Macromedia Flash MX 2004: Training from the Source [Paperback]

Jen deHaan (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0321213424 | ISBN-13: 978-0321213426 | Publication Date: November 21, 2003

If you¿re ready to begin integrating video, text, audio, and graphics into dynamic, interactive Web sites using Macromedia¿s Flash MX 2004, this is the place to start. As the official Macromedia guide to its motion-graphics and animation powerhouse, this volume uses a series of hands-on projects to provide a firm foundation in every aspect of Flash MX 2004 use: from graphics, animation, video, and text to ActionScript fundamentals and dynamic data integration. Simple step-by-step instructions peppered with plenty of visuals and a CD that includes lesson files and a trial version of Flash MX 2004 leave you with a solid understanding of basic Flash development and design. In the process you¿ll learn about all that¿s new in Flash MX 2004¿from its redesigned interface to its improved scripting language, better text tools, native support for PDF and EPS formats, first-ever third-party extensions, and more. You¿ll even learn how to build movies that integrate with dynamic data, stream video, and include forms that ask for user input.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jen deHaan is a freelance web designer/developer based in Calgary, Alberta. She has been involved in writing, contributing to or editing many computer books on Macromedia Flash, ActionScript, digital video, and ColdFusion. She has co-authored three books on ActionScript, is coauthor of the ColdFusion Developer's Handbook (Sybex), and the soon to be published Dreamweaver MX: ColdFusion Web Development.

Product Details

• Paperback: 472 pages
• Publisher: Macromedia Press (November 21, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321213424
• ISBN-13: 978-0321213426
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,479,801 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars My Flash Schtick, March 30, 2004

By 

K. Briggs "yeshe-lhamo" (Charlottesville, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Macromedia Flash MX 2004: Training from the Source (Paperback)

It is hard for me to criticize this book, because the example project is practical and interesting. The directions are pretty straightfoward, giving users a good command of working with 1. layers and 2. media assets like video clips and graphics.
However, this book is not the best for complete Flash beginners for several reasons. First, for complete beginners the Flash work environment is very complicated. My experience with Dreamweaver, Photoshop and HTML carried over only marginally to Flash. The book takes a very plodding approach to acquainting new users to how Flash "works." 120 pages into the book, I felt like I still had no clue WHY the directions were telling me to do certain things. For example, why do I have to put labels on the timeline? Why do I have to switch between different editing modes? etc.
The book is not very well edited, and the instructions themselves could be clearer. For example, the paraphrased step and the instructions that follow it often muddle the point of what you are doing.
For a better understanding of the "what's" and "why's" of Flash, I reccomend the Sam's Teach Yourself book on the subject. It is a better global view of the Flash authoring environment so that beginners can start projects with a better understanding of what you can accheive with Flash. Reviewers seem to enjoy it a lot. Following a better introduction to Flash, I will return to deHaan's book and will likely get more out of it.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive but confusing, June 1, 2004

By 

"ccenzon" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Macromedia Flash MX 2004: Training from the Source (Paperback)

As I expected from most "training from the source" books, it covers most of the basic ingredients in flash; hence, it is comprehensive for beginners and intermediate users. However, as mentioned in some other reviews, the instructions are not consistent. The numbered sentences in bold often give the reader an overview of what one is about to do, even if they sound like they are giving the reader the actual instructions (correcting this redundancy may shorten the book, and lower the price!). The succeeding sentences then give step-by-step instructions on what to actually do. In some instances, however, the sentences in bold were the instructions themselves. Consistency would have made everything clearer. Moreover, some explanations and instructions were a little vague--which file, layer, or frame was I supposed to be working on? At other times, library or stage items were missing after being asked to open a particular file. It was quite confusing. I honestly think the book needs a 2nd edition.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not for beginners - two / three stars maybe for experienced users, July 31, 2005

By 

Freshest1 (Detroit) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Macromedia Flash MX 2004: Training from the Source (Paperback)

I am now editing my earlier review (below). I have revisited this book after completing training in Dreamweaver, and am now therefore more familiar with the look and logic behind these Macromedia applications. Because of my previous training, I am now able to follow the lessons - and am finding the book useful. However - I still feel this book suffers from extremely poor editing. It often directs you to click on menus or select tools that it has not yet introduced. A beginner would have no idea what to do...

Previous review:

I have used the Adobe "Classroom in a Book" series to learn Photoshop, Illustrator, etc. and found the texts to be fairly interesting, useful, and easy to follow. I bought "Macromedia Flash MX 2004 : Training from the Source" expecting something similar, and could not have been more disappointed.

It's extremely dull, POORLY edited, and most importantly, nearly impossible to follow. I gave up in the second chapter.

According to the credits, this book did have an editor and a technical editor, but I find that difficult to believe.