This section explains where component files are stored, where to find the ActionScript source files, and how to add and remove components from the Components panel.
Flash components are stored in the application-level Configuration folder.
Note: For information about these folders, see "Configuration folders installed with Flash" in Using Flash.
Components are installed in the following locations:
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Windows:
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Flash CS5\ language \Configuration\Components
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Mac OS X:
Macintosh HD:Applications:Adobe Flash CS5:Configuration:Components
Within the Components folder, the User Interface (UI) components are in the User Interface.fla file and the FLVPlayback (FLVPlaybackAS3.swc) and FLVPlaybackCaptioning components are in the Video folder.
You can also store components in the following user-based locations:
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Windows:
C:\Documents and Settings\ username\ Local Settings\Application Data\Adobe\Adobe Flash CS5\en\Configuration\Components
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Windows Vista:
C:\Users\ username\ Local Settings\Application Data\Adobe\Adobe Flash CS5\en\Configuration\Components
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Windows 7:
C:\Users\ username \AppData\Local\Adobe\Flash CS5\en\Configuration\Components
Note: In Windows, the Application Data folder (Windows 2000, XP, Vista) and AppData folder (Windows7) is hidden by default. To show hidden folders and files, select My Computer to open Windows Explorer, select Tools > Folder Options and then select the View tab. Under the View tab, select the Show hidden files and folders radio button.
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Mac OS X:
Macintosh HD:Users:<username>:Library:Application Support:Adobe:Flash CS5:Configuration:Components
The ActionScript (.as) class files (or source files) for components are installed in the following application folders for Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and 7:
User Interface components
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Flash CS5\en\Configuration\Component
Source\ActionScript 3.0\User Interface\fl
FLVPlayback
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Flash CS5\en\Configuration\Component
Source\ActionScript 3.0\FLVPlayback\fl\video
FLVPlaybackCaptioning
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Flash CS5\en\Configuration\Component
Source\ActionScript 3.0\FLVPlaybackCaptioning\fl\video
For Mac OS X, the component source files are located here:
User Interface components
Macintosh HD:Applications:Adobe Flash CS5:Configuration:Component
Source:ActionScript 3.0:User Interface:fl
FLVPlayback
Macintosh HD:Applications:Adobe Flash CS5:Configuration:Component
Source:ActionScript 3.0:FLVPlayback:fl:video
FLVPlaybackCaptioning
Macintosh HD:Applications:Adobe Flash CS5:Configuration:Component
Source:ActionScript 3.0:FLVPlaybackCaptioning:fl:video
Because the ActionScript 3.0 components have their code compiled in, you should not specify the location of the ActionScript class files in your Classpath variable. If you do include their location in the Classpath, it will increase the time required to compile your applications. However, if Flash finds component class files in your Classpath setting, the class file will always take precedence over the component's compiled-in code.
One time that you might wish to add the location of the component source files to your Classpath setting is when you're debugging an application with components. For more information see Debug component applications.
If you update, add, or remove SWC-based components or add new FLA-based components to Flash, you must reload them to the Components panel to make them available. You can reload the components either by restarting Flash or by selecting Reload from the Components panel menu. This will cause Flash to pick up any components that you've added to the Components folder.
- Select Reload from the Components panel menu.
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Remove the FLA, SWC, or MXP file from the Components folder and either restart Flash or select Reload from the Components panel menu. An MXP file is a component file that has been downloaded from the Adobe Exchange.
You can remove and replace SWC-based components while Flash is running, and reloading will reflect the changes, but if you change or delete FLA-based components, the changes are not reflected until you terminate and restart Flash. You can, however, add FLA-based components and load them with the Reload command.
Adobe recommends that you first make a copy of any Flash component file (.fla or .as) that you are going to alter. Then you can restore it, if necessary.