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Essential ActionScript 2.0 (Paperback)

by Colin Moock (Author)
Key Phrases: currency converter, constructor functions, compatible types, Flash Player, Image Viewer, Using Components (more...)

4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (43 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description
In September 2003, Macromedia released Flash MX 2004, and with it, ActionScript 2.0, a dramatically improved version of Flash's programming language. ActionScript 2.0 introduces a formal object-oriented programming syntax and methodology for creating Flash applications. From a developer's perspective, the new OOP-based techniques in ActionScript 2.0 make applications more natural to plan and conceptualize, more stable, more reusable across projects, easier to maintain, change, and expand upon, and much more. In short, they enhance the entire development process.

In Essential ActionScript 2.0, bestselling author Colin Moock--one of the most universally respected developers in the Flash community--covers everything you'll need to know about the new ActionScript language and its methodologies for producing movies, animation, and applications on the web. Moock guides readers through this important new territory with his trademark easy-to-understand style and expertise. Moock's goal throughout the book is not just to get you to use object-oriented programming in your daily Flash work: he wants you to reap the benefits of OOP; he wants you to understand ActionScript 2.0 completely. And without question, Moock is the author who can make this happen.

Essential ActionScript 2.0 begins with a tour of the language, including the fundamentals of object-oriented concepts, syntax, and usage. Those who are new to OOP will learn the basics and how to apply their understanding. Those who are familiar with OOP will leverage their prior experience to learn about Flash-based OOP. The next part of the book shows how to structure entire applications with ActionScript 2.0, teaching you best practices and techniques to build scalable, extensible, stable apps. Next, you'll explore a variety of approaches to various programming situations by applying object-oriented programming strategies, known as design patterns, to Flash.

Experienced Flash developers and programmers coming from other languages will enjoy the sheer depth of Moocks's coverage and expertise in Essential ActionScript 2.0. Novice programmers will appreciate the frequent, low-jargon explanations that are often glossed over by advanced programming books. As usual, Moock guarantees quality and accuracy by working closely with Macromedia Flash engineers, including Rebecca Sun, lead developer of ActionScript 2.0. Whether you're ready to make the move to ActionScript 2.0 now or simply assessing it for the future, you'll find everything you need to know within this book. Essential ActionScript 2.0 is the one book every ActionScript coder must own.

About the Author
Colin Moock is an independent web guru with a passion for networked creativity and expression. He has been researching, designing, and developing for the Web since 1995. Colin served as webmaster for SoftQuad, Inc. (makers of HoTMetaL PRO) until 1997, and then as web evangelist for ICE (one of Canada's leading interactive agencies) until 2001. He has created interactive content for Sony, Levi's, Nortel, Air Canada, Procter & Gamble, and Hewlett-Packard. Colin now divides his time between writing, speaking at conferences, and researching emerging web technology. His award-winning Flash work and his renowned support site for Flash developers (http://www.moock.org) have made him a well-known personality in the Flash developer community. He is a contributor to macromedia.com's Flash developer center, a tutorialist in the Flash MX Bible (2002, Wiley Publishing Inc.), and regularly appears in industry magazines such as cre@te! online. Colin's latest personal undertaking is Unity (http://www.moock.org/unity/), a Flash socket server for multi-user content.

Product Details

Paperback: 528 pages
Publisher: O'Reilly Media, Inc. (June 16, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0596006527
ISBN-13: 978-0596006525
Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7 x 1 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds

Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (43 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #170,800 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Popular in this category: (What's this?)
#83 in Books > Computers & Internet > Graphic Design > Web Design > Flash

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Inside This Book (learn more)

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
currency converter, constructor functions, compatible types, frame label, loading classes, first frame, clock controller, nesting functions, core implementation, overriding instance method, ewer class, image load progress, library swf file, ewer instance, public function destroy, inherited instance method, autosize feature, nested assets, pattern using composition, event source class, function loadlmage, public function draw, global classpath, delegation event model, invalid width

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Flash Player, Image Viewer, Using Components, Test Movie, The Definitive Guide, Publish Settings, Complete Observer Example, The Model-View-Controller Design Pattern Example, Choose File, Class Example, Spider Services, Application Data, Illegal Box, The Theory of Inheritance, Local Settings, The Delegation Event Model Example, Distributing Class Libraries, Choose Insert, Handling Multiple Types of Exceptions, Select Insert, Implementing Observer, Select File, Defining Classes, Multiple Type Inheritance, Inheritance Table

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Customer Reviews

43 Reviews

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.5 out of 5 stars (43 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You know ActionScript has come of age when..., July 3, 2004

By	Raymond Brigleb (Portland, OR, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

You know ActionScript has come of age when a book like this comes out. Colin Moock had already written arguably the bible on ActionScript 1.0, and though I was worried at the decision that this book was to be a supplement to ActionScript for Flash MX, rather than a sequel, I now couldn't agree more with the logic. The resultant book would have been too big for its binding!!!

Technically perfect, this book reminds me of why I fell in love with O'Reilly books in the first place. It reminds me of my first read of Larry Wall's Programming Perl book: concise, authoritative, and not without a bit of humor! And let me tell you, nowhere is humor more difficult than in a computer book, am I right?

Mr. Moock leads us down a path that teaches how to actually write an application in Flash. And you didn't think it was possible! Believe me, I had my doubts too, but the fact that the book applies several design patterns to Flash programming by the end speaks for itself. When you're ready to write mature, object-oriented applications in ActionScript 2.0, you're ready to pick this one up.

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34 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tight language overview at the right depth, July 28, 2004

By	Jack D. Herrington "engineer and author" (Silicon Valley, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

At right around five hundred pages this book is just about the right length to cover the core of the Actionscript 2.0 language. It's split into three parts with the vast majority in the first part which covers the language fundamentals; the new typing structure, the new class structures, exceptions, interfaces and the rest of the language enhancements.

Part two, which is only about sixty pages, is where the book touches metal on the Flash player. So be warned, this book does not cover both the language and the Flash player context. It covers the language in depth.

Part three covers design patterns, which personally I think is optional in this context. Though the coverage is restricted to the most commonly used design patterns; observer, singleton, model-view-controller, and delegation. And these all have their uses in the Flash client coding context.

The majority of the book is solid, tight introduction to the entire language of Actionscript 2.0, not just the new features. I gave the book four stars instead of five because of the limited emphasis on reference materials, and the minor diversions into the Flash Player environment, which wasn't too bad, and the patterns stuff, which while it was well done, was strictly optional.

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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Theoretically intense, December 27, 2005

By	H. Fas "compusexual" (NJ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Ok, you've read a beginner to intermediate book such as flash bible, unleashed etc. you've read one or more dedicated books on actionscript such as actionscript bible, cook book or flash hacks. You also practiced and built some projects using the knowledge acquainted from previous books. You can cope with the mentality of books on languages such as C++ or Java. You are ready and in need to get into the core of the theory of object oriented programming with actionscript. Only then this book is for you. Do not make a mistake by jumping into this book right away. This book is dry, theory intensive and not to the liking of the most graphically based mentality.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Wasn't bad...
This one felt more like work >.> And halfway through the book my copy had an extra duplicate chapter and that confused me for a little bit. Read more

Published 15 months ago by lyssa

5.0 out of 5 stars Top-Tier Computer Science Course in a Book
I took a Java course at the University of Texas @ Austin, which has a well regarded CS program, and I walked out of it knowing what classes, subclasses, and instances were, but no... Read more

Published on May 13, 2007 by D. Davidson

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for in-depth actionscript 2.0 and OOP programming alike
As an occasional actionscript programmer, I try to stay to keep myself updated with the language as it evolves, as it has become the standard tools for my digital/artistic works... Read more

Published on May 2, 2007 by Davy Braun

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Action Script Book
My purchase of this book really helps mne a lot. It added up more knowledge and technique on my present expertise with Flash. Highly recommended for all Flash Action Scripters.

Published on March 13, 2007 by Romeo G. Savellana

2.0 out of 5 stars hard to understand for beginners
I am a beginner, I should understand that. But i wanted to buy it still thinking it would have been good. Read more

Published on March 8, 2007 by Tazzi Giacomo

5.0 out of 5 stars Great tutorial on ActionScript and object orientation
ActionScript 3.0 is now released, but the author is yet to update his classic book on the subject of ActionScript for this new version. Read more

Published on October 29, 2006 by calvinnme

5.0 out of 5 stars Use Flash? Get this book!
I surprised how much information was packed into this book. Colin really holds nothing back, but doesn't forget about the beginners in the start of the book where he explains the... Read more

Published on September 26, 2006 by Matthew Keefe

2.0 out of 5 stars Just another book......
This book is targeted to users that are not new to programming. So, that's why I got the book since I know C++ and Java pretty well. Read more

Published on September 26, 2006 by Mr Cool

5.0 out of 5 stars it's essential if you want to program flash
since actionscript 3.0 has hit the scene in flex 2.0 and flash 9 is right around the corner, i'm slightly hesitant to recommend this book today (september 2006). Read more

Published on September 8, 2006 by E. Hansen

5.0 out of 5 stars You Can't Go Wrong
You can't go wrong buying this book or its predecessors by Colin Moock. I have done reviewing work of computer books for different publishers, and, wanting to learn ActionScript,... Read more

Published on August 28, 2006 by Dave Slayton

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Essential ActionScript 2.0

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