Generator and Flash Demystified [Paperback]

Phillip Torrone (Author), Chris Wiggins (Author), Mike Chambers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 23, 2001

Macromedia Generator 2 is the next step for the Web, providing automatically updated, graphically dynamic content. Generator is an ideal solution for companies who need to deliver dynamic, graphical content to customers who require fast downloads and personalized content. Free authoring templates in the development environment allow Flash designers to work with Generator, the dynamic graphics server, to access content from any database and display information graphically. Companies such as Ford, iCast, CBS, and FitforAll.com have used Generator and Flash to create constantly updated and personalized charts, maps, banners, and headlines.Flash and Generator Demystified is the complete resource for mastering the intricacies of Flash and Generator. Users will learn how to create designs in Flash, create authoring templates, and how to serve them up with Generator. The companion CD contains demo versions of both Generator and Flash, along with sample tutorials, templates, and images.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

If you’re a professional who uses Macromedia Flash to design or develop Web content, chances are Macromedia Generator should be part of your tool kit, if it isn’t already. Generator and Flash Demystified is a must-have reference that gives designers and developers alike everything they need to produce and deliver dynamically generated Flash movies using Generator. Whether you need to automate daily news updates for a large Flash site, deliver secure, personalized bank account information within a dynamic Flash interface, or send real-time content to Palm devices or Web-based phones, Generator and Flash Demystified takes you on a hands-on tour of the hottest data-driven solution for Flash content. This official guide to Generator shows you how to integrate content using languages such as ASP, Cold Fusion, PHP, JSP, and Java and gives you all the information you’ll need on the latest maintenance release of Generator. The accompanying CD contains demos, tutorials, and sample templates you can use to produce your own work.

About the Author

Phillip Torrone is director of New Media for Braincraft, an award winning Web media and design firm in New York City, whose clients include AT&T, Compaq, UPS, and Lucent Technologies. From creating the first 100% flash-based online bank to creating Flash-enabled cell phones, devices, and automobiles, Phillip is considered an industry leader for Macromedia's Flash product. Chris Wiggins, Creative Director at Braincraft, has been designing in Flash since Flash 2, and has been designing in multimedia for 6 years. Mike Chambers in an expert in creating Web applications using Flash and Generator. He has recently been working on expanding Generator's functionality through the Generator SDK, creating and releasing more than ten new objects. He also has extensive experience programming with Java, JSP, ASP, PHP, and Cold Fusion. He created and maintains a Generator resource site at www.markme.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Macromedia Press (May 23, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201725843
• ISBN-13: 978-0201725841
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,207,296 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource, June 25, 2001

By 

Chrissy Rey (College Park, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Generator and Flash Demystified (Paperback)

This book is a must-have resource for anyone interested in working with Generator. Mike, Phillip, and Chris not only know their stuff, but they did a great job at sharing their knowledge in a way that even a novice can understand. They are able to share their real-world experience, and make using Generator just a little (maybe even a lot?) more palatable for the average Flash user.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Resource!, June 10, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Generator and Flash Demystified (Paperback)

Want to learn Generator? This is it, bar none!
As a Generator and Flash trainer I always look for good material to add to class for future reading, this book will not only top the list but will be integrated into all future classes. Having used Generator since 1.0 I thought I knew many of the tricks but this book showed me a few that I have never seen before and will use immediately.
If nothing else know that the authors are top of their game and that the material for this book matches their excellence.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to follow explanations from the horse's mouth, June 17, 2001

By 

mr. leo (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Generator and Flash Demystified (Paperback)

I was going to avoid reviewing this book because I'm too close to the authors and my copy was free so I thought I would be too biased, but the book merits a stellar review...bias aside.

Generator concepts are in bite size chunks and easy to follow, yet not so easy that they bore the reader. The book follows a natural progression in complexity and will be usefull to developers of all experience levels stepping up to the Generator plate.

The level at which the author's stand in the developer community gives them the opportunity to bestow their knowledge in "we know it all" manner, but instead they maintain a humbleness that says "hey, we're just developers like you who've had a lot more time on our hands."

Chock full of all the essentials, and the non-essentials, this book is a must have for the Generator developer (or the developer wanna-be) and looks to have a long shelf life.

Chris, Phil, Mike-nice work!