One of the reasons a Flash developer would choose to use Flash CS5.5 to create an iPad app is the familiarity with the Flash software. However, there are some new techniques and ActionScript code that you need to master before you can create the next super iPad app.

When learning a new software technique, the best way to get started is with the traditional Hello World project. The purpose of this project is to teach the steps for starting a new project and configuring the general settings. In the case of creating an iPad app with Flash CS5.5, the steps to start a new iOS project are basically the same as for a web project, except for a few settings.

Open Flash CS5.5 and you will see the familiar Welcome Screen. Because this project will have more files than the basic three for a web project (.fla, .swf and .html), we will start a new project instead of just a new fla file.

1. From the Welcome Screen's Create New list, choose Flash Project.
   
   
2. In the Create New Project dialog box, give your iPad app a name. For this example, let's just call it HelloWorld. For the Root folder, click the Browse icon to browse to the folder where you store your project files (or create a new folder).
   
   
3. Notice that Flash automatically sets the Document name to HelloWorld.fla.
   
   
4. Keep the default settings for the Player, Script and Class Template.
   
   
5. Click Create Project and Flash will open the fla into the workspace.
   
   

Flash will also generate the AuthortimeSharedAssets.fla and the HelloWorld.fla file and place them in your designated folder.

At this point, Flash has created the default fla file with the Document settings of 550 x 400 pixels at 24 fps. So our next step is to change these settings to those for an iPad app.

1. Open the Properties panel and set the Player from Flash Player to AIR for iOS.
   
2. Open the Publish Settings dialog box.
   
3. Click the Player Settings icon.
   
4. For the General Settings tab
   
5. From the Device menu, choose iPad
   
   

Flash will change the stage size to the default iPad dimensions. Finally, from the top Menubar, click Modify - Document. In the Document Settings dialog box, set the Frame Rate to 30 fps.

We will come back to these settings later.

IMPORTANT: These app development tutorials are written with the Flash novice in mind. You will need to optimize your app beyond what is covered in these tutorials before finalizing your app for the app store.

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