Macromedia Flash MX: The Complete Reference

The Most Comprehensive Resource Available on Flash!

Its almost impossible to spend any time online and not encounter the brilliance of Macromedia Flash. Whether its in showcasing graphics or text, animation or movies, sound or interactivity, Flash is among a small handful of elite applications that have fueled the spectacular emergence of the Web. Macromedia Flash MX: The Complete Reference contains seven distinct sections and nearly 30 chapters devoted to delivering information on every aspect of this powerful tool. From graphics and animation, to interactivity, to the ActionScript language, learn to use all aspects of Flash--and see for yourself why Flash is among the most successful and popular Web applications.

• Ease the drawing process by selecting job-appropriate tools, using layers, and grouping objects
  
• Dissect existing movies to learn how they have been constructed
  
• Import a variety of graphic files--bitmap or vector--then optimize and reduce file size
  
• Increase the efficiency of movie-making by reusing assets through libraries
  
• Enhance and enliven your Flash presentations by adding sound
  
• Master sophisticated interactive techniques like interactive buttons and nested movie clips
  
• Accomplish all your animation goals with tweening or ActionScripting
  
• CD-ROM includes trial versions of Swift 3D, Toon Boom Studio, and Canvas 8--plus code samples and .fla files
  

Contents            

   PART I: Flash Phenomenon
    Ch. 1: Getting Started
    Ch. 2: The Tool
    Ch. 3: Graphics
    Ch. 4: Symbols and Instances
    Ch. 5: Animation
    Ch. 6: Actions

   PART II: Stage Entities
    Ch. 7: Drawing and Painting
    Ch. 8: Color
    Ch. 9: Graphic Objects
    Ch. 10: Layers
    Ch. 11: Imported Graphics
    Ch. 12: Text
    Ch. 13: Sound

   PART III: Interactive Movies
    Ch. 14: Simple Buttons
    Ch. 15: Movie Clips
    Ch. 16: Assigning Actions
    Ch. 17: Sophisticated Buttons
    Ch. 18: Organizing a Flashed Web Site
    Ch. 19: Defining Your Development Environment

   PART IV: Basic Scripting
    Ch. 20: Sample Script
    Ch. 21: ActionScript Overview
    Ch. 22: Syntax and Semantics
    Ch. 23: Basic Operations
    Ch. 24: Troubleshooting
    Ch. 25: Typical ActionScript Samples

   PART V: Advanced Scripting
    Ch. 26: Object-Oriented Programming
    Ch. 27: Server-Side Scripting and Remote Files
    Ch. 28: Advanced Case Studies

   Appendices
    Appendix 1: ActionScript Quick Reference
    Appendix 2: About the CD