Customer Reviews

Foundation Macromedia Flash MX

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The reasons that the other reviewers found as cause for complaint about this book are the very qualities that I needed: Bite-sized lessons and lots of explanation. These are the things that were missing in my other Flash MX tutorial book (Flash MX Training from the source) that got me really stumped!

I don't mind this humble approach at all. I didn't expect Foundation Flash MX to take me to the details of Action Script or other technical stuff or turn me into a guru like some of your guys. (In my dreams!) That would be work enough for other books and very propitious events like the next ice Age. Just like in baseball, I just needed to swing my bat, hit the ball right, get on the first base and be ready for the next run. Exactly what Foundation Flash MX does for me.

I recommend this book to those who are learning on their own and can't seem to come to grips with the software.

The book is organized in a way that makes sense- from the basics to the more advanced aspects. The explanations of tools, etc. are straight forward. I am able to read this and follow the step-by-step procedures for the various examples without having to wonder what the authors are trying to convey(always a good sign). I have tried to use Flash for a few months, without much success beyond animation. The book helps me to more easily understand the basics of actionscript and to put scripting to use for the first time. The authors also leave out some of the handholding in some of the examples, letting me work it out on my own. Overall, an outstanding job by the authors.

I'm a CS major whose desire to learn new tools is waning, so understand that I had apprehensions about picking up another tech book to sit on my shelf. Needless to say, after going through the entire book, I have found Foundation Flash MX to be...

A great, easy-to-read book, with step-by-step examples providing solid foundation for real projects using tool, sans ActionScript.

When reading through the book, I recommend skipping the ActionScript write up, in favor of going straight to Foundation ActionScript MX, which, incidentally, makes no assumtion that you've read Foundation Flash MX.

My only minor gripe is the lack of integration between the two closely related books.

Enjoy!

I've started ordering Friends of Ed books right and left. They know what they're talking about and know how to teach it. Overall this is a great book if you are new to Flash. Each time I read a chapter, I went out and looked at other flash sites. Each time I said, "Oh THAT'S how they did it." Now on to the critique!

There are a few points to keep in mind. This book is full of wonderful, clear tutorials that take nothing for granted. Every time my project didn't work, I went back and sure enough, I had skipped a line!. Now when I say full of tutorials, I mean, FULL. If you like to sit and read a while, you're out of luck. You won't go more than 2 pages without typing or clicking along with the examples. This is actually a good thing. =P

By the end of this book you will be able to make stunning Flash movies. Be aware however, that it only has a baby guide to ActionScript. If you're interested in the coding side of Flash, you should get a book specificly for that. Also note, because there arn't a lot of people with Flash 6 Plugin(MX) installed on their browsers yet, the Flash 5 ActionScript guides are still applicable. Anything cutting edge probably wont play in 60% of browsers anyway (per usual).

Not knowing much about flash beyond making text fade in and out, I needed a book that would take me a long way as well as start off slowly. Sometimes tutorial books can make you do the same stuff over and over. This book assumed you paid attention, yet didn't over 'test' you. Quite possibly one of the best how-to books on anything that I have read. After finishing the book last week, I am already integrating what I learned into 3 sites that I am doing for clients and look forward to what Flash MX has to offer. I was impressed enough that I will buy the book on Action Scripting by the same publisher...

If you are looking for an easy to read, comprehensive, and practical book, and you've never used FLASH before, this is it! I've read through first 13 chapters in 1 week (including computer practice time). Great on-hands exercises with very practical assignments. Best of all, it's not an "OEM software manual" - hence it's written in layman's language, so you don't get bored as easily. I like the book so much I've ordered other "Foundation" books from these guys (Friends of ED) for the rest of my MACROMEDIA MX STUDIO software.

As the name implies, this book is for beginners, so if all you want to use FLASH for is to create "static" movies with limited user interaction, than what you'll learn in this book will be plenty enough. However, if you are planning on building complete websites entirely out of FLASH, you'll need to learn Action Script - this book only gives you the basics on that.

With Macromedia Flash MX installed on my computer I was ready to go...until I opened the user's manual that came with the software. UGH! But a trip to the bookstore and the purchase of Foundation Macromedia Flash MX got me rolling in the right direction.

This is not a book you sit down and read. This is a book you put on your lap and sit down with in front of the computer and practice and practice and practice. The authors assume you know nothing about Flash and take you through simple, yet concise explanations of all the screens and panels used in the creation of Flash movies. Each chapter deals with a different topic such as: Managing Content, Flash Symbols, Masking, and Tweening and has step-by-step examples to work through. As you progress through the book, your newly acquired skills are reinforced and expanded upon. There are screen shots on every page to show where you should be, and if you are doing it correctly. I found that my knowledge of JavaScript was particularly helpful for understanding the chapters on Flash's ActionScript component.

There are two things I would like to see added in the next edition. First, the index needs expanding - time and again, I found myself looking for words in the index that were not listed. Second, there are always two ways to do things in Flash - the long way and the short way. I would like to see a summary, inside the back cover, of the shortcut keys, i.e. F6 = insert Key Frame. All in all, this is an wonderful manual for learning the Flash animation software.

If you have not worked with a previous version of Flash, you will definitely need a beginners book. I recommend this book to help you build that "foundation." While it may explain procedures in an overly simple way at times, I can overlook this since a book can never be all things to all people.

It's a fact that in order to learn a procedure, a person must be told several times how to complete it, and the authors make sure to repeat steps throughout the book. Believe me, you don't want to go back in the book hunting for that simple step you've forgotten.

The book has many screen shots, which I appreciate, but the book didn't include a CD, thus the reader was directed to the publishers web site for optional support files. Was this a way to get the reader to visit their web site? Not a big deal, but I would like to have all the tools I need without seaching through a site to find them.

I was very satisfied with the book, and wouldn't hesitate to get other titles from the publisher.

This book is a VERY GOOD BOOK for those needing solid grounding in Macromedia Flash MX. It's so good that buying this one book replaces all the other books on the shelf to get solid grounding with how to use Flash. The language is easy to understand, without jargon that clogs your brain and tire you out before they get to the point.

If you're like me, you probably suffer from attention deficit disorder that is the trademark of the digital generation. Things come at you so fast, technologies popping up at you at speed of thought, and before you know it a new version of the software that promises miracles is out.

You will learn all you need to build a website in Flash MX and have a new career waiting for you, if you're any talented in aesthetic design, but there is a catch; If and only if you are patient enough to sit through the entire thing. It took me months to get to Chapter 11, and that's not even the end yet. The first 6 chapters went through easily, but then I always have stamina problems going through really thick, technical books. I probably have about 6 more chapters to go, and although it has taken me this long and will take a bit more of my time, I found some Flash MX books a waste of my money.

I have about 10 books on Flash MX in various forms, and this one is by far the best investment. Most books out there are robbing you in broad daylight, giving you a shaky foundation with so much jargon that it confuses you. Don't bother with the other beginner's books and buy this one instead. It will give you real skills, a real case study, and even some real-world Flash MX web development extras.

I used this book as a classroom manual and was exceptionally pleased with it. The pace was exactly right. The project approach helped the students master a bit at a time. The only complaint was that the Case Study could be confusing at times, but the book is basically error free. I would recommend this book to the person who needs a step-by-step, tutorial-oriented approach done right. Thanks to Friends of Ed for a job well done.