book

Programming Flex 2

by Chafic Kazoun, Joey Lott

April 2007

Intermediate to advanced

502 pages

13h 31m

English

O'Reilly Media, Inc.

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A Note Regarding Supplemental Files
Foreword
This Shouldn’t Be Too HardMaybe We Need a Different ApproachMy First Meeting with FlexFlex, Take 2The Flex 2 FrameworkFlex Builder 2ActionScript 3Flex Data ServicesTaking Another Look at FlashProgramming Flex 2Looking Ahead
Preface
Who This Book Is ForHow This Book Is OrganizedWhat You Need to Use This BookConventions Used in This BookUsing Code ExamplesComments and QuestionsAcknowledgmentsFrom ChaficFrom Joey
1. Introducing Flex
1.1. Understanding Flex Application Technologies1.1.1. Flash Player1.1.2. The Flex Framework1.1.3. Flex Builder 21.1.4. Integrating with Data Services1.1.5. Integrating with Media Servers1.1.6. Additional Flex Libraries and Components1.2. Using Flex Elements1.2.1. MXML1.2.2. ActionScript1.3. Working with Data Services (Loading Data at Runtime)1.4. Understanding the Differences Between Traditional (HTML) and Flex Web Applications1.5. Understanding How Flex Applications Work1.6. Understanding Flex and Flash Authoring1.7. Understanding Flex 1.5 and Flex 21.8. Summary
2. Building Applications with the Flex Framework
2.1. Using Flex Tool Sets2.2. Creating Projects2.2.1. Setting Up a New Project2.2.1.1. Creating an SDK project2.2.1.2. Creating a Flex Builder 2 project2.3. Building Applications2.3.1. Compiling Using mxmlc2.3.1.1. Specifying an output location2.3.1.2. Specifying source paths2.3.1.3. Customizing application background color2.3.1.4. Changing script execution settings2.3.1.5. Setting metadata2.3.1.6. Using incremental builds2.3.1.7. Storing compiler settings in configuration files2.3.2. Using Ant2.3.3. Compiling Using Flex Builder2.3.4. Publishing Source Code2.4. Deploying Applications2.5. Flash Player Security2.6. Understanding HTML Wrappers2.7. Using SWFObject2.8. Using Runtime Shared Libraries2.8.1. Creating Runtime Shared Libraries with the Command-Line Compilers2.8.1.1. Using compc2.8.1.2. Compiling an application using a runtime shared library2.8.1.3. Using Ant to build runtime shared library applications2.8.2. Using Flex Builder to Build Runtime Shared Libraries2.8.2.1. Creating a Flex Library Project2.8.2.2. Linking an application to a library2.8.3. Adding Nonclass Assets to Runtime Shared Libraries2.9. Summary
3. MXML
3.1. Understanding MXML Syntax and Structure3.1.1. Creating MXML Documents3.1.1.1. XML encoding3.1.1.2. Applications and components3.1.1.3. Understanding namespaces3.1.2. Components3.1.2.1. Containers3.1.2.2. UI controls3.1.2.3. Setting component properties3.1.2.4. Nonvisual components3.2. Making MXML Interactive3.2.1. Handling Events3.2.2. Using Data Binding3.3. Summary
4. ActionScript
4.1. Using ActionScript4.1.1. Inline ActionScript4.1.2. Nested ActionScript4.1.3. MXML Scripts4.1.4. Classes4.2. MXML and ActionScript Correlations4.3. Understanding ActionScript Syntax4.3.1. Understanding Packages4.3.2. Declaring Classes4.3.2.1. Creating class files4.3.2.2. Package declarations4.3.2.3. Import statements4.3.2.4. Class declaration4.4. Variables and Properties4.4.1. Methods4.4.2. Expressions4.4.3. Statements4.4.4. Arrays4.4.5. Objects4.5. Inheritance4.6. Interfaces4.7. Handling Events4.8. Error Handling4.8.1. Handling Synchronous Errors4.8.2. Handling Asynchronous Errors4.9. Using XML4.9.1. Creating XML Objects4.9.2. Reading XML Data4.9.3. Writing to and Editing XML Objects4.10. Reflection4.10.1. Getting the Class Name4.10.2. Getting the Class by Name4.10.3. Class Introspection4.11. Summary
5. Framework Fundamentals
5.1. Understanding the Flex Application Life Cycle5.2. Differentiating Between Flash Player and Framework5.3. Bootstrapping Flex Applications5.3.1. Loading One Flex Application into Another Flex Application5.4. Understanding Application Domains5.5. Understanding the Preloader5.6. Summary
6. Managing Layout
6.1. Flex Layout Overview6.1.1. Working with Children6.1.2. Container Types6.1.3. Layout Rules6.1.3.1. Box-based layout6.1.3.2. Canvas-based layout6.1.3.2.1. Constraint-based layout6.1.3.3. Hybrid layout containers6.1.3.4. Additional layout rules6.1.3.4.1. Tile layout rule6.1.3.4.2. Grid layout rule6.1.3.4.3. Form layout rule6.1.4. Padding, Borders, and Gaps6.1.5. Nesting Containers6.1.6. Handling Scrolling and Clipping6.1.7. The Spacer Component6.2. Making Fluid Interfaces6.3. Putting It All Together6.4. Summary
7. Working with UI Components
7.1. Understanding UI Components7.1.1. Creating Component Instances7.1.2. Common UI Component Properties7.1.3. Handling Events7.1.3.1. Handling events with MXML7.1.3.2. Handling events with ActionScript7.1.3.3. Event objects7.1.3.4. Standard Flex component events7.2. Buttons7.3. Value Selectors7.4. Text Components7.5. List-Based Controls7.5.1. Data Models7.5.2. Creating a Collection Object7.5.3. Setting the Data Provider7.5.4. Using Data Grids7.5.4.1. Using data providers7.5.4.2. Working with data grid columns7.5.5. Using Tree Controls7.5.6. Working with Selected Values and Items7.6. Pop-Up Controls7.6.1. Understanding Menus7.6.2. Using PopUpButton7.6.3. Using PopUpMenuButton7.6.4. Listening to Menu Events7.7. Navigators7.7.1. Accordion Controls7.7.2. Option Bars7.7.3. View Stacks7.8. Control Bars7.9. Summary

8. Framework Utilities and Advanced Component Concepts
8.1. Tool Tips8.1.1. Adding Tool Tips8.1.2. Controlling Tool Tip Width and Line Formatting8.1.3. Applying Styles to Tool Tips8.1.4. Customizing Tool-Tip Settings8.1.5. Applying Effects8.2. Pop-Ups8.2.1. Using Alerts8.2.2. Creating a Pop-Up Window8.2.3. Removing a Pop-Up Window8.2.4. Custom Pop-Up Component Types8.2.5. Adding Modality8.3. Cursor Management8.4. Drag and Drop8.4.1. Using Built-In Drag and Drop Features8.4.2. Understanding Drag and Drop Events8.4.3. Custom Drag and Drop Operations8.5. Customizing List-Based Controls8.5.1. Drop-In Item Renderers8.5.2. Inline Item Renderers8.5.3. Custom Components as Item Renderers8.5.4. Creating Item Editors8.6. Focus Management and Keyboard Control8.6.1. Controlling Tab Order8.6.2. Programmatically Controlling Focus8.6.3. Responding to Keyboard Events8.7. Summary
9. Working with Media
9.1. Overview9.1.1. Supported Media Types in Flex9.2. Adding Media9.2.1. Loading Media9.2.2. Embedding Media9.2.2.1. Embedding media with MXML9.2.2.2. Embedding media with ActionScript9.2.2.3. Embedding media with CSS9.3. Working with the Different Media Types9.3.1. Working with Graphics9.3.1.1. Adding graphics9.3.1.2. Scaling graphics using a scaling grid (a.k.a. Scale-9)9.3.1.3. Working with SWF libraries9.3.1.4. Building an asset library using a static class in Flex9.3.1.5. Working with SWF animations9.3.2. Working with Audio and Video9.3.2.1. Adding a sound effect9.3.2.2. Advanced sound control9.3.2.3. Working with video9.3.2.4. Streaming media9.4. Summary
10. Managing State
10.1. Creating States10.2. Applying States10.3. Defining States Based on Existing States10.4. Adding and Removing Components10.5. Setting Properties10.6. Setting Styles10.7. Setting Event Handlers10.8. Using ActionScript to Define States10.8.1. Defining States10.8.2. Adding States10.8.3. Adding Overrides10.8.4. Adding and Removing Child Elements10.8.5. Setting Properties and Styles10.8.6. Setting Event Handlers10.8.7. Using Dynamic States10.9. Managing Object Creation Policies (Preloading Objects)10.10. Handling State Events10.11. When to Use States10.12. Summary
11. Using Effects and Transitions
11.1. Using Effects11.1.1. Working with Effects11.1.2. Playing Effects11.1.2.1. Manually playing effects11.1.2.2. Using triggers11.1.3. Effect Events11.1.4. Composite Effects11.1.5. Pausing, Resuming, and Reversing Effects11.1.6. Delaying and Repeating Effects11.1.7. Customizing Animation Easing11.1.8. Using Effects and Fonts11.2. Creating Custom Effects11.2.1. Defining an Effect Instance Class11.2.2. Defining an Effect Factory Class11.2.3. Using Custom Effects11.2.4. Creating Tween Effects11.3. Using Transitions11.3.1. Creating Transitions with MXML11.3.2. Creating Transitions with ActionScript11.3.3. Using Transition Filters11.4. Creating Custom Transitions11.5. Summary
12. Working with Data
12.1. Using Data Models12.1.1. Using the Model Tag12.1.1.1. Creating tag-based model structures12.1.1.2. Populating a model from a file12.1.1.3. Referencing model data12.1.2. Using XML12.1.2.1. Specifying XML structure with tags12.1.2.2. Loading XML from a file12.1.2.3. Referencing XML data12.1.3. Using ActionScript Classes12.2. Data Binding12.2.1. Understanding Data Binding Syntax12.2.1.1. Curly braces12.2.1.2. <mx:Binding>12.2.1.3. BindingUtils12.3. Enabling Data Binding for Custom Classes12.3.1. Customizing Data Binding12.4. Data Binding Examples12.4.1. Controlling Images12.4.2. Working with Web Services12.5. Building Data Binding Proxies12.5.1. Using Data Binding with a Shared Object12.6. Summary
13. Validating and Formatting Data
13.1. Validating User Input13.1.1. Using Validators13.1.1.1. Validator basics13.1.1.2. Customizing validator messages13.1.1.3. Handling validator events13.1.1.4. Triggering validators13.1.2. Using Standard Framework Validators13.1.2.1. StringValidator13.1.2.2. NumberValidator13.1.2.3. DateValidator13.1.2.4. EmailValidator13.1.2.5. PhoneNumberValidator13.1.2.6. ZipCodeValidator13.1.2.7. CreditCardValidator13.1.2.8. CurrencyValidator13.1.2.9. SocialSecurityValidator13.1.2.10. RegExpValidator13.1.3. Writing Custom Validators13.2. Formatting Data13.2.1. NumberFormatter13.2.2. DateFormatter13.2.3. CurrencyFormatter13.2.4. PhoneFormatter13.2.5. ZipCodeFormatter13.2.6. Writing Custom Formatters13.3. Summary
14. Customizing Application Appearance
14.1. Using Styles14.1.1. Style Value Formats14.1.2. Instance Styles14.1.3. Using CSS14.1.4. Style Properties14.1.5. Using StyleManager14.1.6. Global Styles14.1.7. Reviewing Style Precedence14.1.8. Working with Fonts14.1.8.1. System fonts14.1.8.2. Device fonts14.1.8.3. Embedded fonts14.1.8.4. Embedding font subsets14.1.8.5. Using FlashType14.2. Skinning Components14.2.1. Applying Skins14.2.2. Graphical Skinning14.2.2.1. Inline graphical skins14.2.2.2. Setting graphical skins with setStyle14.2.2.3. Using CSS to set graphical skins14.2.2.4. Using Scale-914.2.2.5. Using Flash Library symbols14.2.3. Programmatic Skinning14.2.4. Skinning Application Backgrounds14.2.5. Skinning Tool Tips14.3. Customizing the Preloader14.4. Themes14.4.1. Setting a Theme14.4.2. Creating a Theme14.5. Runtime CSS14.6. Summary
15. Client Data Communication
15.1. Local Connections15.1.1. Basic Local Connection Communication15.1.2. Legacy Communication15.1.3. Cross-Domain Communication15.2. Persistent Data15.2.1. Creating Shared Objects15.2.2. Reading and Writing to Shared Objects15.2.3. Controlling Scope15.2.4. Using Local Shared Objects15.2.5. Customizing Serialization15.3. Communicating with the Host Application15.3.1. Working with ExternalInterface15.3.2. Setting the Web Browser Status15.3.3. Integrating HTML and Flex Forms15.4. Summary
16. Remote Data Communication
16.1. Understanding Strategies for Data Communication16.2. Working with Request/Response Data Communication16.2.1. Simple HTTP Services16.2.2. HTTPService16.2.2.1. Sending requests16.2.2.2. Handling results16.2.2.3. Sending parameters16.2.2.4. Using HTTPService with ActionScript16.2.3. URLLoader16.2.3.1. Sending requests16.2.3.2. Handling responses16.2.3.3. Sending parameters16.2.3.4. Using URLLoader in a remote proxy16.3. Web Services16.3.1. Using WebService Components with MXML16.3.1.1. Calling web service methods16.3.1.2. Handling results16.3.1.3. Sending parameters16.3.2. Using WebService Components with ActionScript16.3.2.1. Sending requests16.3.2.2. Sending parameters16.3.2.3. Handling results16.3.2.4. Using WebService with a remote proxy16.3.3. Data Type Conversion16.3.4. Flash Remoting16.3.4.1. Creating Flash Remoting connections16.3.4.2. Calling Flash Remoting methods16.3.4.3. Passing parameters to Flash Remoting methods16.3.4.4. Using Flash Remoting remote proxies16.4. Real-Time/Socket Connection16.5. File Upload/Download16.5.1. Downloading Files16.5.2. Uploading Files16.6. Summary
17. Application Debugging
17.1. The Flash Debug Player17.1.1. Runtime Errors17.1.2. The Debugging API17.1.3. Using Show Redraw Regions17.2. Using FDB17.3. Debugging with Flex Builder 217.4. Remote Debugging17.4.1. Establishing a Remote Debugging Session with the Flex Builder Debugger17.5. Logging Using trace( ) Within an Application17.6. The Logging Framework17.6.1. Specifying the Logging Options17.6.2. Defining a Custom Target17.7. Debugging Remote Data17.7.1. Debugging with the Flex Logging Framework17.7.2. Debugging Using a Data Inspector17.8. Summary
18. Application Components
18.1. The Importance of Application Components18.2. MXML Component Basics18.2.1. Creating and Using a Component18.2.2. Adding and Laying Out Controls18.2.3. Understanding Interaction18.2.3.1. Defining component properties18.2.3.2. Defining component methods18.2.3.3. Defining component events18.3. Component Styles18.3.1. Internal States18.4. Summary
19. Building Custom Components
19.1. Component Framework Overview19.2. Component Life Cycle19.2.1. Construction19.2.2. Configuration19.2.3. Attachment19.2.4. Initialization19.2.5. Invalidation19.2.6. Validation19.2.7. Destruction19.3. Component Implementation19.3.1. Implementing the Constructor19.3.2. Implementing createChildren( )19.3.3. Understanding Invalidation19.3.4. Implementing commitProperties( )19.3.5. Implementing measure( )19.3.6. Implementing updateDisplayList( )19.4. Adding Custom Properties and Events19.5. Adding Styling Support19.6. Summary
Index
About the Authors
Colophon
Copyright

Overview

Is there an easier way to build and deliver rich internet applications (RIAs) other than the Flash IDE or Ajax? Absolutely. With Adobe Flex 2, the Flex 2 SDK, and this book, you have all you need to build RIAs. Programming Flex 2 offers you plenty of practical and useful examples that reveal how and why to use a particular feature of Flex 2, and when and when not to.

As part of the Adobe Developer Library, Programming Flex 2 is the authoritative guide to this new Adobe framework. You learn to use a markup language called MXML and a vast library of off-the-shelf and highly-configurable components to build Flash-based applications that combine the immediacy of the Web with the functionality and responsiveness of desktop applications. You also discover why -- with the Flash Player runtime environment and the powerful ActionScript 3.0 programming language -- the possibilities with Flex 2 are nearly limitless.

Topics include:

Managing Layout
Working with Components
Working with Media
Managing State
Using Transitions and Effects
Working with Data
Customizing Application Appearance
Client Data Communication and Remote Data Communication
Debugging Flex Framework Applications
Creating Custom Components

Flex may be easier to learn than the Flash IDE, but you still need a reliable guide to the framework. Programming Flex 2 not only serves as a reference, but provides valuable and practical insight into this new technology. As you learn how to build Flex applications, you'll also discover how Flex works. This book supplies all the information you need in one convenient place.

Adobe Developer Library is a co-publishing partnership between O'Reilly Media and Adobe Systems, Inc. and is designed to produce the number one information resources for developers who use Adobe technologies. Created in 2006, the Adobe Developer Library is the official source for comprehensive learning solutions to help developers create expressive and interactive web applications that can reach virtually anyone on any platform. With top-notch books and innovative online resources covering the latest in rich Internet application development, the Adobe Developer Library offers expert training and in-depth resources, straight from the source.

Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
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