Foundation ActionScript 3.0 for Flash and Flex (Foundations) [Paperback]

Darren Richardson (Author), Paul Milbourne (Author), Steve Webster (Author), Todd Yard (Author), Sean McSharry (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1430219181 | ISBN-13: 978-1430219187 | Publication Date: August 7, 2009 | Edition: 1

This is an update of Foundation ActionScript 3.0 for the new editions of Flash and Flex. Along with updating the book, we are also making it version neutral to extend the shelf-life now that we know that Adobe have no plans at the moment for ActionScript 4.0. By separating the ActionScript language from the Flash and Flex version, we will increase the sales potential of the title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Paul Milbourne is an Adobe Certified Expert and instructor for Flash. He has been a Flash platform consultant in the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area for the better part of a decade. His journey has allowed him to work with such clients as the Washington Redskins, Baltimore Ravens, Democratic National Committee, and many others. For the most part, Paul has made a handsome career cleaning up after other developers. This experience has exposed him to most aspects of Flash development through a multitude of industries. His true passion is the advancement of the Flash community in that area. Paul is the principal and founding member of the Baltimore-Washington Adobe Flash User Group, which boasts more than 300 members. His vision is to unite that community in a collaborative effort, both informationally and vocationally. Paul studies computer science and art at the University of Maryland. And, though he was a professional chef in a former life, he is not responsible for any of the food references in this book!

Product Details

• Paperback: 588 pages
• Publisher: Apress; 1 edition (August 7, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1430219181
• ISBN-13: 978-1430219187
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #260,267 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #60 in Books > Computers & Technology > Graphic Design > Web Design > Flash

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Good Introductory Overview Of Action Script 3, October 5, 2009

By 

Chuck Brooks "President, FutureWare SCG" (Fullerton, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Foundation ActionScript 3.0 for Flash and Flex (Foundations) (Paperback)

Anyone who wants to do anything really interesting with Adobe Flash or Flex will, sooner or later, have to do some coding. This is particularly true with 3D presentations, either natively within Flash, or with any of the 3D libraries such as Papervision3D. For maximum effect, not to mention ease of development, that coding will have to be done with Action Script 3 (or AS3 for short). This 566 page book is a good introduction to AS3, with a focus on the language's basics, and how it is used within Adobe's CS3/4 development and Flex Builder tool environments. To get the most from this book, readers should have reasonable proficiency with a compiled programming language, and an understanding of Object Oriented Programming design and implementation techniques.

An open standard programming language originally developed by Adobe for its Flash platform, AS3 is C-like and built from the ground up on a solid object model. While having basic functionality like more general purpose and object based programming languages, such as C#, Delphi and Java, AS3 has many specialized functions that are specific to the Flash platform that make programming easier and development faster.

Accordingly, the book's Chapters 2 through 6 introduce and cover the basic language constructs and syntax. Those proficient with other compiled programming languages should review these as some commands are specific to the Flash environment.

Chapters 7 through 12 detail by example how the basic elements are fashioned into more complex and useful components and applications.

Finally, chapters 13 and 14 show how ActionScript projects are managed using Adobe's Flex Builder.

Each chapter concludes with a summary of the material covered, and has working example code, in both Flash and Flex project formats, that can be downloaded from the publisher's web site. The introductory chapters, one (for CS3/4) and 12 (for Flex Builder), have step by step instructions on how the respective development tool is configured, including screen shots.

Perhaps the most important chapter is four, which describes the Display List, the root container for all objects displayed on and managed within the Stage. Understanding the display list is crucial to developing effective presentations for rich internet applications, regardless of whether they are browser based on running locally on a desktop or laptop.

Perhaps the weakest chapter is eleven, on XML processing. This is particularly important as more and more information is being exchanged in this format and knowing how to extract and process it has become nothing less than a necessity in today's information structures and services. Another weakness is not covering how AS3 programs can be tested and debugged in more detail beyond trace() statements.

An excellent book for those with novice to intermediate skill levels, as well as a light reference book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Book for Learn ActionScript 3, February 24, 2010

By 

Marlon Ceballos "Adobe Community Professional" (Bogotá, Colombia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Foundation ActionScript 3.0 for Flash and Flex (Foundations) (Paperback)

This book is suitable for those who want to learn to program with ActionScript 3 to create interactive elements of medium complexity as almost all his examples are made with external code files (.as files) which accustom the reader to work in a more orderly way and eventually allow you will take the step towards in the direction of the development with Flex. I personally expected more examples in Flex but this topic has devoted only two captitulos which however will serve as an introduction.

As expected, the first chapters begins with an introduction to programming language and a clear explanation of the Objects and Classes concepts. Later addressing topics as Display List, the APIs for drawing, Event Handling, working with video, sound and Components. On this last topic there are an example that shows the process to create a component.

Exist a chapter wich caught my attention because I had not seen in other books and is the intended for Regular Expressions. Users of medium and high level of ActionScript will see much use to the 23 pages devoted to this topic.

In addressing the topic of XML has been intended a chapter to set an example of creating an image viewer. This is a simple example but is clearly explained which will make it very easy to repeat the exercise and understand it.

The last two chapters are designed for Flex and begins with an introduction to the Framework and Flex Builder and finishing with an example where you create a basic interface.

In general terms I like about this book:
- The explanation of all concepts are clear enough
- The examples were made with external code (.as files)
- Use charts to graphically explain some concepts that are often difficult to understand

I don't like to find so few pages devoted to Flex.

Marlon Ceballos
Adobe Community Professional
Colombia Adobe User Group Manager

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great intro to AS3.0, October 8, 2009

By 

Uncle Mertz "developer" (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Foundation ActionScript 3.0 for Flash and Flex (Foundations) (Paperback)

After spending time with other books and videos to break into the world of AS3.0, I will say that this book is a must have for anyone looking to build the skills required to start programming AS3.0 with Flash or Flex.

The chapters are organized with attention to progressing through and building on previous knowledge. In addition, the authors provide "big picture" insights supporting many of the smaller assignments that you will be achieving throughout the book. This "big picture" approach integrating the smaller assignments along the way was something I had been looking for in a book. This book offers that and more in it's approach to skill building.

Chapters 2, 3, 4, 6 were the best read and offered key assignments for me. These chapters focus on Fundamentals, Objects and Classes, The Display, User Interaction respectively. I found these chapters to be the key to building real world Flash / ActionScript 3.0 skills and the book offers outstanding instrucion in these areas.

I believe this book to be a great resource to anyone looking to break into ActionScript 3.0 development. If you have no background or if you have some light exposure to programming, this book will quickly offer you a path to professional level techniques that will allow you to build a portfolio of work.