Working with SWC files and compiled clips

Components included with Flash MX 2004 or Flash MX Professional 2004 are not FLA files— they are SWC files. SWC is the Macromedia file format for components. When you add a component to the Stage from the Components panel, a compiled clip symbol is added to the library. A SWC is a compiled clip that has been exported for distribution.

A movie clip can also be "compiled" in Flash and converted into a compiled clip symbol. The compiled clip symbol behaves just like the movie clip symbol from which it was compiled, but compiled clips display and publish much faster than regular movie clip symbols. Compiled clips can't be edited, but they do have properties that appear in the Property inspector and in the Component Inspector panel and they include a live preview.

The components included with Flash MX 2004 or Flash MX Professional 2004 have already been turned into compiled clips. If you create a component, you may choose to export it as a SWC for distribution. For more information, see Creating Components.

To compile a movie clip symbol:

Select the movie clip in the library and right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Macintosh), and then select Convert to Compiled Clip.

To export a SWC:

Select the movie clip in the library and right-click (Windows) or control-click (Macintosh), and then select Export SWC File.

Note: Flash MX 2004 and Flash MX Professional 2004 continue to support FLA components.