Flash Forum Questions

[Rockonmetal]

Ok, despite all you trying to say this is a terrible waste of time I want to let you know... I'm still making a Flash Forum...
Though, I need some help... I got a couple of Questions...
Question #1:
How can I import data from a MySQL database to Flash every 10-30 seconds?

I was thinking to keep from overloading the servers I would make a table called New Posts... And the newest posts *All either posted or replied to in 5-15 Minutes* When flash imports from MySQL it imports from the table New Posts. If any of the posts weren't imported the last time that Flash imported, the new posts would be placed appear in a second called new posts in my flash document...
What I'm looking for:

What is the best way of doing this? Is it better to just have the user press a "Refresh Data" button or something like that... Though thats what I'm trying to eliminate though... I don't want you to go out and write it unless you feel seriously compelled to...
Thanks
Question #2:
Is there any good tutorials on multi-part preloaders?

To keep from being disorganized I have divided my Flash Forum into scenes. The first scene is the Preloader. The second is the Intro/Enter/Login screen. The third is the Splash screen and the intro effects. This goes on for the many parts of the forum.

I want the Preloader to have like 4 Major Parts. The first loads the Actionscripts. The second loads the effects. The third Loads the Forum data. The fourth loads the User's Permissions and Profile.
What I'm looking for:

Good tutorials on Multi-part preloaders...

Question #3:

Should I use Flash components but my own styles or should I use my own input text and stuff...

I know Flash components are easy but I don't know how to style or how much customization you can do. I don't know how to create my own components but I'm sure I can learn.
What I'm looking for:

Advice on whether I should use Pre-made Flash Components or design my own...

Question #4:
Has anyone made a Flash Forum Before?

I haven't seen one, or heard of one. I started thinking about being the first todo it. I got a lot of "It can't be viewed by people without flash!" and "Only 1% of the users will use it..."...
What I'm looking for:

Advice on whether I should do it. If I do it I know I will have started a cool new phenomenon with flash *I hope...* If you have seen one let me know!
Thanks to all who help.

[BLiZZaRD]

Q1: leave it alone. Don't auto refresh, it is a forum, not a chat room. It will reload when the user goes to a new page/board/thread/etc. If you auto refresh people will lose what they are typing during mid post or PM. If you create a reload button, no one will press it (besides there is a perfectly fine working one at the top of their browser window anyway ;) )

Q2: I am not saying it can't be done, but it can't be done. Specifying what is loaded and when goes against a preloader's main concept. However, there is a rather advance, albeit great, tutorial on loading the "spikes" which you may be interested in. You can find it HERE (http://www.flashkit.com/tutorials/Tips_And_Techniques/A_Differ-Michael_-555/index.php)

Q3: If you can make them look and act "professional" do them yourself, if you ant to save time, use the UI Components included with Flash. Help> Flash Help to open the help window, and look up component skins, to see how to customize them :D

Q4: Yes, it has been done, and very well too. HEre is your link (http://tufat.com/s_flash_bulletin_board_phpbb_vbulletin.htm)
Basically it is a Flash Skin off of VB and phpbb forum architecture. It works though, and it's only $5. http://tufat.com for a complete listing of Flash items they have... pretty nice place to visit ;)

Personally I wouldn't do it. There are other, more rewarding projects you could work on, and more personal or original to you. Build the next greatest Flash game, or develop a new way for Flash to interact with people. There are those out there that think Flash is still the devil.. make them something they can't live without:D

[Rockonmetal]

k thanks Blizzard! I forgot to add something along with the auto-refresh...
I'm gonna try to explain this as an example thingy... it makes it easier (for me atleast)
Say that I am looking at my post on my Flash Forum and I rather not have to go back and forth between my post and the users online to see if they are replying...
Is there a way to add a dynamic textfield that will say "So and So is replying to your post!" or would that be one of those things is just better for people to leave alone...

Thanks man I appreciate your help and its glad to see you back on DD...

[BLiZZaRD]

Is it possible? I would say so. It would put a huge strain on the servre though as you would have to check who's post it is, are they viewing it, is anyone else viewing it, is any of the others that are viewing it actively typing (is focus on the post form?), if so how many and who? what are their ID's converted to usernames? Are they hidden? is all matches show thisTxt = "so and so is replying to your post"

Your forum would have to do that for every post of every board every second of every day.

Another more viable option is to take a trick from SMF and just run a check WHEN the user hits the :Post" button to see if there are new posts since they started their reply, if no.. make post. If yes, show alert that someone has replied and go back to edit mode so they can alter their post if needed. A lot less strain as it only checks when someone clicks a button.

[Rockonmetal]

Thanks man I appreciate your help... this has cleared up a lot of my questions...

[BLiZZaRD]

:D Welcome.

[Medyman]

1) Have you looked @ FlashBB (http://www.tufat.com/s_flash_bulletin_board_phpbb_vbulletin.htm).


2) To me, this seems like a task WAAAAY better suited for Flex than Flash.

[Twey]

There are those out there that think Flash is still the devil.. make them something they can't live without:DLike Gnash (http://www.gnu.org/software/gnash/). Gods know it needs hands.