W4 introduction to al interface

Dr. Nurbiha A ShukorEdu. Science, Maths & Creative

MediaFaculty of Education

Discussion Topics

• Introduction to AL software• Screen size concepts in AL project– analyzing problems in AL projects

• Setting File Properties• Setting Background• Introduction to AL Interface• Functions of Icons• Basic Concepts of AL software – how

it works

Introduction to AL Software

• Authorware is a multimedia authoring language which allows for rapid development of interactive multimedia software.

• It is icon-based; programming is done by placing icons onto a flowline in a particular order.

Introduction to AL Software

FlowlineFlowline

Practical: To start!

• What u see upon launching AA?• Design window?• Presentation window?

• What to do FIRST??

How do you prefer your presentation window?

Use Full Screen?640 X 480?800 X 600?Variable?

There are different implications upon your decision. What are they?

Defining Screen Size

• Authorware File – screen size - Use Full Screen -has been developed using a computer with 1024 X 768 resolution.

• What is the screen size of the Authorware file??

• __________________

Defining Screen Size

• Authorware File – screen size – 800 X 600 –

• Courseware has been developed using a computer with 1024 X 768 resolution.

• What is the screen size of the Authorware file??

• _____________________

Defining Screen Size

• Authorware File – screen size - Use Full Screen - has been developed using a computer with 1280 X 1024 resolution.

• What happen when the Authorware file is run on a computer with 1024 X 768 resolution???

• ___________________________

Defining Screen Size

• The best decision?• Authorware file – screen size - 800 X

600• Computer resolution – 800 X 600 –

Your opinion??

File Properties

• Center on Screen• Menu Bar, Title Bar• How to change Title Bar?• Background color• Chroma Key color

File PropertiesWhat do we call this?

What do we call this?

Background Color

• Does Authorware allows the use of more than one color as a background???

• If not, how to make your Authorware file has more than one background color???

• What if you want to put a graphic as background?

• Let us try!

Who are they: Icons in AA

Try: Look out for these!!

–How to type text in Authorware??–What is Mode?–Type of Fonts that Appropriate for

Authorware File –Can text be a graphic file – when to

use?

Inserting Text

–Ways to insert text:Copy & Paste from Word Processing

SoftwareWhat is Dynamic Text and RTF File?

–Type of Texts :Ordinary & ScrollingWhen to use Ordinary & Scrolling

Text?

Types of Text

• Ordinary Text and Scrolling Text.• What is Scrolling Text?• When it is appropriate to use

Scrolling Text?• How to create Scrolling Text in

Authorware?

Modes in AL

What is Mode??How many type of modes that Authorware

has?Why it is important?How to view Mode window?

Font Concepts

• What is Font?• Situation 1:• Authorware File – use Font

Exoneration – run through Authorware in a computer that did not have the font – what will happen?

• In conclusion..?

Font Concepts

• So can we still use Font Exoneration – and run through Authorware in a computer that did not have the font??

• How can you do it? Is it even possible?

Inserting Graphic

• How to import graphic into an Authorware file?

• Hints – 3 techniques

Inserting Graphic

• What is the best format file for graphics – to import into Authorware - .gif, .jpg, .bmp etc.

• Can we resize graphics in Authorware?

• Tips – don’t resize graphics in Authorware – use graphics software such as Photoshop to resize the graphics.

Animation in Authorware

• 2D or 3D??• How to create animation in Authorware• Animation concept in Authorware• Types of animation in Authorware• How to create animation - a bouncing

ball?

LET US TRY!

Exercise 1: The bouncing ball

• Which icon did you used?• What kind of animation command

did you used? • How many animation command are

they?• Describe another possible way to

illustrate animation

Animation in Authorware

• Importing Animation (Flash, GIF Animation, 3D Animation, etc.) File

• Flash – which file format is suitable? - .swf or .fla?

• Tips in Using Graphics and Animation File – size file, quality, image size

• Internal & External Concept of Graphics & Animation File.

Importing Flash files

Animation in Authorware

• When is the appropriate time to use Internal Concept of Graphics & Animation File?

• When the file size is small.• External Concept???• When the file size is big – such as >

1 MB and will be used more than one time.

How do we insert video and audio in our courseware?

Audio in AL

• How to import audio file into Authorware file?

• Audio: internal & external??• When to use internal and when to

use external??• Internal – when file size is small?• External – when file size is big??• Format file for audio – can be

imported in Authorware??• AIFF, WAVE, MP3, PCM, SWA etc.

Video in AL

• How to import video file into Authorware?

Let us TRY!

• 2 techniques – digital movie icon & insert>media>Quicktime

• Video in AL – external only – why??• Video file size usually big• Format file for video – can be imported

in Authorware??• FLI, FLC, AVI, MOV, MPEG, WMV

Library in AL

What is library???When to use library??Which icon can be inserted in library window?Extension for library file ?? .a6l

Library in AL

Library in AL

Library in AL

• Benefits of using library in Authorware??– File size can be reduced– File modification – easier– Reduce production time.