FLASH, AHHH ARGHHHHHH! - Painful to All of Us

Hi All,

It has been a very tiring week, the route of all my problems, and I'm beginning to think all evil, is Flash (ahhh ARGHHH!!, I know that's twice, but I can't emphasise it enough!) But from all the pain that 'lovely' piece of software caused me this week, it has also taught me a thing or 2. It has made me realise that I need to put an end time on when I am going to stop trying to figure the software out and go to plan 'B'.

Luckily I had a plan 'B' on this occasion, a good job really as I left it until 12.30 a.m to start to do something different. I was done by 2.30 but not entirely happy with the results. Judge for yourself at http://www.feathermark.co.uk/websites/kiss2/final_web_pages/kiss_start.htm

The original idea was to link all my scenes within Flash, this though was where I had my crisis, it just would not work! I tried and tried and nearly blew the house down with my huffing and puffing. I was so frustrated that at one point I was ready to pack the thing up and walk away from it. But even in the early hours, I had a niggling voice telling me to get my self going again, and it proved wise to listen to the voice, because at least I had a submission.

I genuinely feel as though my work has suffered with this project because of a lack of understanding and maybe a bit of stubbornness on my part, in not wanting to be beaten by Flash.

"You may have won the battle, but this is war!". Needless to say I will be tackling Flash again in the form of tutorials (if there are any left that I did not do on Monday / Tuesday) I will be trying to remain calm and not let myself be wound up.

Anyway I handed something in, hopefully a 'pass' but I think maybe some remedial work will have to be done. Not because I am not capable but because I lost time fiddling. My research was not as thorough as usual, and my written work was not as good as either.

Anyway, that is the 'KISS' project out of the way (for now at least) and on to the next one.

My next priority has to be the CiSSy project, again I am experiencing the resistance to it because I do not know how to do it.

Even after all this time on the course I can't seem to overcome that feeling that crops up when faced with something I have no idea about. I only tend to deal with the issue when confronted like a cornered rat!

But I have dealt with the nasty Flash issue this week, not that comfortably but dealt with nevertheless, and so that seems to have given me a bit of confidence to tackle some CSS this week.

So my aims for this week are:

1. To read my CSS pocket handbook, get the gist of CSS. Maybe start to understand it better.

2. To cement my understanding of the 'box model', I have a basic idea, but I need to try and use it firsthand.

3. To get my portfolio nearer to completion, I want to have some more work up by next week.

4. To make sure my layout of the portfolio site is consistent for next week, as I want to apply for a job I have seen, and showing portfolio work is a must.

5. To refresh myself on ongoing projects, and try give them the attention they should be getting.

The list is a bit bigger than usual, but while the bit is between the teeth, and I am learning to deal with sleep deprivation.......

Anyway no 'Peak of the Week' this time, I haven't had one. It been too stressful!!

Any comments as usual, are welcome, as is feedback on my blog or my portfolio site www.feathermark.co.uk

Thanks for reading.

Mark