(I’ve omitted the client’s name in order to protect the not-so-innocent.)

In developing a project for one of our clients, we needed access to some of the .fla files that the client had already created for portions of the site.

Now, sometimes, the source files we get from clients aren’t always put together the best way possible. The client will usually have someone in-house that has used Flash before, and they try their best. You get the swf, and it seems to work out ok. But then, you get the .fla, and about die looking at the contents. I’m sure we’ve all had experience with this before.

When the library to this particular .fla was opened up, we soon discovered the Greatest Naming Convention Ever! Look how beautifully it was organized. By looking at the name, you can obviously tell what each symbol is without clicking on it. Later on, a convention of “lv-help”+asffe, “lv-help”+qwrea, etc. was established, adding even more clarity to things.

Now, I’m not in the position to be setting standards or anything, but if I could suggest that we all start using this system, the world could be a much, much better place.

Originally posted on April 20, 2005.