What’s new

Share assets during authoring

You can now share assets between FLA files during authoring. The FLA files must be part of a Flash project managed with the Project panel. For more information, see Sharing library assets at author-time.

Copy and paste layers

You can now cut, copy, and paste an entire layer or set of layers within one Timeline or to separate Timelines. For more information, see Copy and paste layers (CS5.5 only).

Scale content when changing Stage size

When changing the size of the Stage via the Document Properties dialog box, you can automatically scale the content to fit the new Stage size. For more information, see Scaling content on the Stage.

Export as bitmap

Vector-based symbols can be exported as bitmaps when publishing a SWF file as a way of reducing CPU demands during playback. This feature is helpful for publishing on mobile devices with less-powerful CPUs. For more information, see Converting between bitmap and vector formats.

Convert to bitmap

This feature allows you to create a bitmap in the Library from a symbol instance. The new bitmap can be useful in separate versions of the project for mobile or other lower-performance devices. For more information, see Converting between bitmap and vector formats.

Code snippets for mobile and AIR

The Code Snippets panel now includes snippets specifically for mobile devices and AIR applications. For more information about using the Code Snippets panel, see Add interactivity with code snippets.

AIR for Android support

You can now publish a FLA file as an AIR for Android application. For more information, see Publishing AIR for Android applications.

AIR 2.6 SDK

The AIR 2.6 SDK is integrated and includes the latest APIs for iOS. These include access to the Microphone, reading from Camera Roll, and CameraUI. Retina display support is also included in the Resolution menu of the AIR for iOS settings dialog box.

Debug on-device via USB

You can debug an AIR for iOS or AIR for Android application on a mobile device via a USB port. For information about debugging ActionScript 3.0 code, see Debugging ActionScript 3.0.

TLF tab rulers

TLF text blocks now have tab ruler attached. The ruler allows you to create and edit tab stops in TLF text. You can also now type tab characters in TLF text fields. For more information, see Using tab rulers (CS5.5 only).

TCM text for static TLF

Flash Pro CS5.5 uses the Text Container Manager to handle TLF text that is not intended to change at runtime. The TCM avoids the need to include the full TLF ActionScript library in the published SWF file, significantly reducing file size.

TLF text file size optimization

The size of SWF files that use TLF text is smaller and performance is better in Flash Player.

TLF text support for style sheets

You can now use style sheets with TLF text the same way you can with Classic text. Both types of text require ActionScript to use style sheets.

Code Snippets panel HUD

The new Code Snippets panel heads-up display (HUD) allows you to view the ActionScript code and description of each snippet before inserting it. You can also drag-and-drop instance references in the HUD code display onto instances on the Stage. For more information, see Add interactivity with code snippets.

New Publish Settings dialog box

The Publish Settings dialog box has been reorganized and streamlined. For more information, see Publish settings (CS5.5).

Integrated playback controller with loop range

A Timeline playback controller now appears at the bottom of the Timeline and the Motion Editor. The controller includes a Loop button which allows you to specify a range of frames to play repeatedly during authoring. For more information, see The Timeline.

Project panel update

The Project panel has been improved to make it easier to work with multi-document Flash projects. For more information, see Working with Flash projects.

Document Properties panel changes

You can now directly edit the Flash Player publish setting and Stage size in the Document Properties panel. You can also open the Publish Settings dialog box from the Properties panel.

Visible property of symbols editable in Property inspector

You can now toggle the visibility of movie clip instances in the Properties panel. This setting requires a Player Publish setting of Flash Player 10.2 or higher.

New Library conflict resolution dialog box

The Library panel has been enhanced with a new conflict resolution dialog when symbols of the same name are imported to the Library. The dialog now provides the option to place the duplicate items into a new folder.

Pinning for IK bones

You can now pin a bone joint to the stage when posing an armature. Pinning prevents the joint from moving relative to the Stage. For more information, see Constrain motion of IK bones.

Cache as bitmap - opaque background

When using the Cache as Bitmap feature, you can now specify an opaque background color for the bitmap. For more information about the Cache as Bitmap feature, see Scaling and caching symbols.

Auto Recover and Auto Save

Auto Recover enables Flash to periodically snapshot all open documents so that the user can recover from any sudden data loss event. Auto Save helps the user by periodically saving each document. For more information, see Set General preferences and Set properties for a new or existing document.

Shared project format with Flash Builder

Flash Pro projects can now be shared natively with Flash Builder. For information about working with projects, see Working with Flash projects.

Incremental compilation

When using the Publish command, Flash Pro now caches compiled versions of the assets in your FLA file to improve performance. Each time you create a SWF file, only changed items are recompiled.

Fixes for RSL preloading and scripting problems

A new ProLoader class has been added to ActionScript 3.0. This class makes it easier to script between a loaded child SWF file and its parent SWF file. For more information, see Loading display content dynamically in the ActionScript 3.0 Developer’s Guide.

Text Layout Framework text engine

The new TLF text engine provides significantly improved control over text properties and flow. For more information, see Working with Text Layout Framework (TLF) text, and this TLF video tutorial.

Font Embedding Dialog

Font embedding is now FLA file based instead of text object based. The new Font Embedding dialog box provides quick access to all font embedding functions. For more information, see Embed fonts for consistent text appearance.

FLVPlayback live preview on Stage

The ActionScript 3.0 versions of the FLVPlayback components now allow you to preview the entire linked video file on the Stage.

Video cue points usability

Video cue points are now much easier to add to videos in Flash. For more information, see Working with video cue points, and this Cue Points video tutorial.

New skins for FLVPlayback component

New skins have been provided for the FLVPlayback components to enable a wider variety of design styles in your Flash projects.

Edit with Photoshop CS5

You can now perform round-trip editing of bitmap graphics in Photoshop CS5. For more information, see Edit a bitmap in an external editor.

New Decorative Drawing tool effects

Several new effects have been added to the Decorative Drawing tool. For more information, see Drawing patterns with the Decorative drawing tool.

Spring properties for IK bones

New properties have been added to IK bones that enable realistic physics effects in bone animation. For more information, see Add Springiness to bones.

Code Snippets panel

The Code Snippets panel allows non-programmers to apply ActionScript 3.0 code for common interactions without learning ActionScript. For more information, see Add interactivity with code snippets.

Code hinting for custom classes

Code completion, or code hinting, is now enabled for custom ActionScript 3.0 classes in addition to the built-in classes. For more information, see Code hinting for custom classes.

Auto close-bracket insertion

Now when you type an open bracket { in the Actions panel or Script window, Flash automatically adds the corresponding close bracket }. This saves time writing code and debugging.

Enhanced Flash Pro - Flash Builder workflows

New workflows between Flash Professionsal CS5 and Flash Builder 4 have been enabled to allow the 2 products to be used together more easily. For more information, see Editing and debugging ActionScript with Flash Professional and Flash Builder, and this video tutorial.

Motion Object JSAPIs

Several new JavaScript APIs have been added for manipulating motion tweens in the Flash Professional CS5 authoring environment. For more information, see Extending Flash Professional CS5.

XFL file format

Flash FLA files now contain a new internal format called XFL. This new format is based on XML. For most users this change is invisible. However, the new format enables better exchange of data with other Adobe applications, and allows you to optionally work in uncompressed XFL format, described below.

Uncompressed XFL file format

The uncompressed XFL file format allows you to see each of the separate parts, or sub-files, that make up a Flash file. This enables working in team environments with source control systems. For more information, see Working with uncompressed XFL files.

FXG file format

The FXG file format allows Flash to exchange graphics with other Adobe applications with full fidelity. For more information, see Importing FXG files and FXG graphic interchange format.

SWF Size History

The Document Property inspector now displays the size of all SWF files generated during Test Movie, Publish, and Debug Movie operations.

New templates

Flash Professional CS5 includes a range of new templates that make it easier to create common types of projects in Flash. The templates appear in the Welcome screen and the New Document dialog box.

AIR for iOS support

Flash Professional CS5 includes support for AIR for iOS. This allows Flash files to be deployed as iOS applications that run on the Apple iPhone or iPad. For more information, see Packaging applications for AIR for iOS.

Reorganized AIR Publish Settings UI

The AIR Application & Installer Settings dialog box has been reorganized for simpler, easier access to the many settings required when publishing for Adobe AIR. For more information, see Publishing for Adobe AIR for desktop.

Community Help

Community Help is an integrated environment on adobe.com that gives you access to community-generated content moderated by Adobe and industry experts. Comments and ratings from users help guide you to an answer. Search Community Help to find the best content on the web about Adobe products and technologies. For more information, see Using Community Help or Help and Support.

CS Live services

In Flash Professional CS5, you can connect to CS Live services from within the Flash authoring environment. CS Live includes web services such as Acrobat.com, BrowserLab, Live Review, and more. For detailed information about CS Live services, see About CS Live.

The following features have been removed:

Screens

Screen-based Flash documents can no longer be opened or created in Flash Professional CS5. All JavaScript API’s related to screens have been removed. To work with Screen-based documents, use a previous version of Flash.

Version Cue

To work with a common set of files in a collaborative environment, please use a 3rd party source control solution.

Data Binding components

The ActionScript 2.0 Data components have been removed from the Components panel.

Outdated file formats

Flash Professional CS5 can no longer import FreeHand, PICT, PNTG, SGI, and TGA files. Flash no longer exports EMF files, WMF files, WFM image sequences, BMP sequences, or TGA sequences.

Save and Compact

Because the new default FLA file format contains XFL formatted data, the Save and Compact command is unnecessary.