Advanced Flash 5, ActionScript in Action [Paperback]

Dan Livingston (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 2001 | Series: Advanced Topics for Web Professionals

Thousands of Web designers and developers already know the basics of working with Flash. They're ready for the next step: using ActionScript to build Flash movies and sites with unprecedented interactivity and power. In this concise, hands-on tutorial, Dan Livingston teaches ActionScript through dozens of step-by-step, professional-quality examples, all available on the book's CD-ROM and on the book's companion Web site. Livingston covers everything from scripting fundamentals to debugging, controlling the Flash Player to using XML -- making ActionScript easier than it's ever been before. Learn techniques for building Smart Clips that can take action on their own; creating elasticity, inertia, and other amazing effects; maximizing the usability of your Flash movies; and linking your movies to the outside world. Livingston walks you through constructing key elements of today's Flash-based Web and e-commerce applications, as well as a complete Flash game -- start to finish.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

• Master Flash interactivity using ActionScript!
• Build complete Web apps, e-commerce front-ends, and games
• Use XML structured data in your Flash-based Web applications
• Learn hands-on, through expert examples
• CD-ROM: Includes all Flash movies from the book

Discover just how spectacular your Flash movies can be! In this hands-on tutorial, Dan Livingston shows how to make the most of Flash interactivity using ActionScript, Flash's powerhouse scripting language. Master ActionScript through dozens of professional-quality examples—all available on the CD-ROM and on the book's companion Web site. From scripting fundamentals to debugging, controlling the Flash Player to using XML, ActionScript is easier than you think—and more powerful than you ever imagined!

Take Flash to the limit—and beyond!

• Create Smart Clips that can take action on their own
• Build XML objects, authors, and characters
• Create elasticity, inertia, and other amazing effects
• Build complete Web and e-commerce applications
• Construct a Flash game, start to finish
• Maximize the usability of your Flash movies and more

Take the Next Step—Now!

The New Advanced Series for Experienced Web Professionals

Ready to make the most of your tools—and your time? We've got the books for you! Written by top Web pros, these hands-on, example-driven guides help you master only the most powerful, most important techniques—fast!

About the CD-ROM

The accompanying CD-ROM contains every Flash movie constructed in the book—all Mac- and Windows-compatible, and editable on any computer running Flash 5.

About the Author

DAN LIVINGSTON, founder of Wire Man Productions, has over five years experience as a leading-edge Web designer, serving leading clients such as Apple, Novell, Pacific Bell, and Landor. Dan's sites have garnered awards from Yahoo! and USA Today, been featured on CNN, and earned kudos from the Los Angeles Times and human interface guru Donald Norman. Dan is the co-author of Essential CSS and DHTML for Web Programmers, Essential Photoshop for Web Designers, and Essential JavaScript for Web Programmers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall PTR (May 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130931276
• ISBN-13: 978-0130931276
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,173,036 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book on Flash Action Scripting out there, August 5, 2001

By 

Jana Rade (Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Advanced Flash 5, ActionScript in Action (Paperback)

Actually the title says it already. This is by far the best book on Flash Action Scripting I have read. In fact, it is the best computer related book I have read. Detailed and advanced, yet comprehensive. Though the author obviously knows Flash Scripting inside out, he's able to look at things from the student's point of view, to anticipate questions and to offer answers and explanations immediately. I am really happy I bought this book and you will be too.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for this designer, June 10, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Advanced Flash 5, ActionScript in Action (Paperback)

I'll be honest - I bought this book because I flipped through it in the bookstore and it had the best illustrations. However, I've been totally impressed with the author's explanations of ActionScript - it's so well-written that I felt like the author was in the room with me, just chatting. I'm new to programming, but it was so easy to learn that within a few days I was combining Flash and XML without any problems! Incredible. I even emailed the author with a question and he emailed me back within a day! Damn, I hope this Livingston guy writes more.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't spend your money on anything else, September 6, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Advanced Flash 5, ActionScript in Action (Paperback)

This book cannot be compared with any other actionscript book simply because it is written by a writer who has an understanding of instructional design.
Amazing, isn't it?
I came to actionscript via basic javascript and this is the only book - of three I have bought - that is able to provide a clear link between javascript and actionscript.
While other books will have you copying slabs of code (only for you to test movie and find nothing happens)this has you build blocks of code bit by bit and observe the results as they are coded so you can be shown exactly what the effect is of a coded statement.
This book is actually a lot cheaper than books that offer more 'flashier' examples. Those books seek to impress. Dan's book impresses supremely because it seeks only to teach.
What an admirable objective that is.