how do you make text that will fade in and out in flash 5

use alpha
and a motion/shape tween alpha 100 op first frame alpha 0 on last frame
its somewhere in the properties field, the name of the menu flyout is colors:

( it can be done too with action script )

You'll have to put the text in a symbol first, and then insert the symbol on frame one, and from there, take Sphere's steps.

Good luck.