Custom Engage: Interaction Template File???

[davidjmcclelland]

I just completed the tutorial on how to develop a custom engage via the SDK.

There is one bit that I missed: the Interaction Template file.

I downloaded the StairStep .artpkg file and found template.intr in there. Is this same file used for every package? If not, how would I go about generating one for my custom project?

BTW, there is a problem with the prepared files in the tutorial - one of the font embed fields should have been set to Articulate plain- both are set to bold and the text will not display in the panel until that is corrected.

Thanks,

MAC

[DavidAnderson]

HI MAC - I believe the template.intr is the same for all interactions but I'll let others verify this.

Just wanted to say I think it's awesome you're taking on the Engage SDK:-)

[beeneeb]

I have moved this thread to the Engage SDK forum for better visibility.

[davidjmcclelland]

I was able to complete the tutorial and start on my own custom interaction based on it (yay).

I am now struggling with "magical" code (not addressed by tutorial or code comments) to get beyond a forensic approach and get comfortable and creating with the sdk.

I have most of my custom design working outside the Engage framework and originally was going to work it in as a swf placed in PPT.

I see a huge potential in the integration with Engage workflow and see benefit in sharing something with the community.

Are there other examples beside stairsteps? Other resources to help develop a custom Engage? Are there other folks developing these I can find?

Thanks!

MAC

[UnkieXeon]

davidjmcclelland,

There are 3 Samples that are provided with the Engage SDK. These sample files can be found in the following directory:

C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Adobe\<Your Adobe Flash version>\<your language>\Configuration\Samples\Articulate\Engage SDK

iFlashCards.fla
iFlipBook.fla
iStairStep.fla

The above Flash project files are accompanied with an 'includes' and 'classes' folder, which contain all of the elements to compile one of these interactions.

The above 'Configuration' folder is the same parent folder as the 'Tutorials' folder that holds the StairStep project.

In reference to the template file; this file is a new Process interaction saved with the name template.intr. Currently, this is the only template that will work with the Engage SDK. Thus, only the options or UI elements that are available from the Process interaction will be available with an interaction created with the SDK.

Your approach is a good one. - Taking an idea that has already been developed outside of the SDK and dissect it to work with the SDK. However, I would recommend you start simple and try not to take on a project that would require too much rewiring. It's best to try simple things first to get a better understanding of the SDK and what it can and can't do. Start by replacing the Stair object (myStep) in the StairStep tutorial with your own objects. Change the way these steps animate on stage and so on.

Hope this helps. Good Luck.

[davidjmcclelland]

Thanks for the pointers Dave. I think I have things sorted out now and got my interaction wired to the Engage Interaction Engine.

The breakthrough was when I found out I could run the StairStepControls file. This would be a good detail to cover in the tutorial (or I missed it).

I also am realizing just how much I have internalized AS3 now (which is not always helpful).

Did you author the Carousel Engage by any chance?

MAC

[UnkieXeon]

davidjmcclelland,

Yeah, there are definitely some things to watch out for. Be careful when publishing your final interaction, when using Flash Players above version 6. For example, Bitmap caching (Flash 8 and up) is not supported or might not work as expected when an interaction is running in Presenter. As a standalone Engage interaction this might work fine. Be sure to test your interaction along the way, in Presenter. This will reduce the number of changes or rewiring that would have to be done.

Yes - I created the Carousel Interaction :-)

Have fun and good luck.