Customer Reviews

Foundation ActionScript

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

There's a lot of great stuff here for the beginning programmer. If you are truly intimidated by programming ActionScript, this would be a great start. For an advanced programmer, or someone familiar with other programming languages, this book does lack a bit. The author, while he certainly does use Flash 5 syntax and examples, tends to program in the old-school Flash 4 way--using transparent buttons, etc. Flash 5 allows the programmer to do event-driven programming (like Java and Director do) which lends itself to learning (and doing) good object-oriented programming. The author of this book virtually ignores the new event handlers in Flash 5 (onClipEvent(load, enterframe, etc)), preferring to build confusing work-arounds like we had to do in Flash 4.

Although I'm not a huge fan of Flash 4-5 Magic books by David Emberton (they tend to walk you through examples without really explaining _why_ you're doing things), those do seem to make better use of the new Flash syntax. If you can afford it, get both this book and Flash Magic for a full lesson in ActionScripting.

I read the reviews and thought this was going to be the "magic bullet" for Flash 5.0 actionscripting. I was sorely disappointed, this book would be great for someone who has zero or very little knowledge of Actionscripting. If however you have a decent understanding of the way Actionscripting is utilized then this book is not for you. It barely brushes the surface of the vast complexities that Actionscripting has become in Flash 5.0. This a a good book for someone who has no knowledge of the subject, but if you are looking for that next step in expanding your Actionscripting talents don't waste your time or money with this one.

While this book doesn't quite dive into advanced topics such as creating 3d engines or complex math formulas in actionscript, it does a GREAT job of introducing actionscript to someone who is already competent in Flash.

I've had a good amount of Flash experience, designed a few sites in all-flash movies...but never did much with Actionscript. This book claimed to be a good startup...and it is!

If you know some Flash and have been just a bit confused about understanding levels, movie clip timelines, and complex actions and how you can make them all fit together, this is the book for you!

This book is excellent, as is the before it in the series "Foundation Flash 5".

The author, Sham Bhangal, takes his explanations of actionscripting a bit further than other authors I have read. Like other books, Foundation Actionscript has projects with examples of the scripting and explains what the script means, but this book also explains the thought processes and logic behind the writing of the code! The book does a good job of teaching the reader to take a problem and break it down into many smaller problems. In my opinion this makes Foundation Actionscripint superior to other books I have read on this subject.

I highly recommend this book especially if you are new to object oriented programming. If you are new to Flash you should read Foundation Flash 5 (or some other book on the basics) first.

I am a designer who has known a little flash for a long time; meaning i have done a lot of animation and understand the basics of flash, yet was in dire need of rolling my sleeves up and embarking on the path of actionscript guru-ship. I am the type of person who wants to know not only the HOW, but the why, where, when, and what... before i feel I completely understand something and can really get creative with it. On the flipside, I have no patience for books written for the totally ignorant user; I understand the basics and don't want to have to go through 5 chapters of "go to insert and click 'add key frame'"-type material. At no point in this book did i feel i was wasting my time in this way.

What I believe most valuable about this book in comparison to others i have read is that Sham creates a complete understanding for the not-yet-programmer of HOW TO THINK in code. This is to be distinguished from other books I have read which simply explain the components of actionscript and how they work. Each topic in "Foundation Actionscript" is preceded by analogic explanations which create and build a bird's eye understanding of how this funky language works. In the end, you are left with a solid foundation for the ability to use actionscript creatively and knowingly, having absorbed Sham's recommendations on coding best practices and professional application.

To boot, his writing style is casual, entertaining, and very clear... making the trudge through learning quite pleasurable. For someone with a short attention span, this too is invaluable: I completed the book in just a few days.

This text is an excellent resource for learning simple to rather advanced techniques using ActionScript. This book is definately not for someone just learning Flash (for that, I'd recommend Foundation Flash) but is great for anyone that understands the basics of Flash and wants to move on to create even more interactive and complex content through the use of ActionScript code.

Bhangal takes great care to show the tools available and the steps required to make a "good" Flash site using nothing but code, rather than the download hungry, gratuitous Flash sites found all over the web.

After working through the book, I find myself often quoting Bhangal and returning to the book as a refernce.

This book is fantastic...if you don't mind pretending that you are a complete moron for the first hundred and fifty pages. I would readily recommend this book to anyone who doesn't even know what the hell action script is, but for those of us out there that have a clear understanding of what flash 5 means and what it can do...please please please can you write a book that jumps straight into the amazing possibilities of actionscript! In fact, an O'Reily book on actionscript is what real flash programmers are screaming for!

This book is very well written, and the author has a beautifully clear and conversational writing style...but I would only suggest it if you don't know anything about flash except how use the drawing tools and export a movie, or if you don't mind paying thirty bucks for two-thirds of a book.

That two thirds you'll be paying for is very valuable...don't get me wrong. I found it extremely helpful to my flash creations. I'm sure you will too...but don't get mad about the beginning being dumbed down...'cause I warned you!

Flash books have always been short on ActionScripting, they all focus on how to use the program. For developers who know Flash but not ActionScript (The powerful scripting language for Flash) this book is their guide. Well written, and a great companion to Foundation Flash 5, this book will become an ActionScripters best friend. It is as good a learning tool as it is a reference manual. Bravo!

I have several books on ActionScript and have scimmed through many more, but this is by far the best book I have come across TEACHING actionscript. Granted, if someone is experienced in javascript or flash 4 actionscript this book probably seems like its geared for idiots. However, if you're like me and a graphic designer first and a programmer second, this is the book for you.

The author does an excellent job of taking you by the hand, giving tutorials, and explaining what does what every step of the way. By the end of each chapter you realize you just learned a few cool new tricks that will be very useful in web design.

This is not a referrence book, its more of a tutorial book. Which means if you're not very creative it probably won't do you any good. If you're an artist though you can take the fundamentals you've learned and then apply them in new and creative ways.

Bottom line: if you're a graphic designer who's intimidated by all that computer programming mumbo jumbo, but you still would like to learn how to extend your capabilities in Flash...buy this book. Plus, at $... you can't find a better bargain on a computer book with this much info.

As the title reads, Foundation Actionscript is the perfect solution to a head start in Action Scripting. Sham Bhangai creates very thorough exercises in flash techniques that you would actually use in a real life web site. There are no boring laborious exercises that don't really explain what you just did. No useless techniques, and there is no point in buying any other actionscripting book if you're new at programming! Trust me, because I bought the others and they work better as book ends compared to this Foundation Actionscript. Great buy!!