I made this guide because I can't find a single guide out there which just goes through Flash, starting with basics, and folks keep asking me "how to make Flash stuff". So, here's a huge, confusing guide. Buahaha.

This is not the best "beginners guide" to learn just the basics without any "extra info" thrown in to confuse you. The first page (the guide) explains the various tools and functions of actually using Flash - a confusing mixture of absolute basics, and everything else (..sorry). The rest is about style, tips, problems, and so forth. I really think that the built-in guide from old versions of Flash was better than this for just learning, but it seems to have disappeared from the face of the Earth. >:(

For complete noobs: I encourage experimentation. Humans learn by doing. This is why you can read information one hundred times and forget it in a week, where as actually working with that information will apply it to long term memory faster than you think. Make sure you understand the "basics" of each concept before moving on. Then, try and just use Flash. If you didn't magically memorize everything, use the guide as a reference.

For those who already "know Flash": Ignore the actual "guide" page. You will likely still find something useful in the "style", "tips", or "glitches" sections. (above)

It's surprising how often I'm asked what program makes Flash movies.. well.. it's called "Flash". The vast majority of games and animations on the internet are made with Flash, including those annoying interactive advertisements. There is a 30 day trial available at adobe.com. Due to Flash being rather expensive when legally acquired, there are also copycat programs available with less features. This guide assumes that you have some version of Flash at your disposal.