it will always be understood as a shape. So if a drawing object shares the same layer with a shape, it won’t be a real mixed layer, since they are all understood as shapes.
Groups that Contain Only Symbols (MovieClip or graphic)
When there is a symbol inside a group, the group will be ungrouped automatically during the export from Flash. The symbol inside it will be understood by Harmony as a Drawing node.
But if there is more than one symbol inside the group, all the symbols will be understand as if they were only one symbol. For example, if you have a group containing five MovieClips and one graphic, Harmony will create one Drawing node to contain the five MovieClips and one graphic. This can be useful when you want to create a repetitive texture and you don’t want to have each repetition separated in Harmony. There is no differentiation between symbols.
Groups that Contain Symbols and Shapes
When there is one or more symbols with shapes inside the same group, the group will be ungrouped automatically during the export from Flash, but all the symbols and shapes will be exported as if they were one symbol. There is no differentiation between symbols and shapes.
Mixed Layers
Symbols and Groups on the Same Layer
If there are symbols and groups sharing the same layer, each symbol will be separated from all the groups which will then be grouped together as one element. In Harmony, each symbol will have its own Drawing node, but all groups share one Drawing node. Since only symbols can have a name, its name is propagated to the Drawing node and peg.
Groups, however, will receive the name of the MovieClip followed by an underscore and an appropriate number. For example, of you have a group inside a symbol called HEAD, the group will receive the name HEAD_1 if there is already a Drawing node that was created with the same name.
Symbols and Drawing Objects/Shapes on the Same Layer
If there are symbols and drawing objects/shapes sharing the same layer, the symbols will be separated from them and all the drawing objects/shapes will be kept together. Drawing objects and shapes cannot be separated. In Harmony, the symbols will have their own Drawing node and the drawing objects/shapes will share the same Drawing node. Since only symbols can have a name, its name is propagated to the Drawing node and peg.
Drawing objects and shapes, however, can't do this. Drawing objects and shapes will receive the name of the MovieClip followed by an underscore and an appropriate number. For example, if you have a group inside a symbol called HEAD, the group will be named HEAD_1 if there is already a Drawing node that was created with the same name.
Groups and Drawing Objects or Shapes on the Same Layer
In order to have groups and drawing objects/shapes on the same layer, these elements must first be inside a symbol. Groups and drawing objects/shapes sharing the same layer in Flash will be exported as one Drawing node. This Drawing node will contain both drawing objects and shapes, and receive the name of the symbol in which they are contained.
Mixed Instances at the Same Level as a Symbol
Mixed instances at the same level as a symbol can occur when, at the same level inside a symbol, there is more than one type of element sharing the same timeline at a specific frame. Those elements may be mixed layers.
Type of problems that can occur if mixed instances are kept:
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Order of appearance can be lost |
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Some layers can merge together |
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Transparency of shapes can cut other shapes |
