Adobe Flash Platform

OK so on the Adobe website under products there is listed the infamous Creative Suite, Acrobat and Flash Platform amongst other programs. Now in the Flash Platform category there is Flash Player and AIR under the client subheading. Then there's Flex, Flash Builder, Flash Catalyst and Flash Professional CS5. These are the 4 items my question's mainly concerned with.

Basically I don't really understand what the differing functions are between these programs. I gather Flex is a framework of some sort but don't really know what that constitutes. The Adobe website implies Flash Catalyst is a simpler version of Flash Pro where you can make .swf files without coding. Am I right in thinking that?

I want to get the program(s) necessary to integrate well with Dreamweaver and Photoshop Extended CS5. I want to be able to build .swf files from scratch, from basics, edit pre-made .swfs and test run .swf files. I'm not really interested in using .flv capabilities of these programs.

So do people have some recommendations for me? All advice is greatly appreciated.

Flex, Air and Flash Catalyst are more for building application type things based on Flash

Flash Pro CS5 is probably what you want

In either case, it is difficult to edit prebinded swf files using Flash, you really need the original Flash fla source file

But what are you trying to do, build simple flash adverts or trying to create a Flash site?

Designing a site. Originally I wanted it all in HTML 5 to save me having to pay for Flash, but I've since realised that was a bit naive as I really need some of the animation capabilities of Flash.

I guess flash has this power to make your site really great! And the results are great!

Why not just build the animation stuff with javascript like Raphael.js or something that is a lot less taxing on the system. you can do some really cool stuff with JS.

jandrenievs said:

I guess flash has this power to make your site really great! And the results are great!

Click to expand...

The power of Greyskull is even better. Just sayin'


Doug