Introduction to StoryMaker

StoryMaker-SE is a rich media editing and publishing application, allowing non-technical users to add interactive content to their sites without requiring an underlying knowledge of Flash, HTML, XML or other technologies. This SDK is designed as a reference for Flash developers who wish to create new StoryMaker templates or extend existing ones, with code samples and tools to guide you in the process.


Feature Overview

  • The StoryMaker platform provides a flexible, extensible system for creating interactive content.
  • StoryMaker is a web-based application, allowing users to collaborate and publish in real-time, from any Internet-enabled computer regardless of geographic location.
  • The StoryMaker user interface is a Macromedia Flash application which works on any operating system and browser supporting Flash 8 and JavaScript.

StoryPlates and Projects

While StoryMaker provides a framework for publishing interactive content, StoryPlates define the editorial workflow. A StoryPlate is a template that works within the StoryMaker system to control default design choices, settings, and the files published for a single experience. This structure is defined by an XML document known as a StoryPlate Definition File (SPDF). Each StoryPlate represents a distinct editorial workflow and published experience, and your StoryMaker account can contain many templates.

Once a StoryPlate has been imported into the StoryMaker system, it is available for use within your account. A single StoryPlate can act as the basis for any number of projects; hundreds of different slideshows can be derived from the same slideshow template. StoryMaker makes it easy to duplicate, delete, organize, search for, and otherwise manage the projects in your account.


Organizations and Users

In order to support collaboration, StoryMaker supports the creation of a virtually unlimited number of users within a specified organization. All members of an organization share access to a common pool of StoryPlates, projects, and media assets. While a single project can only be edited by one user at a time, different users can work on separate projects — or hand them off to various team members — as part of their editorial workflow.


Before You Begin

Before beginning StoryPlate development, you should be familiar with the following technologies:

  • Macromedia Flash 8 (or higher) and ActionScript 2. All of the provided examples have been developed using Flash's object oriented classes and methods, forgoing use of the Timeline and Library wherever possible.
  • The creation and troubleshooting of XML documents, and knowledge of basic XML principles such as validation
  • The creation and troubleshooting of HTML documents, with focus on embedding interactive content
  • Basic operation of the StoryMaker software and administration tools