The 2DIY script archive

Fading the elements

This tip comes after experimenting with 2Create a SuperStory - another 2Simple creation. If you have elements on the screen (apples / monsters / suns) that you want to appear faded on screen, then you can use Actionscript code in one of two places. 

(1) You can right click on an element and enter 

this._alpha=xx;

where xx is a value from 0 (see through) - 100 (solid) in the animation -> ADV section. However this is only useful if you want the element to remain stationary throughout the activity, as this code overrides any animation properties you have given the element (unless you want to start fiddling with additional code to create movement)

(2) Right click the green play button and enter 

s2._alpha=xx;

where xx is a value from 0 (see through) - 100 (solid). This will allow elements to keep their animation properties. However, you will need to know the id of the element (the 's' value), and these can be found on this page of the archive (towards the bottom of the article)

You can see in the example below how one butterfly appears much more faded than the other.

Tweaking the code

There is an option within 2DIY that gives you more of an idea of the ActionScript code used within the program. To activate this option you need to work through the following instructions;

• Run the latest version of 2DIY and then exit it – this will populate the .ini file if it has not been populated already.

• While 2DIY is not running, open the .ini file with Notepad. You can find the .ini file by browsing to C:\Program Files\2Simple Software\2DIY\2diy.ini

• The 2nd to last entry in the list is labelled as “outputCodeAsFile=False”. Change the value of this to true, save the .ini file and then exit it.

• Now run 2DIY, create an activity and press play.

• A text file named “2diy code.txt” will be created in your My Documents folder.

This text file will contain any AS code you have added as well as a lot which 2DIY adds in itself – this will differ, depending on which activity or game is used. You can see what code is used, and can experiment with making changes within the activities and see the results.

Thanks to Dan and Max at 2Simple who informed me of this feature last year, and have allowed it to be passed on for others to use as well.

Formula1 Racer

Can you race your formula1 car and collect the trophies, as well as complete a pit stop quickly in this 2DIY challenge?

Play Full Screen

A review of 2DIY

Year 5 at Springwell Junior school have been reviewing 2DIY. They created a video of their review. You can watch their video, and read their review here.

Months of the Year Lesson

Ask children to create a labelling activity in 2DIY to help them practice sequencing the months of the year correctly.

Download the .2iy for children to use to create their activity

(Ask them to use the fill tool to change the background colour for each season's row.)