Macromedia Flash MX 2004 ActionScript Training from the Source,9780321213433

Macromedia Flash MX 2004 ActionScript Training from the Source

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Edition: 1st
ISBN13: 9780321213433
ISBN10: 0321213432
Format: Paperback
Pub. Date: 2003-11-19
Publisher(s): Macromedia Press
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Summary

Sure, you can use Flash MX 2004 without being a master programmer, but as any Flash developer worth his or her salt will tell you, you're not tapping all of its power unless you're taking advantage of its scripting language "ActionScript 2.0" which offers a more robust programming model and better object-oriented programming support than ever before. Here to take the fear factor out of learning it are Flash veterans and best-selling authorsDerek FranklinandJobe Makar,who demonstrate that scripting is an instinctual process you already know by translating real-life activities into ActionScript scripts. In these pages, you'll find methodologies and techniques for building over 40 real-life Flash ActionScript projects, including sample games, --- applications, Web sites, and more. New in this edition are coverage of ActionScript 2.0, Web services, Components, Printing, Video, and more. On the companion CD, you'll find all the project files and images you need to complete each project.

Author Biography

Derek Franklin is director of derekfranklin.com, a resource dedicated to helping developers worldwide get the most out of Flash. He's been involved in Web design since 1995, having served as a multimedia director for a nationally recognized media company. He is the author of Flash 5! Creative Web Animation and coauthor of Macromedia Flash MX: Creating Dynamic Applications by Macromedia Press.

Jobe Makar, who specializes in games and applications programming, is co-founder of Electrotank, Inc., where he is Senior Game Developer. He is a contributing author to Macromedia Flash MX: Creating Dynamic Applications.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1(5)
Introducing Actionscript
6(38)
ActionScript Matures to Version 2.0
Differences Between ActionScript 1.0 and 2.0
Similarities Between ActionScript 1.0 and 2.0
Why Learn ActionScript?
ActionScript Elements
Using the Actions Panel/ActionScript Editor
Planning a Project
Writing Your First Script
Testing Your First Script
Using Event Handlers
44(60)
What Event Handlers Do
Choosing the Right Event Handler
Using Mouse Events
Making the Most of Attaching Mouse Events to Movie Clips
Using Frame Events
Using Clip Events
Orchestrating Multiple Events
Understanding Event Handler Methods
Using Event Handler Methods
Using Listeners
Understanding Target Paths
104(36)
Understanding Multiple Timelines
Targeting the Current Movie
Targeting the Main Movie
Targeting a Parent Movie
Targeting Movie Clip Instances
Targeting Movies on Levels
Targeting Movie Clip Instances on Levels
Understanding Multiple Identities
Creating and Referencing Global Elements
Using Object Classes
140(32)
What Objects Are and Why They're Useful
Built-in Object Classes
Using the Color Class
Using the Key Class To Add Interactivity
Working with String and Selection Classes
Using Functions
172(24)
Creating Functions
Adding Parameters to Functions
Using Local Variables and Creating Functions That Return Results
Creating and Manipulating Data
196(40)
Creating Variables
Creating Arrays
Creating Dynamic Text Fields and Retrieving Information
Retrieving the Data
Building Expressions
Operators
Manipulating Numerical Data Using Math
Manipulating Strings
Creating Custom Classes
236(40)
Classes, Top-Level Classes, and Instances
Creating a Class
The Classpath
Packages and Importing Classes
Getters and Setters
Defining Members
Understanding Inheritance
Using Conditional Logic
276(28)
Controlling a Script's Flow
Determining Conditions
Reacting to Multiple Conditions
Defining a Boundary
Turning Power On/Off
Reacting to User Interaction
Detecting Collisions
Automating Scripts with Loops
304(26)
Why Loops Are Useful
Types of Loops
Writing and Understanding Loop Conditions
Nested Loops
Loop Exceptions
Scripting UI Components
330(38)
Components: A Scripting Primer
Configuring Component Properties
Triggering Scripts Using Component Events
Using Component Methods
Using the FocusManager Component
Customizing UI Components with ActionScript
Getting Data in and Out of Flash
368(40)
Understanding Data Sources and Data Formats
Get vs. Post
Using the LoadVars Class
Policy Files
Using Shared Objects
Using the WebServiceConnector Component
Using XML with Flash
408(36)
XML Basics
Using the XML Class
Using Socket Servers
Validating Data
444(26)
The Logic Behind Validating Data
Using Validation Routines
Handling Errors
Validating Strings
Validating Sequences
Validating Against a List of Choices
Validating Numbers
Processing Validated Data
Working with Text Fields
470(40)
Dynamically Creating and Configuring Text Fields
Using TextFormat Objects
Loading and Communicating with Inline Images and SWFs
Formatting Text Fields with Cascading Style Sheets
Controlling Movie Clips Dynamically
510(42)
Creating Movie Clip Instances Dynamically
Building Continuous-Feedback Buttons
Using ActionScript To Draw Lines Dynamically
Using the Drawing Methods
Creating Filled Shapes Dynamically
Z-Sorting Movie Clip Instances
Dragging and Dropping Movie Clip Instances
Removing Dynamically Created Content
Time- and Frame-Based Dynamism
552(38)
The Use of Time in Flash
Working with Dates in Flash
Determining the Passage of Time
Controlling the Playback Speed and Direction of a Timeline
Tracking Playback and Downloading Progression
Scripting For Sound
590(32)
Controlling Sound with ActionScript
Creating a Sound Object
Dragging a Movie Clip Instance Within a Boundary
Controlling Volume
Controlling Panning
Attaching Sounds and Controlling Sound Playback
Loading External Assets
622(52)
The Ins and Outs of Loading External Assets
Loading Movies into Targets
Loading JPGs Dynamically
Creating an Interactive Placeholder
Loading Movies into Levels
Controlling a Movie on a Level
Loading MP3s Dynamically
Reacting to Dynamically Loaded MP3s
Extracting ID3 Data from an MP3 File
Loading and Controlling External Video
Testing and Debugging
674(26)
Eliminating Bugs Before They Hatch
Maximizing the Testing and Debugging Process
Fixing Compile-Time Bugs
Finding and Fixing Run-Time Bugs
Maximum-Strength Swfs
700(32)
Understanding and Using fscommand()
Using Flash Studio Pro
Using FlashVars
Printing and Context Menus
732(22)
Flash Printing Versus Browser Printing
Using the PrintJob Class
Creating Custom Context Menus
Index 754

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