| Flash now comes in two versions: Flash MX 2004 and Flash MX 2004 Professional. The main reason to get Professional is for its dynamic data capabilities. Other features limited to the Pro version include a video export plugin (the FLV Exporter), many user interface components , "slide-based" programming (ideal for PowerPoint-style presentations), forms-based programming, and project management (version control and document check-out /check-in). There's no universal rule for deciding who should get which version. "Professional for developers, standard version for designers" has some superficial plausibility, because of Professional's database support and forms-based programming. On the other hand, slide shows (also found only in Pro) might typically be associated more with designers. The FLV Exporter, which works only with Professional, may actually be more useful for non-professionals. The FLV Exporter enables you to export FLV (Flash Video) files directly from programs such as Adobe After Effects and Discreet cleaner. FLV files are necessary if you want to use Flash's new progressive external video loading feature, which gives you much better control of the download/display process, as reflected in the new Media components: Display, Controller, and Playback (available in Flash Professional only). The Media components work only with .flv and .mp3 files, not other video formats such as .avi or .mov. The Media components allow you, for example, to set cue points to coordinate video with other events in your movie. Previously, to get cue point functionality, you needed a communication server such as Flash Communication Server, which meant added cost and complexity. However, using a standalone compression utility like Sorenson Squeeze for Macromedia Flash MX to produce the FLV will give better results than the FLV Exporter. Squeeze is likely to give you better quality at the same file size, or a smaller FLV file with the same quality, than the FLV Exporter. Professionals won't sacrifice size or quality to save the time it takes to run a file through Squeeze. So most people will continue with the current standard workflow: exporting a QuickTime or AVI file from After Effects or cleaner, and then using Squeeze to produce an FLV. |
