Macromedia MX: Building Rich Internet Applications [Paperback]

Robert Reinhardt (Author), Simon Allardice (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 20, 2003

Macromedia's new MX family of software products introduces a new tier of Web development and production to the existing skill sets of Web designers and developers. While most readers are familiar with individual tools such as Macromedia Dreamweaver and Flash, few understand the process of creating applications that work with Macromedia's server-side software. This book establishes a clear workflow and methodology for building applications that require dynamic media and data. With a focus on integration, this book will appeal to readers who want to learn how to develop Web applications without spending months of time reading several hundreds of pages of individual manuals that ship with Macromedia's MX products. Advanced users who are familiar with server-side scripting can skip to any section of the book and read the material as a quick reference.Readers will learn how to:

• Build collaborative systems with the Macromedia MX software.
• Create applications that allow instant video and audio communication between users.
• Manage connections to databases and content.
• Create applications that work on a variety of Web-enabled devices.
• Understand a methodology for the specification and design of integrated rich media applications.

The CD offers sample files (and supporting exercises) to build practical applications with the Macromedia MX suite of products. Readers will have the benefit of re-using the source code available in each sample file.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robert Reinhardt is co-principal of theMAKERS, a multimedia company based in Los Angeles. He has developed multimedia courses for educational facilities in Canada and the United States, was a speaker at the FlashForward2000 and 2001 conferences, and recently presented some of the exciting new features of Flash MX at the first-ever Canadian Flash festival, FlashintheCan 2002.

Simon Allardice has over fifteen years programming experience, and has taught advanced Flash and advanced Dreamweaver classes at Ojai Digital Arts Center and Stanford University's New Media Academy. He has spoken at Macromedia UCON, the FlashForward2001 conferences in New York and Amsterdam, and has been featured in Computer Graphics World and the Wall Street Journal Online.

Product Details

• Paperback: 672 pages
• Publisher: Macromedia Press (February 20, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321158814
• ISBN-13: 978-0321158819
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,392,094 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lead author, Flash Bible series @ FlashSupport.com
http://www.flashsupport.com

VP, Multimedia Platforms Group @ Schematic
http://www.schematic.com

Co-principal and instructor @ [theMAKERS]
http://www.theMAKERS.com

Instructor @ Portland State University
http://www.pdc.pdx.edu/mmedia

Writing partner @ Community MX
http://www.communitymx.com
http://www.flashsupport.com/cmx

Recent interviews
http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/dialogbox/flash_anniversary/index_08.html

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Leading Edge Solutions Linking Flash with Databases & More!, September 9, 2003

By 

Strat Monger "Strat Monger" (Dallas, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Macromedia MX: Building Rich Internet Applications (Paperback)

This is a really interesting book. I am a long time Flash developer (since Flash 4) looking to expand my knowledge into areas such as integrating databases with Flash front-ends, learning more about the new Flash Comm Server, and incorporating Cold Fusion into my designs (I am also an intermediate ActionScript programmer). Well, this is the book to do it. Flash Remoting, Flash Comm Server, Cold Fusion MX, and even a bit on Dreamweaver MX (exclusively on server-side applications) is covered in the book. There is also a chapter on Web Services, which is very enlightning. There is a lot of new information and technologies for Flash developers to absorb. The book has excellent examples and a companion web site with a forum. Overall, an excellent choice especially those wanting to learn the Flash Comm Server. This book should be flying off the shelves! Get it!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Honest Review, May 21, 2003

By 

JT "led nerd" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Macromedia MX: Building Rich Internet Applications (Paperback)

Have you ever looked at your parent's book collection? Notice how they tend to pick up books by the same author, time and time again. I can say that after reading the first 8 chapters of Building Rich Internet Applications that I will be looking for more titles from both of these authors.

First of all the title of this book is a little misleading,
because it delivers A LOT more than just information and hands on demonstrations for building RIA w/MX.

Other things you'll learn
- Object-oriented programming concepts and practice.
- Proper coding syntax for writing actionscript.
- How to use actionscript to create a user interface with flash.
- How to write ColdFusion components that allow Flash to access databases via Flash Remoting.

These are just a few things I have picked up on after reading about half of the book. You will also learn how to put together a nice workflow process for a dynamic site from the database to the UI. There is also a great website that goes with the book where you'll ACTUALLY get to communicate with the authors directly.

That's all for now... After I finish the book I'll have to come back and let you know how the rest of it went. I recommend this book for anyone at any skill level who has an interest in extending Flash to it's full capabilities.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Complex Topics, Easy to Follow, May 14, 2003

By 

christian m briggs (attleboro, ma United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Macromedia MX: Building Rich Internet Applications (Paperback)

In this their latest book, Reinhardt and Allardice have written a wonderfully comprehensive, easily understandable explanation of the numerous new technologies (Flash Communication Server, Flash Remoting) with which Macromedia is radically changing the Web. Their thorough explanations satisfy both the needs of the newbie, and the desires of the expert. I am highly recommending this book for consumption by all of my University students.