Special Edition Using Macromedia Director 8.5 [Paperback]

Gary Rosenzweig (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 23, 2001

Special Edition Using Director 8.5 is a comprehensive guide to creating and publishing Director movies. In this book you'll find complete coverage of Director 8.5, from advanced issues such as Lingo scripting and multi-user applications to how to employ the hot new feature of the 3D API. This edition includes more coverage of multi-user applications, using 3D media, efficient sprite editing with the context-sensitive Property Inspector, increased control of cast members (sorting by name, date, type, size) through the Cast Manager, vector drawing tools that add illustration capability, and special imaging effects and Transition Behaviors to add pizzazz and drama to applications. As an added bonus, Special Edition Using Director 8.5 has nine appendixes that include keyboard shortcuts, a Lingo reference, and a behavior library quick reference.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Special Edition Using Macromedia Director 8.5 is a timely update to one of the most highly respected Director titles. This is a comprehensive guide to creating and publishing Director movies. In this book the reader will find complete coverage of Director 8.5, from advanced issues such as Lingo scripting and multi-user applications to how to employ the hot new feature of the 3D API.

This edition includes more coverage of multi-user applications, using 3D media, efficient sprite editing with the context-sensitive Property Inspector, increased control of cast members (sorting by name, date, type, size) through the Cast Manager, vector drawing tools that add illustration capability, and special imaging effects and Transition Behaviors to add pizzazz and drama to applications. As an added bonus, the book has nine appendixes that include keyboard shortcuts, a Lingo reference, and a behavior library quick reference.

From the Back Cover

Special Edition Using Director 8.5 is a comprehensive guide to creating and publishing Director movies. In this book you'll find complete coverage of Director 8.5, from advanced issues such as Lingo scripting and multi-user applications to how to employ the hot new feature of the 3D API. This edition includes more coverage of multi-user applications, using 3D media, efficient sprite editing with the context-sensitive Property Inspector, increased control of cast members (sorting by name, date, type, size) through the Cast Manager, vector drawing tools that add illustration capability, and special imaging effects and Transition Behaviors to add pizzazz and drama to applications. As an added bonus, Special Edition Using Director 8.5 has nine appendixes that include keyboard shortcuts, a Lingo reference, and a behavior library quick reference.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 1080 pages
• Publisher: Que (November 23, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078972667X
• ISBN-13: 978-0789726674
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,310,249 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gary Rosenzweig is a programmer, Web site developer, Internet entrepreneur, podcaster and computer book writer. He is the host and publisher of the MacMost video podcast and Web site. He has also programmed more than 200 Web-based and iPhone games. He has written many books on Flash and Shockwave game development.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What? Only five stars available?, May 13, 2002

By 

"the_crimson" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Special Edition Using Macromedia Director 8.5 (Paperback)

This is a fantastic book for people that want to learn Director from scratch. It assumes you know nothing of the program to begin with, and it guides you to mastery, one step at a time.

I would heartily recommend this book to programmers that have never worked with Lingo before, but look for a book that covers more or less everything. The book presents numerous examples of applications, that will little more effort can look very professional. Six chapters offer complete applications (games, educational apps, business, grafx and sound apps) that can really help you start rapidly. Excellent appendices complete this already full book.

Of all the programming books I have bought, this one has won its place just by the monitor - a rare honour. Whenever I am programming Director, this is a reference I must have handy.

I have recommended this book to all my students, as I recommend it to you! Congratulations Mr. Rosenberg!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SE Using Macromedia Director is an awesome book!!!, June 20, 2002

By 

Samuel Schachter (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Special Edition Using Macromedia Director 8.5 (Paperback)

This book is probably the best book you will ever find on how to use Director. I read it without knowing anything about programming and i am pretty advanced now. If you feel that you are a really slow learner and/or you have no experience using a computer, don't try to learn anything about director. If, however, you are a motivated student, Gary Rozensweig will teach you from the ground up about this ultra-powerful program. For 36 dollars, it's almost a must. This book will also be great for advanced director users as a reference. get it quickly. The only drawback of this book is the fact that one of the most important appendices is almost totally missing(publishing error). There is a downloadable version of the appendix on QUE's site (HTML & PDF). Don't let this tiny glitch stop you from owning the best book on director out there!!!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Outpouring of Information, February 28, 2003

By 

L. Seplow "Video Junkie" (New York City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Special Edition Using Macromedia Director 8.5 (Paperback)

Weighing in at about one-thousands pages, this book has some of the best information for practical production techniques and getting things done in Director. Having compared it to a half dozen or so other books before purchasing, it was the only one to truly address Lingo in a serious way. There seems to be a hole in the market since a few Lingo specific books that had been available at one time (from O'Reilly and another from the defunct Hayden Press) are either out of date or out of print.

Though its a heavy application, most of director is not that hard to learn (being proficient and artistic is another matter). But taking it to the next level requires an understanding of Lingo and integrating it into the rest of the programs features for practical use. Mr. Rosenzweig has done this, and with great enthusiasm and love of subject. It is an excellent book and the most advanced one that I could find on the shelves last year.

The beginner should take heed that this may be overwhelming, for all others I highly recommend it.