I have released a new version of my Flash Resource Manager application. It includes a bunch of bug fixes, as well as the ability to highlight the search term in search results, and support for Livedoc based HTML docs (Flex, CF and Central have been tested).

Here is the change Log

• Added ability to add Macromedia HTML based docs (tested with Flex, ColdFusion and Central)
• Added Preferences > Help to manage, add and edit which HTML docs are included.
• Added Flash HowTo help books to default install.
• Added ability to search documents from the help tree context menu (will search for currently selected item).
• Added ability to search plugins from the help tree context menu (will search for currently selected item).
• Fixed bug where application window would not always have focus when launched.
• Added preference to toggle the collapsed state of a node when it is clicked.
• Fixed bug where regular expression check box was being ignore in searches (all searches were treated as regular expressions)
• Fixed bug where items were added to search filter even if index file was invalid. (Thanks Jason Merrill)
• Moved Flash docs to be contained within top level folders / nodes.
• Added ability to toggle which top level Flash documents / books are available (View > Preferences > Help).
• Improved start up time
• Search terms will now be highlighted when viewing search results (this is currently an experimental feature).
• Added back / forward browser buttons (I will implement browser features better in future releases)
• removed toolbar layout persistence into separate file. This should not be edited by hand.

You can find more information, view screenshots, and download the application from here.

We have finality picked the winners for the Flash Desktop Wallpaper Contest. There were over 150 submissions(!) and it was tough picking the winners from all of them. I picked out 10 finalists, and then the Flash team voted on their top three.

Anyways, here are the winners in order:

1. http://www.infinitewebdesign.com/Flash_Wallpaper/metro_800x600.jpg
2. http://www.frame7.com/flashwallpaper/
3. http://www.tiszanet.hu/varkonyi/theMXman/theMXman_800x.jpg

If you are one of the winners, send me an email (mesh@macromedia.com) so I can send out your prizes.

Here is a sneak peak of the next beta build of my Flash Resource Manager application.

This screen shot shows the new support for Macromedia HTML based help (in this case Flex, ColdFusion and Central).

The new version will be available in the next couple of days.

Sorry for the delay, but we will be posting the winner for the Flash Desktop Contest in the next couple of days.

I have just uploaded an updated to the Flash Resource Manager. This version includes a couple of fixes for users running non-English versions of Flash.

Specifically:

• Added ability to automatically determine Flash Authoring language
• Fixed problems with parsing non-English help XML documents

Note : You should no longer need to resave your help XML files into the correct encoding type.

If you are running an English version of Flash, there is not need to install this version.

Chafic Kazoun has released an update to his Flash Tray Tools application.

New features include integration with my Flash Resource Manager (you can launch document searches from Tray Tools), as well as a system wide keyboard short cut, which makes it super easy to open.

You can find more information, as well as download the updated version from here.

As I posted last week, I have been playing around (in my free time) with building a small app for viewing the Flash documentation outside of the Flash IDE. Well, the first public version of the Flash Resource Manager is now available.

Flash Resource Manager
Beta 0.93
Last Updated July 26, 2004

Created by Mike Chambers

Default graphics and application icons created by Josh Dura.

Requirements

Requires Windows running the .NET framework. You can download the .NET framework (all 23 megs of it) from here.

Just a quick reminder that the Flash Desktop wallpaper contest ends tomorrow at 5pm PST (-8:00 UTC). There have already been nearly 100 submissions, but there is still time to submit more.

What can you win? How about an Xbox or Timbuk2 Flash messenger bag.

You can find more info on the contest, as well as submit your submissions here.

I have been working on a new app in my free time over the past couple of weeks, and am getting close to finishing up the first version. I thought that I would post some screenshots, and give a sneak preview of it.

The application is basically a standalone Flash Help panel and resource finder. Here are some beta screenshots:

Reference Panel showing help, multiple tabs and livedoc context menu.

Just a quick fyi, we have posted the source code for my MXNA sample application.

You can view the app, read some info, and download the source code from here.