FLA

Revision as of 00:25, 30 July 2022

FLA files are the project files used in creating Macromedia/Adobe Flash animations, originally called FutureSplash^[1], which are compiled into SWF files for publication and use. The FLA project file contains the objects and images (raster or vector) used in the animation, ActionScript program code, and other elements used in building the project. Now used as the Adobe Animate file format.

File Identification

• FutureSplash Animator files use the extension .SPA and are in the Microsoft document container format
• CS4 and below used old Microsoft document container format
• CS5 and higher used a ZIP/XML format which includes an XFL file.
• Animate 2015.1^[2][3] and higher is also ZIP/XML format which includes an XFL file.

Migration

Migration of FLA files is determined by the version of ActionScript used. ActionScript 3.0 was introduced in CS3^[4] and ActionScript 2.0 was last supported in CS6.

Software

• Adobe Animate - Only editor capable of creating/viewing FLA files.
• Sothink SWF Decompiler - Creates FLA files from SWF files with all assets.

Sample Files

• Macromedia Flash 2 Samples Files
• Macromedia Flash 5 Samples Files
• Macromedia Flash 6 Samples Files
• Adobe Flash CS4 Sample Files
• Adobe Flash CS5 Sample Files

Links

• The FLA format
• Library of Congress notes/links on format
• XFL Format Explained (FLA new version)

References

1. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/19970329033516/http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/
2. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Animate
3. ↑ https://helpx.adobe.com/animate/using/whats-new-2015-2.html
4. ↑ http://www.senocular.com/flash/tutorials/as3withflashcs3/