ActionScripting in Flash [Paperback]

Phillip Kerman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 9, 2001

Building a linear animation or moderately interactive Flash movie is relatively simple. With the upgrade from Flash 4 to Flash 5, ActionScripting has become an even more crucial and powerful part of the product. Tapping the vast programming capabilities of Flash, however, requires more than brute programming skill--it requires a keen understanding of how to apply scripting to specific tasks. This book concentrates on practical applications for Flash programming. The book is structured into three parts: Foundation knowledge (general programming theory applied to Flash with short tasks to demonstrate specific concepts); Applied workshop (more involved tasks broken into three parts each--design discussion, the building steps, and analysis with suggestions of variation); and, Reference (which provides a concise listing of some of the more useful elements in ActionScript).

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Most instructional books try to appeal to too large an audience, but ActionScripting in Flash clearly defines who it is written for and then actually delivers the goods. Author Kerman singles out two specific groups: Flash 5 users who have gotten their feet wet with animations but want to branch out with scripting, and programmers who want to apply their skills to Flash. He has devised a unique structure for this book. The first section, which can be read without running Flash, covers the basics of programming (scripting) in Flash (and, to some degree, programming in general). The second includes tutorials built around many commonly needed tasks (e.g., creating a horizontal slider and creating JavaScript cookies). Kerman stresses that his code doesn't represent the only solution, and isn't necessarily even the "prettiest" code--it's the code that makes the most sense in explaining how to work out the problem.

There's even deliberately bad code here. In a very novel chapter, the book challenges readers to fix 10 faulty Flash files, offering first a clue and then the solution. Since so much of real-life work, particularly in animation applications like Flash, is spent debugging and finding one's way out of a seemingly dead end, this chapter is really valuable. (By going to phillipkerman.com, you can view a detailed description of all chapters, download selected ones in .pdf format, view all completed Flash animations, and download all the .fla files to work alongside the text.)

Another advantage is Kerman's own teaching style. Using many metaphors, he describes how the pieces of script work in a way that is often clearer than mere definition of function, and definitely easier to remember. For example, "If you think of most variables as an empty whiteboard onto which you can write a value, an array is like a whiteboard with permanent horizontal lines separating many pieces of information." It's true that one can copy code and instantly get results, but to devise and debug your own requires the kind of internalized understanding one can get from working through this book. --Angelynn Grant

From the Author

Flash 5's new ActionScript language makes practically anything possible. Once you define your goals, you need only translate them to programming language. But not everyone speaks this language; and even if you have programming skills, you'll need to know how to apply them to Flash. My book addresses this dilemma by helping intermediate Flash users become programmers and showing programmers how to make Flash perform.

The first half of the book will give you a solid foundation so you understand how to program in Flash. Many examples are interspersed, but you won't need to follow along with Flash running (though you may often feel like going off to try things when inspired). The second half is broken into 21 practical workshops where you can apply what you learned in the first half. These tutorials are designed not so much as examples of "perfect code"--rather, solutions are worked out through a true-to-life process. For example, sometimes I purposely guide readers down the wrong path so that we can work out the solutions. That way, you will be able identify problems and work out solutions for real projects you encounter on your own.

This book definitely does not shy away from advanced topics, but it isn’t an exhaustive reference to every detail in the ActionScript language either. That’s not what this book is about. It’s about giving you the skills so that you can apply any idea you have to Flash. When you’re equipped with the knowledge I cover, you’ll be able to meet any challenge. It might involve researching an esoteric formula for physics or applying a unique math calculation. If that means you have to research a specific topic, this book will give you the skills to figure out how to apply it to Flash. Think of this book as a bridge that will take you from "Flash user" to "ActionScript programmer".

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 648 pages
• Publisher: Sams; 1st edition (April 9, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0672320789
• ISBN-13: 978-0672320781
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,101,728 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I've been teaching Flash since version 3 and writing books since version 5. I also do contract development (programming).

My early experiences in photography have a direct correlation to my job today. The feeling I get when I see a project that I assemble come to life is the same I'd get watching a photograph develop in the darkroom.

While I understand that great projects involve the work of many dedicated
people, I'm not shy to point out that I was the primary programmer for the following projects:
. the original Millennium Three site (archived at
http://www.deepplay.com/sites/m399/),
. a real-time Flash auction that consistently sells over $5
million in cattle during a typical 90-minute sale (http://www.stampedecattle.com),
. the site for the "other" cool office chair (http://www.allsteeloffice.com/number19/movie.asp),
. the Witness to History kiosk featured in the Communication Arts 11th Annual Interactive Exhibition (http://www.commarts.com/ca/interactive/cai05/36_ia05.html).

The short story of my rise from mere mortal to being in charge of everything at
phillipkerman.com LLC goes like this:
. I was a student photographer for Sunset High School's newspaper and yearbook
. I rode my bicycle from Portland, Oregon, to go to college in Rochester, New York
(and got all 2 years' worth of physical education credits waived in the process)
. I graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a bachelor of science in imaging and photographic technology
. I worked for Sinar Bron, Inc., selling premier professional photographic equipment
. I worked for The Human Element, Inc., doing Authorware (version 1) development
. Finally, I drove back to Portland, Oregon, where I've been doing contract work and teaching for more than 10 years.

For details about all the projects I've worked on, see archives of my newsletter at www.phillipkerman.com/newsletter

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Actionscript in plain English, finally., April 17, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: ActionScripting in Flash (Paperback)

Right off the bat, I think this is one of the best, if not the best book on Actionscripting I've seen. Phillip Kermer has a true gift for teaching. Although he obviously has expertise and mastery of the subject matter, he doesn't forget the overall purpose of his book, which is to educate in a clear and easy to grasp manner.

This book serves not only as a "good read", but as a reference book. It's one you can go back to again and again. Though the book states that it is not intended for the pure "newbie", I feel that it's written in such a user-friendly way as to be appreciated by all levels of Flash development.

Starting with a review of the basics, he quickly gets you right into programming with practical applications suited to the real world. There is a definite emphasis on grasping concepts and "getting it". The sections on creating homemade functions is going to cut your workload by replacing redundant code and streamlining your projects. He'll have you thinking like a programmer in no time, and for all the right reasons.

There are countless tips along the way which include optimizing file size,using good style and including comments to cover your back, integrating Flash with external applications and much more.

His use of anology to explain complex subjects makes sense to those like me with limited experience in programming. The workshop sections give you enough to get you started without getting lost in the details. Finally an in-depth book on Actionscripting in plain English. I highly recommend this book.

I own about 20 books on Flash or Actionscripting and this one is at the top of the list. It's the most useful and clearly written book on the subject that I've found.

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a hidden treasure, August 30, 2001

By 

Samuel Wan (Seattle, WA, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: ActionScripting in Flash (Paperback)

Just so review readers know where I'm coming from, I'm one of those "Actionscript gurus" who speaks, teaches, researches, freelances, and writes about very advanced Actionscript topics. I usually don't even look at beginner-level books even though they send me copies, but I received a recommendation to read through "Actionscripting in Flash". For two years, I've heard the same question on newsgroups, forums, websites, email, etc.: "I don't know any programming, but I want to get into Actionscript. Can you show me how to use Flash and Actionscript?"
Usually, I have to point newbies to my list of favorite tutorials scattered throughout the web, and write them a list of concepts to learn in the proper order. The most difficult concept to relate is that Flash programming is more than traditional programming, and requires a somewhat different perspective on the significance of scripting languages in a vector-based animation environment. There's a lot of essential knowledge scattered among various sites and books.
If anyone asks me again (and they will), now I've got a simple answer... get Kerman's book and call me a few weeks later :-) I've never posted any reviews on Amazon before, but I wanted to post a professional's review to reaffirm that this is a very thoughtfully prepared text that you will appreciate within the first two chapters and on through the last page. Kerman's hard work definitely pays off in the overall quality of his explanations.

The first half of the book teaches all the important subjects in Actionscript, while the second half makes you apply what you learned in real-world projects. Either half would be worth the price of this book, IMHO, and the progression of difficulty smooths out the erratic learning curve faced by Actionscript newcomers.
Show me an author who devotes a whole chapter to DEBUGGING (not always easy in Flash) and I'll show you someone who really cares about quality. This book is a breath of fresh air to the introductory levels of Flash. -S

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book has done the IMPOSSIBLE!, July 3, 2001

By 

E. B. Johnson "ebj3k" (Ukiah, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: ActionScripting in Flash (Paperback)

It has taught me Actionscript.

I finished Phillip Kerman's "Learn Flash 5 in 24 Hours" a few weeks ago, gave it raving reviews, and then started this one. At first, I didn't know it was the same author, but the foreward gave me a nice surprise.

This guy is a great teacher. Don't underestimate this review. I hold him in the same regard as Danny Goodman and his remarkable books on JavaScript. Kerman is a natural.

I have about 20 Flash 5 books, and the best ActionScript books are "ActionScripting in Flash" and the Oreilly "Definitive Guide". Get the rest of the info and tutorials on the Web. Once you've read these books, and practice every day, you'll be making great interactive Flash projects in no time. I promise.