Is it possible to save dynamic text in Flash as a text document?

RTs · 07-02-2008

A Gigantic Post

Summary:
A plea for help with programming
Begging for better ideas
An outline of an idea for a game/program

I was just wondering if it is possible to take the text from a dynamic or input text box and sort of export it as a new file, like a .txt or .doc (Word) file. If not, maybe an image file? I want to know because I am creating a sort of "virtual schoolbook" where the "computer" generates, say, math problems, checks them then perhaps gives the user a score or grade. (Haven't really started yet ^_^;;, it's just a concept.) Then the end result they either print out or have as some kind of reference (a file).

Also, is it possible for flash to store previous data (a sort of "Enter your name and we'll record everything" system) then recall it afterwards? Basically like this site here (or any other with a login system). If so, how does it do it? (Might seem like a stupid question, but I mean, where does it store it? In the .swf file? A separate database? NASA? ;D)

I just realised how over my head this is... *back to tutorial For Dummies books borrowed from the library*

If I'm making any sense at all, please explain things to me.

Oh, this would be the basic system ("Ha! Basic, yeah right..." I hear you say). It is supposed to be a school program or something.

English

Generates spelling, punctutation, etc multiple or input text questions. Checks answers then marks and gives a score.

Math

Generates math questions, multiple choice and input (maybe give working out space with either input text box or area that uses the mouse to draw). Checks, marks, reports.

Science*might not do this

Science multiple choice and diagrammatic questions (ie heart with separate button areas, will ask which is the pulmonary artery or something) will check, mark, report.

Art

What? Art is a subject! ^_^ Free drawing or something that prints. Colouring in?? (seems a bit grade school-ish, but eh. I'll make it a cool picture or something) Incidentally, can you give the user the ability to draw squares and the like? (Their very own rectangle tool!)

PE

It'll tell them to do pushups. I'm just kidding. Who actually would do what a screen told them to do? *starts getting brainwashed by the TV* My master I serve...

IPT (Computer Studies)
Eh, I don't know. *running out of ideas* Tell them to play pinball on the computer or something. Ideas anyone?

If anyone has any ideas for other school-ish subjects I'd like to hear them!

*unleash* · 07-02-2008

Well, what you want is an quiz system with storage capability, right?

Hehe, you had a long post he? Here I am:

To start of, such a thing is possible, but not by using only flash. Flash cant rewrite its own .fla file. So you cant directly store data in your quiz. However flash can retrieve and send data to other scripting languages, like PHP.

This means that you have to get your hands on a server and learn PHP. It indeed is a bit of a difficult system, as you need to code two seperate things, and then probably a MYSQL database as well....

So what should happen when the "submit" button is pressed is as follows. First flash sends the data to a PHP script, which parses the data and stores it into variables. Then PHP sends the data to the MySQL database, which will store it. Then the SQL-database will contain ALL results! from everyone that ever pressed submit!

There is an other way, you could let the PHP script make a cookie on the PC, and let the PHP also return the "score" table. Which should than be manually printed out, or stored as .txt...

Maybe you can make flash write XML files, but I have to look that one up for you

Where are you going to use this prog? Is it going to be web-based, or not? This is important, as when it is not web-based....well that basicly means no PHP or MySQL.

As for the "questions" I would recommend different XML sheets for each faculty. So one for english, one for math and so on. That way you let flash read in the XML file containing the questions(and answers). If you want to change or add questions, you only need to open up the XML-file in an text-editor and add/ change the questions.....

Im going on vacation for the coming 2,5 week. But after that I can assist you if you need any help....

RTs · 07-10-2008

Probably web-based, but from what you explained I need to learn a lot more about internet language than I do now. So... I'll take out a few more "For Dummies" books from the library and attempt this when I know more. Or, I should say, something. ^_^;;