Customer Reviews

Flash 5 Bible (with CD-ROM)

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

Riding the crest of the growing wave of Flash books is this latest offering from Rob Reinhardt and Jon Lentz. This version is twice the size of their Flash 4 Bible and reflects lots of new and revised content. I like how the book is organized - aimed both at beginning users and at people who just want to dive into the action scripting that Macromedia exposed in Flash 5.

The authors strengthen their book by bringing in other authors to do various "Expert Tutorials" and major content for chapters such as the Generator chapter. Colin Moock in a tutorial on pages 1186-1189 answers a question I've had for some time, which is why many Flash sites use frames (hey, you'll have to read it to find out, just like I did!). There IS a reason.

ActionScript is the strength of Flash 5 and this sets the expectation for how Macromedia intends to expand the programming capabilities of Flash. Although this volume doesn't cover ActionScript with the depth of a book that only focuses on ActionScript, it provides a good start for those wanting to become conversant with this technology.

The best web books contain a CD (this one does) and have a corresponding supporting web site, for errata, additional materials etc. Aof this writing (2-18-01) www.flash5bible.com is still "under construction." Hey guys, let's get it completed and up so we can use it with your book!

Joe Meboe

This is a good and fairly comprehensive book for Flash 5.

However, most of the expert tutorials are carry overs from the previous book, Flash 4 Bible. It also looks like they were writing this book against a beta version of Flash 5, because many of the screenshots don't match up. So far there are 31 mistakes logged in the 'errata engine' at this books website, I expect more to come, maybe I'm just a cynic.

I may sound like I'm in a bad mood, that's because I just got done with chapter 13. I've probably spent a good hour here and there wondering where I messed up, only to figure out later its the book that is wrong.

If you're looking for a code repository that you can draw from quickly and easily, this sample code isn't as easily ported to your own sites as you might expect. There are more and better resources available free on the net. There are also newer and slicker books out there, dragslidefade is a good place to start when you are done with the standard fare. DSF has lots of code you can really drag and drop into your site, it's even free for download, the web address is in this review.

... the Flash 5 Bible will blow you away! Boasting 1300 pages (version 4 was in the 600 range) and 40 hands-on practical tutorials, a CD-ROM packed with examples, a supporting web site with an errata engine (www.theFlashBible.com) this book really has it all.

This is not one of those computer books that covers the same stuff that was in the manual or teaches you how to draw rectangles with the Rectangle Tool. This is for real. Want to send data from Flash through ASP to a database? Want to use the free Generator extensions to automate development? How about a Flash-based hockey game? The Javascript Integration Kit that allows users to control Flash movies from Dreamweaver? It's all there in hands-on tutorials.

If you are new to Flash, don't be alarmed. The Bible has the most comprehensive and accessible introduction you could want. From a 35-page hands-on quickstart tutorial that will have you making an interactive movie in no time, to 16 chapters on drawing, text, sound, animation, the Flash interface, and so on. And when you have graduated to intermediate Flash level, the book is waiting to take you higher.

Start with the literally hundreds of pages on ActionScript, beginner through advanced, loaded with tutorials and examples, and then learn how to integrate Flash with a variety of other programs, from FreeHand and Fireworks to Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Painter, and Expression.

This book is phenomenal. If you use Flash, whether you are just beginning or you are already a power user, the Bible has you covered.

Jon and Rob: Bravo!

I have recently entered the world of Flash 5 for building everything from banners, to animations to multimedia web pages. As a neophite to scripting languages and the immmense power of Flash, I was in need of a resource to help me to quickly get up to speed. I examined at least 10 different volumes from different authors devoted to learning Flash 5. Many of the other manuals had unique individual sections that had greater concentration in certain subject areas. The Flash 5 Bible was the only book available that seemed to combine all the information and elements into one central volume. It is easy to understand for the beginner but also progresses as you learn, taking you to intermediate and even advanced levels. It was the only resource I was able to find that answered the many questions I had regarding action scripting and communication techniques with other programs like Director. I am using Flash 5 in conjuction with Director 8.5 to build an interactive direct marketing cd rom. The Flash Bible was the only book I could find that clearly and concisely enabled me to understand the scripting required to to capitalize on the powerful combinations of Flash and Director in concert. In my humble opinion, it is the single best resource for anyone who wants to quickly learn Flash 5 and as you progress, still have the ability to contiually refer to the same resource for future questions and support. My hat is off to Robert Reinhardt for creating the Flash Bible and I look very much forward to picking up his next publication The ActionScript Bible which I understand is due out in the 1st qtr, 2002. You won't have to buy 5 different books to get your Flash questions answered, The Bible is the only one you'll need.

The Flash 5 Bible is a breakthrough in an informative tutorial - starting with the basics for a beginer and ending with complex scripting and advanced features of Flash 5. This book has helped me significantly from a point in time when I had no clue what frames were. The Flash 5 Bible would also be a great gift for someone who's learning Flash. The book also comes with a CD ROM jam packed with macromedia trials, templates and flash movies discused in the book and much more.

Usually, if I cannot say something nice, I will not say anything. However, this book calls for an exception.

I am a student looking for clear, concise reference backed by tutorials, even a little theory and history to round the educational value. Every dollar spent needs to return value for my money and my time invested in reading and learning. Simply put, any book must get me where I need to go quickly with very few sacrifices in learning depth of a program.

Having read many, many Amazon.com reviews of four and five stars of this book, having spoken to another supporter of this book, and going to the local bookstore to see it before buying it, I assumed that I had carefully shopped for and found a great book that would carry me through all stages of learning Flash 5, from beginner to expert. I mean, after all, this book weighs nearly ten pounds, right? How can you go wrong buying a book comparable in size to "War and Peace"?

The book has been disgustingly disappointing. The book contains tutorials, some theory and history, all of which visibly attracted me to purchase the book. Nearly 4 weeks were spent reading and learning with this book in front of the computer. During this time, I ended up drawing most of my own references to the interface right inside of the book covers as well as downloading and printing most of my important Flash reading from websites like "Flashkit.com". By the fourth week of self training, I totally abandoned the book due to it's lack of quick answers and author expertise. The authors seem to be somewhat familiar with the functions of this program, but spent most of their time dodging the very important (and broad) intermediate level learning.

So, looking for a reference that would introduce ActionScript and more advanced animation features in a comprehensible manner, I settled on "Macromedia Flash 5 - Creative Web Animation" by Derek Franklin and Brooks Patton. This book really delivered. In only one week I had been able to reference and comprehend everything the "Bible" book had attempted and more. My final project, finished a couple of weeks later, consisted in part of what both these books were including in their advanced ActionScripting and animation chapters. I had gone from bouncing ball tutorials to advanced looping interactivity.

Anyway, I hope the "Creative Web Animation" authors appreciate the shameless plug. They really deserve it. They kept ALL of it simple, which is really my biggest complaint about the "Bible" authors.

Check this book out at the library. It does make some good points about other programs that can be used with Flash. Sort of niche market stuff.

...But if you're going to buy, shop around.

I'm a college student studying web development and internet graphic design, and based on the quality of another "Bible" book I had recently purchased, the Photoshop 6 Bible - Gold Edition, I jumped at the Flash 5 Bible as soon as I saw it available. This book has turned out to be one of the worst instructional books I've ever read. The numerous grammar mistakes are bad enough, but the exercises themselves are full of mistakes, like this book was rushed straight past the editor and out the door. In one exercise, they refer to a movie clip, but fail to mention which movie clip in the library they're talking about! The Flash 5 Bible is a complete waste of time and money.

This book has everything you would possibly want know about Flash. It covers all aspects of the vast program in depth. Most other books vaguely describe merely one aspect of the program, leaving the reader pondering about Flash's true potential. Web intergration, animation, action scripting, and interactivity are just a few of the topics informatively covered by authors Reinhardt and Lentz.

I bought two Flash 5 books to get better acquainted with the Flash 5 software. I've owned the software for about 8 months now and really haven't touched really touched it. This is mainly due to my inability to follow tutorials that leave gaps, or are vague. With "Flash 5 Bible" I was able to not only follow the tutorials, but also understand and anticipate the design process better. While the book isn't revolutionary compared to others on the market, I found the author support, the text, and the usefulness of the book to be well above most books out there. So, if you are on the fence, so to speak, about getting this book. Get it; you won't be disappointed.

This book is more about the hardword or coding of Flash's action script. It gives a general idea of all the aspects of flash and explains how they work and interact. It covers implementation of other programs works into your flash movies and thigs like that...

If you want to learn Flash, really learn about it. This is the book you need. Go for any skill level. Better or faster to read if you have some skill already.