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Macromedia Flash MX Unleashed
- By Matthew Pizzi
- Published Jul 17, 2002 by Sams. Part of the Unleashed series.
Book
- Sorry, this book is no longer in print.
Description
- Copyright 2003
- Edition: 1st
- Book
- ISBN-10: 0-672-32401-6
- ISBN-13: 978-0-672-32401-7
Macromedia Flash MXis the premier software for creating rich content for the Web and other media. Whether you're interested in developing complex Web applications, learning ActionScript, or mastering the new video capabilities in Flash MX, this book is filled with real-world insights and tutorials on every major Flash concept.
Flash MX Unleashedis the ultimate resource for anyone trying to take their Flash skills to the next level. It combines the knowledge and experience of some of the top Web developers in the market, providing countless examples and explanations of the powerful tools and topics within Flash such as XML integration, components, and ColdFusion integration.
Sample Content
Online Sample Chapters
Table of Contents
Introduction.
1. What's New in Flash MX?
The New Timeline. Quick Start Templates. Backward Compatibility. Prebuilt Components. Product Integration. Dynamic Media. New ActionScript Editor. Dynamic Masks. Video Support. Accessibility.
2. Introducing Flash MX - 21.
Flash Is Vector Based. Interface. Flash MX Preferences. Keyboard Shortcuts. Changing the Workspace with the View Menu. Summary.
3. Creating Graphics in Flash.
The Tools. Creating Custom Colors and Gradients. Tips for Creating Graphics in Flash. Graphic Techniques. Importing Bitmap Graphics. Working with Bitmaps.
4. Flash Animation.
The Timeline. Creating Animation in Flash. Changing Timeline Views.
5. Symbols and the Library.
An Overview of Graphic Symbols. An Overview of Button Symbols. Motion Tweening. Creating Interactivity with Buttons. The Movie Clip. Nested and Compound Animation. The Library.
6. Working with Sound in Flash.
Adding Sound to Your Movie.
7. Development Techniques.
Masking Techniques. Loading a Movie. Preloaders.
8. Publishing.
Where to Find Publishing. Versatile Formats. Macromedia Flash Player 6 and the SWF File Format. Version Field. Sound Settings. Other Flash Tab Settings. Alternative File (JPEG, GIF, and PNG) Settings. HTML. Standalone Projectors. FS Commands. QuickTime Settings.
9. Animation Techniques and Digital Video.
Controlling Speed. The Bouncing Ball. Integrating Digital Video in Flash MX. Creating QuickTime Movie Controls and a Custom QuickTime Skin.
10. Approaching ActionScript.
Object-Oriented Scripting. ActionScript Object Model. Flash's Objects-Movie Clips. Properties. Variables. Methods. Functions. String Literals Versus Expressions. Addressing and Dot Syntax. Absolute Addressing. Relative Addressing. Addressing from Within Nested Movie Clips. ActionScript Structure. The Actions Panel. Normal Mode and Expert Mode. Importing and Exporting Scripts. Actions Panel Pop-up Menu.
11. Data Types and Variables-In Depth.
Types of Data Types. The String Data Type. Manipulating Strings. The Number Data Type. Boolean Data Type. Null Data Type. Undefined Data Type. Array Data Type. Movieclip Data Type. Object Data Type. Variables.
12. Statements and Expressions-In Depth.
Statement Syntax. Object Statements. Flow Modifiers.
13. Working with the Movie Clip Object.
Generating Random Values. Using If/Else Logic to Control the Movie Clip's Movement. Controlling Movie Clip Properties and Working with ActionClips. Duplicating Movie Clips.
14. Functions.
Creating a Function. Running the Function. Using Parameters in Functions. Functions That Return Values. Nested Functions. Function Scope. Mapping to a Function. The global Object. Variables and Functions. Arguments. Functions Built in to Flash.
15. Arrays.
What Is an Array and How Does It Work? Deconstructing an Array. Creating an Array. Retrieving Information from an Array. Adding Elements to Arrays. Naming Array Elements. Removing Array Elements. Changing Elements in Arrays. Advanced Nested Arrays. Additional Array Methods. Sorting Arrays. Applied Example. Summary.
16. Components.
The History of Smart Clips. Introduction to Components. Setting Parameters. Built-in UI Components. Passing Information to and from ActionScript with Components. The Appearance of Components. Creating Components. The Downside to Components. Flash UI Component Resources.
17. Event Handlers.
What Is an Event Handler? ActionScript Handlers. Where to Write Handlers. Creating a Button. Movie Clip Handlers. Methods. Attach Movie and Methods. Event Handlers and the Prototype Object.
18. ActionScript's Built-in Objects in Action.
The Mouse Object. The Date Object. The Color Object. The Sound Object. The Math Object.
19. Working with the Key Object and Text.
The Text Field Basics. ActionScripting Text Fields. Interfacing Text Fields with Outside Data.
20. Debugging.
Writing Proactive ActionScript. Naming Conventions. Identifying Bugs. Debugging from Remote Locations.
21. Advanced Interactivity.
Creating Draggable Objects. Creating Interactivity with the Mouse. Creating Preloaders That Return Accurate Information. Creating Custom Scrollable Objects. Creating Dynamic and Draggable Masks.
22. Interfacing with JavaScript.
Creating a Pop-up Window. Triggering an Alert Dialog Box. Having Fun with JavaScript.
23. Creating a Flash Game.
Create the Basics First. Add Elements to the Game. Arrays in Games. Use External Files for Easily Updating Games. Save Games and High Scores. Final Words of Wisdom.
24. Getting and Sending Data.
Formatting Dynamic Text with HTML Tags. Creating Scrolling Text. Sending a Form to an E-mail Account.
25. An Introduction to Flash and ColdFusion Integration.
Components. Previous Integration Methods. Salsa. A Basic Account Management System. Debugging. Advancing Your Skills. Summary.
26. Integration with ASP.
Getting Started. The Concept. Sending Data from Flash to ASP. Sending Data from ASP to Flash. Building a Working Model. Concept Check. Getting Started with Databases. Integrating with ASP and Microsoft Access. Working with Images and ASP. The Final Example. Summary of Concepts. Troubleshooting.
27. Integration with PHP.
Why PHP and Flash? PHP Scripting for Dynamic Content. Your First PHP Script: Testing the Server. Exploring Optional Modules. PHP Fundamentals. Receiving Data from PHP to Flash. Sending Data from Flash to PHP (to Flash). Echo Valley Becomes a Wishing Well. Using MySQL. Further Reading.
28. Integration with Servers: An Overview.
Embedded Flash Movies. Web Content: Format Versus Origin. Serving Active Content. The Data Format for Flash Movies. How Flash Requests Data. How Flash Processes the Data It Receives. Configuring a Movie to Load Network Data. Sending Active Content to an Embedded Movie. Active Process Models. Implementation Issues.
29. ActionScript Reference.
Actions. Operators. Functions. Constants. Properties. Objects.
30. Flash Alternatives.
No-Cost Flash: FLASHtyper. Low-Cost Flash: SwiSH.
Appendix A - SWF Links.
Appendix B - SWF Software Tools.
Index.