Xtivity, from Tivity Software, is a multimedia authoring tool that will walk the newbie through making a Flash movie without the need to know ActionScript (the Flash scripting language). So, the short of it is that you don't need to be a programmer to build a Flash website if you utilise this package. The long of it is, I'm still out to lunch on making a decision about whether this is a good thing or a bad thing.

Getting to know Xtivity from a user interface point of view wasn't that difficult. It actually reminds me more of a video authoring tool (e.g. Premiere Pro) rather than Flash ... but hey Flash's interface is quirky, to say the least, but after years of use seems to fit like a glove. So the layers, multimedia and library palettes in Xtivity made me feel right at home. As did the central "stage" area and the floating "tools palette".

With the interface hurdle tackled I set about looking at some of the features, and was pleasantly surprised at what I found ...

• Import Photoshop Files ... create your graphics in Adobe Photoshop and then import the .psd file into Xtivity.
• Integrated Content Editing ... Content that is stored and managed in Xtivity can be opened directly into Photoshop for editing and saving.
• Content Updates ... This feature allows you to make changes to images and stream the revisions through to Xtivity and directly into your project boxes, saving alot of time.
• Dynamic Timing ... You can make rapid changes to the timing of your actions and precisely control any object in your project. You don't have to worry about tweening content on a timeline whenever you make changes.
• Drag and Drop Masking ... There are pre-made masks included in the Xtivity Library for you to apply, shapes, edges and other fun masks.
• Library Extras Bonus ... The Library includes over a thousand pieces of creative graphics, music loops, sounds and looping animations.
• Embedded Content ... The content inside an Xtivity .xtv project file is automatically compressed using a lossless compression method to keep project file sizes smaller.
• Layer Controls ... layers manage the objects so that they are stored in the final .swf with optimal efficiency and are ready to stream down into the Flash Player as quickly as possible. Properties, actions and triggers can be copied and applied between layers, optimizing workflow and saving time.

There are many more features of Xtivity that I haven't included but you can read all about them on the Tivity Software website.

What do I think about Xtivity? I feel traditional Flash developers are going to feel frustrated by this product because it works so differently from Flash and because interactivity is all you can do with it. You need an external program to create all graphics, unlike Flash which has some drawing tools and has filesharing capabilities with both Fireworks and Photoshop. Saying this, however, the flash programmer or designer may be won over by the ease of utilising a bevy of precoded transitions and a library of predrawn elements.

The product is targetted at the person who wants a Flash website but doesn't have a programming bone in their body. Xtivity provides the user with a workspace that enables them to define boxes, place content in the boxes, add actions to the boxes and define what triggers the actions to stop and start. Using these four steps, an entire interactive website can be built with no programming experience. This tool also keeps the logic and content as separate items ... enabling changes to be made to either without conflicting with the other. For example, an entire website navigation can be updated with new content, without affecting the interaction or logic that makes the website function. Saying that, Flash works very much this way, but the developer is involved at a more primitive level.

The support from Tivity Software for Xtivity is plentiful, with tutorials, help files and loads of step by step Flash movies to let you know how to proceed. Its the last item that had me the most frustrated, the step by step action in the Flash movies was mind-numbingly slow and drove me to distraction every time I needed assistance. I'm sure that newbies will appreciate the help but it had me running about the room screaming (well, not really, but you get the idea).

There's a lot of depth to this product and while I'm still out to lunch on the no need to code scenario I'm going to give Xtivity a single thumbs up. You have to put in a bit of work initially to achieve what you want and if there was any trouble with the code you couldn't tweak it if you couldn't program but like most multimedia authoring tools, Xtivity will save you time in the long run and its half the price of Flash.