Modx and stuff

Since my last post I have been working on some more html and css based projects for Pixillion.  This time I have been able to use the Modx content manager to build the website on along with Filezilla.  Modx seems to make so much sense I found it really quite easy to adapt to in comparison to my previous content management experience.  I'm glad Ive been able to start using a new tool to increase my experience.  Its good I've finally started using Filezilla too, its so easy to use and everyone uses it but I haven't been bothered up until now. It took me a week to build the site from the psd files given to me as there were some complicated areas involving transparency backgrounds and scalable divs.  It seemed like I had finished it by Wednesday but I always seem to find stuff to mess around with for days.  Today Ive been working on the Flash games again getting them translated and fully functional for the new site.   I think they're finally done now, its crazy, something I was sure was only going to take me 5 minutes this morning has turned into a 5 hour job.  The trouble is now I have hit my first work wall, being that today for Pixillion is dedicated to their new site I am unable to help there, and the Andromeda stuff isn't planned to come through until tomorrow. I'll find out in a minute whether its home time for me, or whether I can manage to waylay myself for another 3 hours.  Not that I mind, I was expecting to be finished before lunch and thought I might go home to eat but now its turned out that I'm still here and haven't taken a lunch break at all.  I knew this morning when I was a few minutes late in due to traffic that it would be one of those days with nothing for me to do.  I hope the Andromeda stuff comes through tomorrow, I don't want to come in to find I have very little to do. Oh well they've managed to keep me busy so far...

Andromeda

Since my HTML assignment I have been busying myself on a big project with the Helastel team.  The project involves lessons on carbon footprint as an e-learning tool ... again! My job was to create all of the components to fit inside the controller of the elearning tool using graphics and animation made by another of our team.  There has been a total of 4 of us working on the elearning tool itself, in Flash mainly, which is all good for me.  The only downside being Ive been working in AS2 but after a few days I have got used to the slightly different format and capabilities of AS2 flash work.  The lesson we have been working on has consisted of 6 parts, although this took some time to figure out what with changes made by the client and uncertainty as to what the script was trying to insinuate.  I built part 2, 3, 4, some of 5, and 6, which has been really good. The AS is pretty standard as the parts needed to be all self contained although I have learnt a bit about AS2 _root and _global and how variables and data can be accessed and used in this way as a form of communication between different swf files/components.  Im glad I got everything finished as there was talk of going in on the weekend to complete the lesson before presentation on Monday which I would have been paid for, but its not a particularly exciting idea. I know this kind of environment is often like that, working all days and hours a bit like freelance, and definitely like uni projects, but the more it can be avoided the better, especially as Im only on expenses, not fully paid.  This week would have been awkward any way as the Bristol Half Marathon is on today making it harder to get into work.  The crazy thig about this project is that we are likely to be asked to do 9 others which is great, but there is a total of 300 lessons that the client wants made and so if we gained a contract for all of them I would basically be working on it for my enitre placement, and it probably wouldn't be finished even if I was!  Thats all without any further Pixillion work too, which isn't the case as I know that Pixillion have "booked me out" for next week some time to work on some Flash project for them.  I find the concept of being booked out quite amusing, it kind of makes me a separate entity between the two groups who fight over my time because I am cheap labour.  I know this, I put myself into the situation so Im bound to be used to save money, Im just glad that Im that appreciated and used really.  Its better than sitting in a placement and doing nothing important or relevant which Im sure happens to some people. Another interesting thing that I have discovered this week is that it seems that Pixillion are working with Mentor Digital.  This is pretty funny being that I hassled Mentor for a placement for so long and now Im working for a company that they have turned to.  Just seems kind of ironic. Think that covers everything for this last week or so, I really ought to post more often.