Flash Training Structure

My former programmer cannot be found, and my old scripts and flash files are getting old and crusty. I need an update! I’ve cobbled together a demo that is nearly what I am looking for as a final product. It is at: [login to view URL] username: me password: you There are many, many changes I want made and the demo link above is only to give you an idea of my needs and goals. The vision I need a training structure that will include a login, then an event loader in Flash that will load/stream/control several sequential .swf files, concluding with an .xml generated quiz. Results of the quiz will be passed via email and server side scripts to two locations. I offer existing antiquated ActionScripts to improve and/or build on. The users will begin with a login script with username (log1, log2, log3) and password (pass1, pass2, pass3) and some validation, an error screen with email notification to me. Once the user passes the login routine, a master (or parent or global) navigation screen loads and begins displaying [login to view URL] while loading subsequent [login to view URL] in the background. I am calling this “streaming,” and I believe it is handled by the [login to view URL] file using some kind of preloader. The “nearly working” demo above does not use event loading via xml, but that is a requirement of the new structure. The master navigation screen includes video controls (pause, rewind, etc) and also includes click link buttons (a href) to take users directly to the [login to view URL] and to open handouts (in .doc or .pdf files) in a separate browser window. The handouts are for viewing and/or printing. It is my opinion that much of this is already coded in the various .fla, .as and .xml files I have cobbled together (listed later within this document). Once any number of [login to view URL] have played, the [login to view URL] loads and this flash file asks for the student’s first and last names, managers name, and an email address to send the quiz score results to. There is some validation testing on this screen. One the student information is collected and they have completed the quiz, the program will format the results and email them to the email address provided by the student and will also send an identical email to me without the student’s knowledge. (A mockup of this email document can be seen at: Next, the program will send the student to a url, either our home page or possibly to a master course listing page. How we will use the program This training structure is intended to be used for many training courses and this will be accomplished by having the structure files in separate directories at a single webhost location. Our routine activities will be limited to: 1. Maintenance of usernames and passwords (the current method using “var __loginData = new Array(); [login to view URL](new strpair("me", "you"));” as seen in frame 9 of [login to view URL] is acceptable). 2. Creation of video*.swf content and uploading those files to the appropriate directories. 3. Maintenance of the [login to view URL] files that control the loading/streaming of the video*.swf files within the Trainingstructure.swf. 4. Maintenance of the [login to view URL] files (creation, maintenance, updating and editing of quiz questions.) 5. Maintenance of the links within the [login to view URL] file (handouts and final redirect at the end of the quiz). Now I will progress through the various screens as they are cobbled together. 1) login screen: The example screen uses “me” as the username and “you” as the password. This script already has checks to validate, but there are a few things I want better or different. The submit button should be made to be both mouse clickable or activated by hitting the ENTER key (keyboard). The graphic appearance of this screen should be modernized. I don’t particularly see any use in the “loaded” and “total” boxes, nor is the “loading content” statement necessary. The login error screen also needs graphic improvement and should be configured to email any error messages to me. (The error screen is currently commented out by me in the .fla at line 25 of the ActionScript in frame 9.) 2) Once the login routine is passed, I want [login to view URL] to load any number of .swf videos that I will be constructing. They will be loaded by an .xml file. In the example, the .xml should load, sequentially, files named “[login to view URL],” “[login to view URL],” “[login to view URL],” “[login to view URL],” and so on to as many as “video1000.swf.” Each video*.swf will be of varying length, anywhere from 20 seconds up to 20 minutes. In the old files, this was accomplished by declaring a variable “finished” in the first and last frames of each video*.swf . For example in all video*.swf except [login to view URL], the first frame ActionScript is “var finished = false;” and the last frame ActionScript is “finished = true;”. 3) The “controlpanel” will not display during the video named [login to view URL], nor will it display during the quiz. 4) At anytime after login and intro, the student will have the option to click a button on “controlpanel” that will take them directly to the quiz. 5) At anytime after login and intro, the student will have the option to click a button on “controlpanel” that will open a new browser window to display handouts (.doc, .pdf, .ppt, etc.). 6) The “control panel” needs much better graphics and it should be as large as is possible on any screen (scaleable). The control panel should include buttons and controls for “View Handouts”, “Take Quiz”, pause, play, rewind, and volume slider control or volume mute. I recognize that the rewind function will likely only rewind to the first frame of the currently loaded “child” [login to view URL] and that is okay. 7) When the quiz displays (initiated either by the student by clicking “Take Quiz” or by the completion of the events loaded using [login to view URL]), a screen should display that asks for the student’s name (first, last), the student’s manager’s name and the manager’s email address. After capturing this information (with some verification such as “.” and “@” in the email field), the first quiz question should diplay. 8) The quiz should be entirely generated using ActionScript. In the demo, I am using an object oriented quiz created by Colin Moock and available on the web at: [login to view URL] There are many changes necessary to this quiz. In the demo, the page that displays after the quiz login (the page that says “Begin!” in a box) is not needed. The quiz needs a line space before and after the red “Question #” line. The next question should not load and display until the student clicks on “Next.” The answer boxes are inadequate. I would prefer the answer box graphic at: [login to view URL] The last page of the quiz needs a lot of change. The last question should no longer display. The text should be changed to read “You have answered all the questions in the quiz. Before you click to submit your answers to Crucial Knowledge for grading, you can go back and review your answers if you like by clicking the “Review” button." There should be no on screen “grading” function. There should be no “retry” function. When reviewing quiz answers, a “grade” button (in red) displays. This button should not exist. Once the quiz is completed and the student clicks a submit button, the quiz results are email to the email address the student entered prior to the start of the quiz, and that same “results” email is sent to me without their knowledge. An example of the text I would like in that email is available as a MSWord document. Available Files Quiz The quiz from Colin Moock is within the following files: [login to view URL] This is the xml file I will use to maintain/create/edit quiz questions. [login to view URL] This is an ActionScript file (renamed .doc here for accessibility) needed for the Moock quiz. [login to view URL] This is an ActionScript file (renamed .doc here for accessibility) needed for the Moock quiz. [login to view URL] This is an ActionScript file (renamed .doc here for accessibility) needed for the Moock quiz. [login to view URL] This is the Moock .fla file to make the quiz. [login to view URL] This is the .swf output of the Moock quiz. It is included within the demo. [login to view URL] This is the checkbox I would like to see incorporated into the quiz (probably the QuizGUI file) . I have all of the components. It is not currently part of the quiz. Event Handlers [login to view URL] This is an ActionScript file (renamed .doc here for accessibility). [login to view URL] This is an ActionScript file (renamed .doc here for accessibility). [login to view URL] This is an xml file (renamed .doc here for accessibility). This is one of the files I will be modifying for creation/updating/editing of training courses. I couldn’t leave it as an .xml file here because the demo uses that file in this folder. [login to view URL] This is an ActionScript file (renamed .doc here for accessibility). Handouts [login to view URL] Only included to show how the “view handouts” button on the control panel works. Email [login to view URL] I am flexible on the content of this email, but this example is what I desire. FYI, the old system used to have a header (behind the scenes) that said “X-Mailer: PHP/4.4.4” The “Old” Structure [login to view URL] This is the old ActionScript file (renamed .doc here for accessibility) written by my former programmer. I do not understand how it works but it was ungainly. I think this script has the functionality for grading and emailing quiz results. Please NOTE: This file has a reference to a file called “[login to view URL]” (+/- line 248) and I do not know where or if this file actually exists. Perhaps it is .php generated? [login to view URL] This is the flash file used in the “old scheme” to create the quiz and I think it also did the grading and emailing. It was originally named simply [login to view URL], but was renames here to avoid conflict with the [login to view URL] from Colin Moock used in the new Trainingstructure. [login to view URL] This was an ActionScript file (renamed .doc here for accessibility) that I believe was associated with the old QuizMaster. [login to view URL] This was an ActionScript file (renamed .doc here for accessibility) that I believe was associated with the old QuizMaster. [login to view URL] This was an ActionScript file (renamed .doc here for accessibility) that I believe was associated with the old QuizMaster. [login to view URL] I believe this is an Action Script file (renamed .doc here for accessibility) class declaration associated with the login routine. [login to view URL] This is the old ActionScript file (renamed .doc here for accessibility) written by my former programmer. I do not understand how it works but it was ungainly. [login to view URL] This is the main flash file for the old Training structure. Other Considerations I have access to Macromedia Flash MX 2004 and Dreamweaver MX 2004. I am fairly good at working in Flash MX 2004, and I am lousy in working with any version of Dreamweaver. I’m not opposed to buying and learning new software, but I would prefer to continue working with these versions. Most programmers seem to prefer placing their .swf files in .html “containers.” I don’t really know why this is, as I think .swf files display fine by themselves and they also generally are larger and easier to read. Many programmers seem to think this training structure would somehow benefit from some SQL database stuff. I am unconvinced, but you may certainly make proposals. As for a serverside scripts, I think the old structure used .php, and that is fine, but other options (such as cgi) could be considered. Still, I prefer the program send any emails without causing the student’s computer having to load Outlook Express or any other email program. It is okay if the login error screen sends an email using Outlook Express or some other email program, as this is an unusual event. In fact, the old structure loaded Outlook Express to send login error messages. (The error screen is currently commented out by me in the [login to view URL] at line 25 of the ActionScript in frame 9.) It is likely I will need some instruction setting up serverside scripts. I work only on Windows platforms and I do not know if my hosting is Linux or Windows based. I'm open to enlightenment and recommendations. I also don't know much about SQL and I am similarly open to enlightenment and recommendations, though I see little need for databases in my prefered vision described here. I currently have only economy accounts at godaddy and also doteasy.com. These may not be adequate and I am willing to upgrade my hosting. A trusted friend recommends I get a site at site5.com. Seeking lump-sum, not-to-exceed bids, and there will be no money up front, nor will payment be made based on hours expended or any other basis if the final deliverable files do not perform as described herein. I have provided thorough and adequate information and a precise description of expectations. Functionality, thoroughness and attention to detail is expected.