how do i make a .fla* into a .swf* ? please help!

When you preview your flash document (ctrl+enter) it should put a current swf file in the same folder as the fla document!

or you could publish it, that's under file. By default, it creates both the swf and the html file that contains the swf.

You might like to read the 3 sticky threads in this forum, this (http://www.lissaexplains.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38938) one for example already has the answer to your question.