Flash MX 2004's Classpath for Dummies

A quick introduction to the Actionscript Classpath for non-coders.
2005-01-12

And when I say Dummies, I generally mean people who will be required to install code that aren't coders themselves.

What is a classpath? It is a folder that you keep all your ActionScript classes in.

Setting Up The Classpath

1. First, we're going to create a folder to put our classes in. Create a new folder on your hard drive and call it MyClasses.

2. In Flash MX 2004 go Edit->Preferences and click on the ActionScript tab.

3. Then click on the ActionScript 2.0 Settings button.

4. Now click on the crosshairs and navigate to the MyClasses folder. It will be added to the classpath.

You've now set up what's known as a classpath.

Adding Code to The Classpath

When given code to put in a classpath, it generally is a zip file with a directory in it. And another directory in that one. And another in that one. And then finally at the end are a bunch of .as files. Don't try to figure out why its like this. Simply unzip, then take the root folder and place it in the MyClasses folder. That's it. Flash will automagically see the ActionScript, and include it for export inside your swf file.

Things Not To Do

Just use one classpath. Keep all your classes in one centralized location.
Don't put it in the same directory as your project! This can lead to big headaches down the road.
Don't mess with the directory structure! The files must stay in the directories they're in.
Don't put the directory on a networked drive unless you know what you're doing. If you have to do this, make sure you have the newest Flash updates installed, and that the clocks of all computers are in sync.

A Quick Example: XPath

A good example to use is XPath For ActionScript. Download the classes and unzip them to the classpath. Voila! Your directory structure should look like this:

That's all you really need to know about classpaths. Happy compiling!!