Flash 6 UI Components

Sometimes newer isn't better.

Looking for an alternative to the much-maligned Macromedia Version 2 Components that shipped with Flash MX 2004? You might consider the Version 1 components, which are available available on Macromedia Exchange. By installing thie extension, you can have access to the V1 components through the Flash MX 2004 Authoring Environment.

The nice thing about the V1 components is that they're smaller and faster. In my test, an SWF published with just a V1 Scrollpane was 8.64KB. An SWF published with a V2 Scrollpane was 38.3KB! They're also compatible with Flash 6 player.

Of course the V1 components aren't as powerful, and don't look so sexy, with their boring colors and square corners. (I think you can still skin them, though.) Also, the API is very different, and you might have to hunt around to find adequate documentation. There's still a Flash MX ActionScript Dictionary on Macromedia's site, which is a good place to start. (Try searching for "component".)

Thanks to Mick Gow on flashcoders for bringing this to my attention.