ActionScript 3.0 Bible (Paperback)

~ (Author), Mims H. Wright (Author), Joshua J. Noble (Author)
Key Phrases: event target, selected file, compiler errors, Flash Player, Getting Started, Flex Builder (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

ActionScript has matured into a full-fledged, object-oriented programming language for creating cutting-edge Web applications, and this comprehensive book is just what you need to succeed. If you want to add interactivity to Flash, build Flex applications, or work with animation — it's all here, and more. Packed with clear instruction, step-by-step tutorials, and advanced techniques, this book is your go-to guide to unlock the power of this amazing language. Learn the basics, apply object-oriented programming, and more.

From the Back Cover

Build rich Internet applications and more

ActionScript has matured into a full-fledged, object-oriented programming language for creating cutting-edge Web applications, and this comprehensive book is just what you need to succeed. If you want to addinteractivity to Flash, build Flex applications, or work with animation — it's all here, and more. Packed with clear instruction, step-by-step tutorials, and advanced techniques, this book is your go-to guide to unlock the power of this amazing language.

• Learn the basics: expressions, variables, functions, and more

• Apply object-oriented programming and principles to structure reusable, dependable code

• Master common data structures such as Strings, Arrays, and Objects

• Work with XML using the new E4X extensions

• Take control of the powerful new event model to write interactive software

• Discover new display types such as Shape and Sprite

• Add sound, video, animation, and effects

• Debug, handle errors, and make your applications fault-tolerant

• Read, write, and store data in binary format

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Product Details

• Paperback: 792 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (October 29, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470135603
• ISBN-13: 978-0470135600
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #235,310 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not useless, but disappointing, November 28, 2007

By	Christopher Spence "HarvardTF" (Cambridge, MA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The ActionScript 2.0 Bible, in my opinion, was indispensable; so I figured that this book, too, would be of considerable value in the migration from AS2 to AS3. I was disappointed by the examples, which were often fragmented or incomplete, and by the general organization of each chapter. Rarely were methods and properties for featured classes listed entirely in one location; this made quick reference difficult. Because there are many significant differences between AS2 and AS3, this book would benefit from more explicit and practical, as opposed to hypothetical and conceptual, examples (especially in the Class chapters). That said, I am now up and running in 3.0; but I often found myself working through the help files in the CS3 software to try to figure out how to implement the instructions in the book. As a teacher, and presently student, of technology, I would suggest comparing a few texts before buying this one. It's definitely not a waste of money if you have prior AS experience, but you may find a better value elsewhere.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extensive, must have., November 17, 2007

By	B. Tague "Book-a-holic" (Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a fantastic book on AS3. If you are doing any type of major AS3 development then this books is a gem. It goes through the basics of variable declaration to classes and how the AS3 Environment uses them build RIA and flash content.
I also bought Essential ActionScript 3.0 (Essential) with this one to make sure that I get two explanations on each element of the language. When comparing both of them, The bible is good in some areas of explanation and the Essentials is vice versa.
Overall if you are going to be working with the AS3 language this is a impressive book to have in your arsenal for understanding and implementation of the language.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Hilariously Unusable, January 8, 2008

By	Barry D. Welch (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I rarely write a review but feel compelled to warn others to steer clear of this book.

Although a good, "hypothetical", big-picture overview; most of the book's examples have been edited to save space; thus rendering most of the examples found within the book incomplete and totally unworkable. What's still, is the downloaded example files are full of misspellings (extremely important in such a specific language as AS3) and stray characters (most notably, the letter "i" which was the word-wrap arrow when translated from the book) that broke the code completely.

If you're looking for a practical overview filled with useful examples that illuminate instead of frustrate, look elsewhere. I know I am.