Learning ActionScript 2. 0 for Macromedia Flash 8

by deHaan, Jen; deHaan, Peter

• ISBN13: 9780321394156
• ISBN10: 0321394151
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-01-01
• Publisher: Macromedia Press

Summary

Powerful development and design tools require thorough and authoritative technical advice and documentation. When it comes to Macromedia Flash, no one is more authoritative than Macromedia Development and writing teams. Now their official documentation is available to you in printed book form. As you work, keep this guide by your side for ready access to valuable information on using Flash. Wers"ve designed it so that itrs"s easy to annotate as you progress. Learning ActionScript 2.0 for Macromedia Flash 8shows you how to write proper ActionScript syntax to create useful and interactive Flash applications. This book includes examples of object-oriented programming, and teaches you how to write custom classes for your Flash applications.Learning ActionScript 2.0 for Macromedia Flash 8also includes numerous hands-on examples on how to apply expressive and interactive features to your files using ActionScript code, such as file upload, filter effects, scripted animation, and anti-alias text using the FlashType font rendering engine. InLearning Actionscript 2.0 for Macromedia Flash 8,learn how to: bull; Write proper ActionScript syntax using the fundamentals of the ActionScript language. bull; Use object-oriented programming techniques to build Flash applications. bull; Use ActionScript classes to add interactivity and expressive features to your Flash applications. bull; Use best practices and coding conventions to optimize, structure, and write consistent ActionScript.

Table of Contents

Introduction	9	(1)
Intended audience	9	(1)
System requirements	10	(1)
Updating Flash XML files	10	(1)
About the documentation	10	(4)
Additional resources	14	(5)
What's New in Flash 8 ActionScript	19	(12)
New in ActionScript 2.0 and Flash 8	19	(9)
Changes to security model for locally installed SWF files	28	(3)
Writing and Editing ActionScript 2.0	31	(38)
About ActionScript and events	32	(2)
Organizing ActionScript code	34	(2)
Using the Actions panel and Script window	36	(1)
About the Actions panel	37	(1)
About the Script window	38	(1)
About coding in the Actions panel and Script window	39	(20)
About Actions panel features	59	(4)
About behaviors	63	(1)
About ActionScript publish settings	64	(5)
About ActionScript	69	(4)
What is ActionScript	70	(1)
About choosing between ActionScript 1.0 and ActionScript 2.0	71	(1)
Understanding ActionScript and Flash Player	72	(1)
Data and Data Types	73	(44)
About data	73	(1)
About data types	74	(15)
About variables	89	(22)
Organizing data in objects	111	(2)
About casting	113	(4)
Syntax and Language Fundamentals	117	(88)
About syntax, statements, and expressions	118	(4)
About dot syntax and target paths	122	(6)
About language punctuators	128	(11)
About constants and keywords	139	(6)
About statements	145	(22)
About arrays	167	(13)
About operators	180	(25)
Functions and Methods	205	(26)
About functions and methods	206	(21)
Understanding methods	227	(4)
Classes	231	(76)
About object-oriented programming and Flash	232	(9)
Writing custom class files	241	(3)
About working with custom classes in an application	244	(25)
Example: Writing custom classes	269	(13)
Example: Using custom class files in Flash	282	(3)
Assigning a class to symbols in Flash	285	(1)
Compiling and exporting classes	286	(3)
Understanding classes and scope	289	(3)
About top-level and built-in classes	292	(10)
About working with built-in classes	302	(5)
Inheritance	307	(12)
About inheritance	307	(2)
About writing subclasses in Flash	309	(5)
Using polymorphism in an application	314	(5)
Interfaces	319	(16)
About interfaces	319	(5)
Creating interfaces as data types	324	(2)
Understanding inheritance and interfaces	326	(2)
Example: Using interfaces	328	(2)
Example: Creating a complex interface	330	(5)
Handling Events	335	(22)
Using event handler methods	336	(2)
Using event listeners	338	(3)
Using event listeners with components	341	(2)
Using button and movie clip event handlers	343	(5)
Broadcasting events from component instances	348	(1)
Creating movie clips with button states	348	(1)
Event handler scope	349	(4)
Scope of the this keyword	353	(1)
Using the Delegate class	353	(4)
Working with Movie Clips	357	(32)
About controlling movie clips with ActionScript	358	(2)
Calling multiple methods on a single movie clip	360	(1)
Loading and unloading SWF files	361	(2)
Changing movie clip position and appearance	363	(2)
Dragging movie clips	365	(1)
Creating movie clips at runtime	366	(4)
Adding parameters to dynamically created movie clips	370	(2)
Managing movie clip depths	372	(3)
About caching and scrolling movie clips with ActionScript	375	(7)
Using movie clips as masks	382	(2)
Handling movie clip events	384	(1)
Assigning a class to a movie clip symbol	384	(2)
Initializing class properties	386	(3)
Working with Text and Strings	389	(90)
About text fields	391	(9)
About loading text and variables into text fields	400	(6)
Using fonts	406	(9)
About font rendering and anti-alias text	415	(8)
About text layout and formatting	423	(7)
Formatting text with Cascading Style Sheet styles	430	(15)
Using HTML-formatted text	445	(13)
Example: Creating scrolling text	458	(1)
About strings and the String class	459	(20)
Animation, Filters, and Drawings	479	(96)
Scripting animation with ActionScript 2.0	480	(10)
About bitmap caching, scrolling, and performance	490	(1)
About the Tween and TransitionManager classes	491	(16)
Using filter effects	507	(8)
Working with filters using ActionScript	515	(26)
Manipulating filter effects with code	541	(4)
Creating bitmaps with the BitmapData class	545	(3)
About blending modes	548	(3)
About operation order	551	(1)
Drawing with ActionScript	552	(16)
Understanding scaling and slice guides	568	(7)
Creating Interaction with ActionScript	575	(30)
About events and interaction	576	(1)
Controlling SWF file playback	576	(4)
Creating interactivity and visual effects	580	(13)
Creating runtime data bindings using ActionScript	593	(9)
Deconstructing a sample script	602	(3)
Working with Images, Sound, and Video	605	(42)
About loading and working with external media	606	(1)
Loading external SWF and image files	607	(5)
About loading and using external MP3 files	612	(4)
Assigning linkage to assets in the library	616	(1)
About using FLV video	617	(21)
About creating progress animations for media files	638	(9)
Working with External Data	647	(44)
Sending and loading variables	648	(4)
Using HTTP to connect to server-side scripts	652	(5)
About file uploading and downloading	657	(9)
About XML	666	(10)
Sending messages to and from Flash Player	676	(4)
About the External API	680	(11)
Understanding Security	691	(34)
About compatibility with previous Flash Player security models	691	(2)
About local file security and Flash Player	693	(15)
About domains, cross-domain security, and SWF files	708	(8)
Server-side policy files for permitting access to data	716	(5)
HTTP to HTTPS protocol access between SWF files	721	(4)
Debugging Applications	725	(20)
Debugging your scripts	725	(13)
Using the Output panel	738	(7)
Best Practices and Coding Conventions for ActionScript 2.0	745	(42)
Naming conventions	746	(10)
Using comments in your code	756	(3)
ActionScript coding conventions	759	(16)
ActionScript and Flash Player optimization	775	(2)
Formatting ActionScript syntax	777	(10)
Appendix A: Error Messages	787	(6)
Appendix B: Deprecated Flash 4 operators	793	(2)
Appendix C: Keyboard Keys and Key Code Values	795	(8)
Appendix D: Writing Scripts for Earlier Versions of Flash Player	803	(4)
About targeting earlier versions of Flash Player	803	(1)
Using Flash 8 to create content for Flash Player 4	804	(3)
Appendix E: Object-Oriented Programming with ActionScript 1.0	807	(14)
About ActionScript 1.0	808	(2)
Creating a custom object in ActionScript 1.0	810	(1)
Assigning methods to a custom object in ActionScript 1.0	811	(1)
Defining event handler methods in ActionScript 1.0	812	(3)
Creating inheritance in ActionScript 1.0	815	(1)
Adding getter/setter properties to objects in ActionScript 1.0	816	(1)
Using Function object properties in ActionScript 1.0	817	(4)
Appendix F: Terminology	821	(8)
Index	829