Copyright: FlaX Help, made with GoldHelp registered to Goldshell Digital Media


Welcome to FlaX
Welcome to FlaX!

What can FlaX do for you?  In a nutshell, FlaX creates real-time awesome Flash text effects, which you then process in Macromedia Flash, or use straight on your web site.

FlaX consists of a WYSIWYG interface, which turns the creation of professional text effects into a matter of adjusting some sliders and pressing some buttons. FlaX' direct processing capabilities make sure that you never have to guess what your settings will look like: you are already looking at the result!

Tip:in order to easily select topics in this help manual, press the "Contents" button on top of this window, or browse sequentially through the help pages with the ">>" button.


Installation

FlaX can be downloaded as an installer, and in that case, installing will be done automatically.

You can also download FlaX as a ZIP file.  In that case, copy all the files from the ZIP file to a new directory on your computer.

FlaX was designed for Windows 95/98/NT/2000.

Even though FlaX was designed as a tool for Flash developers, FlaX does not require that Macromedia Flash is installed.  Even the "preview in player" option works on "bare" computers.


The FlaX Program

FlaX contains of a working canvas, and 3 floating tool windows.

The Movie Properties window lets define you the general settings for your movie: width, height, frame rate and background color.

The width and height of the movie can also be adjusted simply by resizing the main FlaX window.

The Text Properties window defines the text, and its size, position, color, font, etc.  The text position can also be adjusted by dragging the text from the main window to a new location.

The Fx Properties window defines the effect that you wish to make.

Working with FlaX is extremely intuitive, and does not require much explaining.  You can adjust your effect parameters with the sliders and buttons.  When you're satisfied, you can export your movie in Flash ShockWave format.


Export as SWF

The "Export as SWF" option saves the current effect as a .SWF file.  You can then use this file imported into Flash, or put it, without further processing on your web site.


Publish for Web

The "Publish for Web" option saves the current effect as a .SWF file, and additionally saves an HTML template, which you can copy into your own web page.


Fonts

For the sake of high speed, FlaX uses its own font format.  Apart from the 14 standard fonts it holds, you can install additional fonts.  You can find these on the Goldshell home page.

Download the fonts that are interesting for you, then select "Install FlaX Font" from the "File" menu.  The new fonts will then get installed, and activated right away.


Set as Screensaver

FlaX has the ability to set an effect as your screensaver.  To do so, set the FlaX settings to generate the effect you desire, then select "Set as Screensaver" from the "File" pull-down menu.

Your effect will now be set as your default screensaver.

If you wish to replace your FlaX screensaver with another effect, select the option again from the pull-down menu.  Your previous screensaver will be overwritten by the new one.

After your screensaver is installed, it will be listed in the "Add/Remove Programs" control panel.

Uninstalling is as easy as selecting the screensaver within this control panel, and clicking the "Remove" button.


How to Purchase a Key

FlaX is a shareware product.  While unregistered, it will scramble the exported effects.

The effects that you create with this evaluation version are for testing purposes only.  You may not distribute, in any way or form, the effects that you create with this evaluation version.  When you are ready to really put FlaX to work, you can order a key which comes with a royalty-free license to distribute the effects that you create.

A single-computer-license for FlaX costs US$40.  Additional seats cost US$20 each.  Example, for a 3 computer license you would need to purchase 1 standard license plus 2 additional seats: $40 + 2 at $20 each = US$80.

Seats can be purchased without making immediate use of them.  In that case a seat can be activated at any time, by Emailing the information that you've received after the registration.

Extra seats can be bought at the time of the initial purchase of FlaX, or at a later point in time.  If bought later, a minimum of 3 seats must be purchased.  This is to cover the extra administrative cost for credit card charges.

Even though a serial number is assigned to a certain computer (actual: hard disk), in case your computer has crashed or has been reinstalled, you can apply for a new serial number.  As long as this does not happen several times in a row, you won't find any problems with this.

For additional questions, please contact support@goldshell.com.

The FlaX home page is http://www.flaxfx.com.

Visit http://www.goldshell.com/flax for the non-shockwave version.


Copyright

FlaX is Copyright © 2000 by Goldshell Digital Media.

FlaX, FlashForge, DirSaver, Hoolicon, Versiown, GoldIcon, GoldBull, GoldOrds and Golden Dragon are trademarks owned by Goldshell Digital Media.

Web Screensaver Maker is a trademark owned by Goldshell Digital Media and Akimbo Design.

Macromedia Flash and Macromedia Director are registered trademarks of Macromedia, Inc.


Distribution

You are free to make copies of the FlaX distribution archive and pass it along to others for their evaluation provided that no modifications or additions are made to the software, its documentation, or any associated files, and it is not bundled in a distribution of any other software without permission.


Contacting FlaX

For comments or technical questions, please E-mail to support@goldshell.com.


Disclaimer

This Program is provided "as is".  We warrant that the Program will substantially comply with the specifications set out in the documentation.  Except as stated herein this Program is provided, without warranty of any kind, express or implied, statutory or otherwise, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.

The entire risk as to the quality and performance of the Program is with you.  Should the Program prove defective, you assume the entire cost of all necessary servicing, repair or correction.  We do not warrant that the functions contained in the Program will meet your requirements or that the operation of the Program will be uninterrupted or error-free.

OUR SOLE LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY CLAIM, DEMAND OR CAUSE OR ACTION WHATSOEVER, AND REGARDLESS OF FORM OF ACTION, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT, INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE, SHALL BE LIMITED, AT OUR SOLE OPTION, TO REPLACEMENT OF THE PROGRAM OR REFUND OF THE PURCHASE PRICE.  IN NO EVENT SHALL WE BE LIABLE FOR OR YOU HAVE A REMEDY FOR RECOVERY OF ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOST PROFITS, LOST SAVINGS, LOST REVENUES OR ECONOMIC LOSS OF ANY KIND, OR FOR ANY CLAIM BY ANY THIRD PARTY.

All trademarks are acknowledged as the property of their respective owners.

If you have any problems with this program, please direct your comments to the company at info@goldshell.com.  Please grant us the opportunity of defending the program's design and functionality before decrying its use in any forum, public or private.  The success of future shareware depends on your encouragement.


New Versions

FlaX is updated on a regular base, to add features requested by users, or just to make the product (even) better.

For the current buyers there is a free upgrade policy: all new future versions of FlaX will be free of charge.  (This might change for customers of later versions.)  Because of this, it seems to be a good idea to stay informed about the latest program version available.

Send an E-mail to list@goldshell.com with as subject "Subscribe FlaX", and you'll be automatically informed about new versions.  This list will be solely used for update announcements, and maybe once in a while a newsletter.  So, don't worry about unsolicited E-mails.

"Subscribe all" will keep you also informed about new programs when they are added to the Goldshell catalogue.

To get off the list, send an E-mail with subject "UnSubscribe FlaX".


Other Goodies

FlaX	Creates Macromedia Flash text effects.

FlashForge	Creates screensavers out of Macromedia Flash files.

DirSaver	Creates screensavers out of Macromedia Director projectors.

WSM	Web Screensaver Maker: lets web site visitors create their own screensavers on-line!

Hoolicon	Replaces the standard Flash or Director icon with your own.

Versiown	Replaces the standard Flash or Director icon with your own, and alters the version information of these projectors, as seen under "File Properties".

GoldIcon	Create and edit icons and cursors.

GoldBull	Gives U.S. stock quotes.

GoldOrds	Gives Australian stock quotes.

Golden Dragon 	Gives Hong Kong stock quotes.

They can be found on the Goldshell home page http://www.goldshell.com


Revision History

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- Version 1.03  - 12 September 2000

5 new effects are added.

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- Version 1.02  - 30 August 2000

Improved the on-screen update speed from tenths of a second to hundredths of a second.

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- Version 1.01  - 26 August 2000

Solved bug in the Gravity effect.

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- Version 1.00  - 23 August 2000

Initial release.


FAQ: Do I need to have Flash installed to use FlaX?

Q:	Will FlaX run if I do not have Flash installed?

A:	YES!  FlaX runs absolutely independently of Flash.  All program options will work identically with or without Flash installed on your computer.


FAQ: Does FlaX require the ShockWave plugin to be present?

Q:	What about the ShockWave plugin?  Must it be installed on my computer?

A:	NO!  FlaX runs independently of any installed Flash plugins.  Also in this case, all FlaX' program options will work 100% identically with or without the ShockWave plugin installed.


FAQ: The Generated FlaX Text Is Scrambled

Q:	When I create and preview FlaX movies, its outputted text is not correct.  Is this a bug?

A:	When you are using an unregistered FlaX version, the vowels of your generated text will always be scrambled.  This will disappear the moment you have purchased a key.


FAQ: I've lost my text!

Q:	Help! I've lost my text, FlaX doesn't display anything anymore!

A:	It's most likely that you've placed your text outside the visible area.  Set the X and Y in the Text Properties window both to 0, and the text will appear again.


FAQ: Why can't I write .FLA files?

Q:	Making SWF files is fine, but wouldn't it be better if I could simply create .FLA files with FlaX?

A:	Yes, we agree.  But compared to .SWF files, .FLA files are reasonably complex, so this option couldn't be implemented in early FlaX versions.  Just be patient a bit, we promise that this is coming.


FAQ: I Don't See Anything after Importing the FlaX SWF File!

Q:	I'm importing the SWF file that I've created in FlaX into Flash, but I only have a lot of key frames.  Further my screen is empty.

A:	Make sure that your text color is not the same as the background color of the movie which you are importing into.  For instance, if both are white, then that's the reason you're not seeing anything.


FAQ: Distributing the Screensaver Generated by FlaX

Q:	I like the screensaver that FlaX has generated very much.  How can I distribute this screensaver?

A:	If you wish to make distributable screensavers, complete with installer, then you'll need to purchase a dedicated Flash screensaver generator.  There are several packages around.  One of these programs is FlashForge, which can be found at http://www.goldshell.com/flashforge


FAQ: Is there a Mac Version of FlaX?

Q:	Is there, or will there be a Mac version of FlaX?

A:	No, and for the time being there won't be any.  However, the .SWF files that are created with FlaX can be imported in Flash on the Mac: they are fully compatible.