Macromedia Flash Professional 8 Unleashed

Table of Contents:

Introduction.

I. GETTING STARTED.

1. What's New?

    The Interface

    Tabs on the Mac

    Tabs in Panels Are Back

    One Library to Rule Them All

    Bigger Pasteboard

    Two Levels of Undo

    Object Drawing-The New Grouping

    Content on the Go

    Hide and Seek Is Over

    Welcome Back, Normal Mode

    The Fastest Flash Player Ever

    FlashType

    Cache as Bitmap

    Blending

    Filters

    Stroke Improvements

    Video in Flash

    New Dynamic Content

    BitmapData

    File Upload

    Summary

2. Getting Started with Flash Professional 8.

    Humble Beginnings-Where Flash Came From

    The Interface

    The Stage

    The Properties Inspector Panel

    Flash Panels

    Check Your Spelling

    Preferences

    The General Category

    The ActionScript and Auto Format Categories

    The Clipboard Category

    The Drawing Category

    The Text Category

    The Warnings Category

    Shortcuts

    Making a Better Workspace

    Summary

3. Creating Graphics in Flash.

    The Toolbar

    The Colors Section

    The View Section

    The Tools Section

    Colors and Gradients

    The Color Swatches Panel

    The Color Mixer Panel

    Grouping and Drawing Objects

    Groupies

    Drawing Objects

    Stacking Groups

    Importing and Working with Bitmaps

    Creating a Bitmap Fill

    Tracing Bitmaps

    Swap Bitmap

    Summary

4. Flash Animation.

    Welcome to the Timeline

    The Layers Section

    The Frames Section

    Frame by Frame

    Your First Animation

    Tweening

    Your First Tween

    Shape Hints

    Summary

5. Symbols, Instances, and the Library.

    What Is a Symbol?

    What Is an Instance?

    The Graphic Symbol

    When Should You Use a Graphic?

    Converting to a Symbol

    The Button Symbol

    An Interactive Button

    Memoirs of an Invisible Button

    The Movie Clip Symbol

    The Library

    Back to the Timeline

    Your First Motion Tween

    The Tween Editor

    Nested Animation

    Motion Guides

    The Mask Layer

    Summary

6. Working with Sound and Video.

    Why Sound?

    Adding Sound

    Sound in the Properties Inspector

    Sound Effects

    Creating a Custom Effect

    Syncing and Looping

    Compressing Sound

    Sound with ActionScript

    Video in Flash

    Importing Video into Flash

    Summary

7. Publishing.

    The Publish Settings

    Publishing Profiles

    The Formats Tab

    For the Web

    Graphics

    Projectors and QuickTime

    Flash Player 8 and SWFs

    The Flash Tab

    The Version Field

    The Sound Settings

    The HTML Tab

    Detect Flash Version

    The GIF Tab

    The PNG Tab

    The JPEG Tab

    The QuickTime Tab

    Summary

II. ACTIONSCRIPT.

8. Welcome to ActionScript 2.0.

    What Is ActionScript?

    Object-Oriented Programming

    What Is an Object?

    Properties of an Object

    Methods of an Object

    Events of an Object

    Where Do Objects Come From?

    Prototyping an Object

    Introduction to ActionScript 2.0

    Declaring Variables and Instance Names

    Strict Data Typing Variables

    Strict Data Typing with Functions

    The Actions Panel

    Actions Panel Preferences

    Reference/Help Panel

    Behaviors and the Behaviors Panel

    ActionScript Fundamentals

    Comments

    Code Hints and Naming Conventions

    ActionsPanel.xml

    Triggering Code Hints with Comments

    Strict Data Typing to Trigger Code Hints

    Dot Syntax

    The Movie Clip Object

    Functions

    Conditionals

    Loop Statements

    Summary

9. Strings, Numbers and Variables-In Depth.

    Types of Data Types

    The String Data Type

    Creating a String

    Empty Strings

    Quotes

    Escape Sequences

    Manipulating Strings

    Joining Strings

    Indexing Characters in Strings

    Unicode-Style Strings

    The Number Data Type

    Creating a Number

    Solving the Problem of Repeating Decimal Points

    Predefined Values for Numbers

    Bonus Numbers

    Boolean Data Type

    Null Data Type

    Undefined Data Type

    Array Data Type

    Variables

    Making a Variable

    Changing Data in Variables

    Incrementing and Decrementing Variables

    Empty Variables

    Comparing Variables

    Combining Types of Values in Variables

    Converting Variables Using Functions and Methods

    The Scope of a Variable

    An Applied Example

    Summary

10. 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

    The push Method

    The unshift Method

    The splice Method

    The concat Method

    Naming Array Elements

    Removing Array Elements

    The delete Operator

    Removing Elements Using the length Property

    The splice Method Revisited

    The pop Method

    The shift Method

    Changing Elements in Arrays

    Advanced Nested Arrays

    Additional Array Methods

    The toString Method

    The join Method

    The slice Method

    The reverse Method

    Sorting Arrays

    The sortOn Method

    Applied Example

    Summary

11. Statements and Expressions.

    Statement Syntax

    Statement Block

    Object Statements

    The with Statement

    The for in Statement

    Flow Modifiers

    Conditional Statements

    Comparison Operators

    The if Statement

    The else Statement

    The else if Statement

    switch, case, default, and break

    Loop Statements

    Summary

12. 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 Identifier

    Variables and Functions

    The Arguments Class

    The length Property

    Functions as Objects

    Functions as Methods

    Functions Built In to Flash

    The call Function

    Conversion Functions

    Mathematical Functions

    Deprecated Functions

    Summary

13. The Movie Clip Object.

    Creating Movie Clips

    Creating Movie Clips Manually

    Creating Movie Clips with ActionScript

    Manipulating Movie Clips

    Animating Movie Clips with ActionScript

    The cacheAsBitmap Property

    Using Math to Help Animate Movie Clips

    Using the Color Object

    The blendMode Property

    Filters

    Depth and the Stacking Order

    Duplicating Movie Clips

    Removing Movie Clips

    The removeMovieClip() Method

    The Drawing API

    The lineStyle() Method

    The moveTo() Method

    The lineTo() Method

    The lineGradientStyle() Method

    The beginFill() Method

    The beginGradientFill() Method

    The curveTo() Method

    Summary

14. Events.

    Handling Events

    The Callback

    Listeners

    Duplicating Effort

    Callbacks Versus Listeners-The Showdown

    Button Events

    Movie Clip Events

    Movie Clips Handling Button Events

    Events of the Mouse Object

    Events of the Key Object

    Events of the TextField Object

    Cross-Object Events

    Summary

15. Working with Text.

    The Text Field Interface

    Spell Checking Text Fields

    Creating Text Fields

    Static Text

    Dynamic Text

    Input Text

    Creating Text Fields in ActionScript

    Formatting the Text in Text Fields

    The TextFormat Object

    Cascading Style Sheets

    Scrolling Text Fields

    The Mouse Wheel Event

    HTML Text in Text Fields

    The Image Tag

    HTML Text Fields and JavaScript

    Multilanguage Text

    Unicode-encoded Strings

    The Strings Panel

    Summary

16. Components.

    What Is a Component?

    Getting Started with Components

    The Components Panel

    Adding Components to the Stage

    The attachMovie() Method

    Setting Parameters

    The Properties Inspector

    Changing the Parameters of a Component

    The Component Inspector Panel

    ActionScript

    Capturing Component Events

    Getting Data from Components

    Skinning Components

    Manually Skinning a Component

    Using the style Property

    The dataProvider Property

    Data Binding

    Creating a Version 2.0 Component

    Summary

17. Debugging.

    What Is Debugging?

    Planning Ahead

    Names That Make Sense

    Documentation

    Strict Data Typing

    Prototyping and Testing

    Tools of the Trade

    The trace Function

    List Options

    The Error Object

    Sizing Up Your Project

    The Debugger

    Remote Debugging

    Summary

II. OUTSIDE OF FLASH.

18. External ActionScript.

    Why Use External ActionScript?

    #include Versus Classpath

    Getting Started with External Class Files

    Defining a Class

    Public, Private, and Static

    Declaring Properties with a Constructor Function

    Creating Methods

    Creating Getter/Setter Methods

    Creating Events

    Creating Callback Events

    Creating Listener Events

    Bringing It All Together

    Summary

19. Loading Visual Content.

    Why Load External Content?

    What Content Can Be Loaded and Where?

    Loading Images Dynamically

    The loadMovie() Method

    Inheritance

    The loadMovieNum() Method

    The unloadMovie() Method

    The removeMovieClip() Method

    The unloadMovieNum() Function

    The Loader Component

    Loading SWF Files into Flash

    Manipulating Loaded SWF Files

    Loading External Content into Text Fields

    Manipulating Embedded Content in Text Fields

    Preloaders

    The getBytesTotal() and getBytesLoaded() Methods

    The ProgressBar Component

    Summary

20. Introduction to Data Integration.

    Why Dynamic Content?

    The getURL() Method

    The MIME Format

    The escape() and unescape() functions

    The loadVariables Method

    The onData Event

    The loadVariablesNum() Method

    The LoadVars Object

    The load() Method

    The onLoad Event

    The Undocumented onData Event

    The ExternalInterface API

    The Call Method

    The addCallback Method

    Summary

21. ASP and Flash.

    What Is ASP?

    How Does ASP Work?

    Getting the Server

    Intro to ASP Scripting

    Your First ASP Page

    Sending and Receiving Data

    Receiving Data in ASP

    Sending and Receiving in Flash

    Accessing Access

    Summary

22. PHP and Flash.

    Setting Up Your Server

    Installing Apache Server

    Installing PHP

    Installing MySQL

    Now That It's All Installed

    Learning More About PHP

    PHP and Flash-Receiving Data

    Example 1-Hello World

    Example 2-Hello, Goodbye World

    Example 3-Multiple Values and Multiple Variables

    Example 4-Sending Mail with Flash and PHP

    PHP and Flash-Sending and Receiving Data

    Example 5-Confirming sentMail

    Incorporating a MySQL Database

    Example 6-Address Book

    File Uploads-Flash 8 Specific

    Example 7-File Upload

    Summary

23. Flash Remoting with ColdFusion.

    What Is Flash Remoting?

    The Application Server

    Technical Requirements

    ColdFusion and Flash Flowchart

    Flash Remoting Setup Process

    Setting Up the Server

    Installing IIS

    Installing ColdFusion MX7

    Setting Up Your Database

    Creating a ColdFusion Data Source

    Reviewing the Application

    Let's Begin: ColdFusion Components (CFCs)

    Flash Remoting and ActionScript 2.0

    Import Flash Remoting ActionScript Classes

    Establish a Gateway Connection and Service

    Communicate with the CFC and Handle the Results

    Building Your Application

    Summary

24. XML and Flash.

    What Is XML?

    Formatting XML

    Rules of XML

    Attributes

    Elements Versus Attributes

    XML and Flash

    The XML Object

    The XMLConnector Component

    The trigger() Method

    The result Event

    The Tree Component

    Summary

25. Web Services and Flash.

    What Is a Web Service?

    Why Use Web Services?

    Creating a Web Service

    Consuming Web Services with Flash

    Using the XML Object

    Flash Remoting

    The Web Services Panel

    The WebServiceConnector Component

    Data Binding

    Consuming Outside Web Services

    Absorbing the Amazon Web Service

    Summary

26. Streaming Media.

    Why Stream Media?

    Creating a Flash Video

    The NetConnection Object

    The NetStream Object

    The play() Method

    The pause() Method

    The close() Method

    The seek() Method

    The setBufferTime() Method

    The onStatus Event

    Properties of the NetStream Object

    The Video Object

    The attachVideo() Method

    Streaming Video

    The FLVPlayback Component

    The Camera Object

    The get() Method

    The activityLevel Property

    Summary

27. Extending Flash.

    Why Extend Flash?

    Commands

    The History Panel

    Saving Commands from the History Panel

    Creating Commands Manually with JSFL

    Managing Commands

    XML-to-UI Controls

    Creating Behaviors

    Creating Your Own Panels

    Creating Custom Tools

    Creating Custom Effects

    File I/O in JSFL

    Summary

28. Beyond Flash.

    Flash Alternatives

    SwiSHmax

    SwiSHpix

    PowerCONVERTER

    Wildform FlixPro

    Sorenson Squeeze

    Swift 3D

    Captivate

    Enhancing Flash Files

    Optimaze

    Action Script Viewer 4.0

    SWF Encrypt(tm)

    Beyond the Web

    ScreenTime

    SWF2Video

    SWF Studio 3.0

    MakingThings

    Summary

IV. Appendix.

A. ActionScript Reference.

    The BitmapData Class

    Properties

    Methods

    The ExternalInterface Class

    Properties

    Methods

    The BevelFilter Class

    Methods

    The BlurFilter Class

    Methods

    The ColorMatrixFilter Class

    Methods

    The ConvolutionFilter Class

    Methods

    The DisplacementMapFilter Class

    Methods

    The DropShadowFilter Class

    Methods

    The GlowFilter Class

    Methods

    The GradientBevelFilter Class

    Methods

    The GradientGlowFilter Class

    Methods

    The ColorTransform Class

    Properties

    Methods

    The Matrix Class

    Methods

    The Point Class

    Properties

    Methods

    The Rectangle Class

    Properties

    Methods

    The Transform Class

    Properties

    The FileReference Class

    Properties

    Methods

    Events

    The FileReferenceList Class

    Properties

    Methods

    Events

    The TextRenderer Class

    Properties

    Methods

Index.