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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not THAT difficult, June 12, 2003
This review is from: Reality Macromedia Flash Communication Server MX: Strategic Solutions for Online Interaction (Paperback)
To steel myself to learn FlashComm, I went through the Macromedia Documentation for both client and server side communication ActionScript and I counted the objects. There's only about 9 client and server objects! Some, like LocalConnection are just for, well, local connections and really don't need FlashComm. On the server side there are only 5 objects; so there's not THAT much to it. The trick, it turns out is using the client side and the server side together. This is where this book is a gem. Every single application in the book shows how this is done, and some of the applications just use the client side--very effectively, too. In showing how to use the server and client side together, the authors place the two sides in juxtaposition and arrows show how the two sides connect. This is the first time I saw that connection. I had to use a lot of sticky labels to bookmark where key elements are. I have a decent ActionScript background, but not extensive, and while certainly not for beginners, you don't need to be a genius either. FlashComm is very doable, and this books makes it that way.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Third Ones a Charm, May 17, 2003
This review is from: Reality Macromedia Flash Communication Server MX: Strategic Solutions for Online Interaction (Paperback)
This is my 3rd FlashCom book, and it's the first one that isn't about FlashCom components. (In fact, if you want more information about FlashCom components, this isn't the book for you--try Reinhardt & Allardice if that's what you're looking for.) This book is about Server and Client side Communication ActionScript and the development process. It's not for beginners, and you need to be comfortable with Flash ActionScript MX before you even think about using this book. One of the most valuable parts of this book is the Introduction. It's only 11 pages, but if you downloaded the Dev version of FlashCom, it's the best explanation of how to set it up that I've seen. (It's also the only book that seems to cover FlashCom 1.5.) It's got 5 different apps to build using both CSCAS and SSCAS. Those are all fine, and you can download them from one of the author's site. However, in the development process, they authors throw away as many good tips and parts as they develop. In the development process of the "Visiting Professor," I finally learned how to use remote shared objects using buttons. However, they decided not to use the button in the final app but instead used a list box, but it was with the button call backs that I finally got how to use the SOs. Also, in the "vtMail" app, they showed how to use buffering with recorded a/v but decided not to use it in the final app. I'm not sure whether this series is for everyone, especially if you're used to reference-type books. Each application is broken up into 5 chapters that show a process of development and decision-making. That's fine, but it's a little difficult to find what you want. (I solved the look-up problem with the index.) However, each of the Parts shows how everything hangs together, and I liked that. My only complaint is that I wish the authors had had more apps. Also, while the applications look great on the screen, some are a little dark on the page, but that's minor. For those serious about learning how to use FlashCom ActionScript, this is the place to begin.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Intermediate for Advanced Level, May 13, 2003
This review is from: Reality Macromedia Flash Communication Server MX: Strategic Solutions for Online Interaction (Paperback)
By just about any measure FlashComm is advanced. The FlashComm components are the training wheels for this language, and this book has no FlashCom components (just UI components). I wanted to learn client-side and server-side ActionScript, and using this book I was able to get the start I needed. I wanted to learn how to: 1. Create shared objects
2. Make my own audio/video app
3. Control what was happening on remote pages The book showed how to do those things a lot more (my needs are specific but modest.) The programming, in my view, was more intermediate than advanced. This was good because I was able to see what was happening. Each of the five projects, a utility, a remote presentation, an audio/video recording app, a two-way a/v + text chat app, and an MP3 audio playing app, were revealed in a story about how the decisions were made based on client demands. The authors used some OOP techniques, but not others. They did not employ prototypes, for instance. However, they were able to make it very clear what was happening between the client-side and server-side in this manny. (In the introduction, they did recommend the Hall and Wan book on ActionScript OOP; so it was clear they were aware of the ActionScript OOP techniques, but chose not to employ them here.) In lots of ways, this book was just plain cool, and the artwork was fantastic. It's not for beginners, but if you know ActionScript MX, and you want to go beyond FlashComm components, this is the place to start. It's also a fun book.
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