Datasheet

Adobe Flash authoring tools
With Creative Suite 5, Adobe delivers a variety of tools with the capability to author interactive content for the Adobe Flash Platform.
Each project you work on is unique, presenting various requirements and specifications regarding design, development, and
deployment. This comparison chart is a quick reference that will help you choose the best tool or tools for what you want to accomplish.
Flash Professional Flash Catalyst Flash Builder
Typical projects Rich content, interactive video
content, advertising, games
User interfaces, rich Internet
applications, microsites, prototypes,
widgets
Rich Internet applications
Product description An authoring tool that enables you to
create immersive experiences that
can include video content
An interaction design tool that
enables you to transform artwork into
functional interfaces and interactive
content
An integrated development
environment (IDE) that enables you to
develop rich Internet applications
Project approach Free-form design Structured interaction design Structured development
Project organization Timeline and frames Pages and states Projects
Motion capabilities Advanced vector animation Transitions, basic movement Transitions
Video playback Encoding & advanced playback
controls
Basic video playback controls Advanced playback controls
Extensibility ActionScript coding or components Flash Catalyst components or export
to Flash Builder to add more
functionality
Flex coding/components, ActionScript
coding/components
Coding knowledge
required
Some ActionScript coding None Advanced ActionScript
or MXML
Playback support Flash Player, AIR, Flash Lite, iPhone* Flash Player 10, AIR Flash Player, AIR
*e Packager for iPhone preview, included with Flash Professional CS5, compiles ActionScript bytecode into native iPhone application code.
iPhone applications are distributed as iPhone application installer (IPA) les, via the iTunes store.