book

Adobe AIR 1.5 Cookbook

by Rich Tretola, David Tucker, Marco Casario, Koen DeWeggheleire, Koen De Weggheleire

November 2008

Beginner to intermediate

446 pages

10h 38m

English

O'Reilly Media, Inc.

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A Note Regarding Supplemental Files
Foreword
Credits
Author BiosTechnical Editor BiosCommunity Contributor Bios
Preface
AIR 1.5Bonus Chapter Online: Developing Mashup AIR ApplicationsWho This Book Is ForWho This Book Is Not ForHow This Book Is OrganizedConventions Used in This BookThis Book’s Example FilesUsing the Code ExamplesHow to Use This BookThe Adobe AIR Cookbook Cook-OffO’Reilly CookbooksSafari® Books OnlineHow to Contact UsAcknowledgments
1. AIR Basics
Creating and Running an AIR Application with Flex Builder 3Creating and Running an AIR Application with FlashCreating and Running an AIR Application with HTML and JavaScriptDebugging an AIR Application with JavaScriptSigning and Exporting an AIR ApplicationSigning an AIR File with a Trusted CertificateUnderstanding Synchronous and Asynchronous Programming in AIR
2. Application Settings
Targeting a Specific Version of AIRSetting the Application IDSetting the Application Name and FilenameSetting the Application VersionEditing the Application Description and Copyright InformationEditing the Initial Window SettingsSetting the Installation Folder for an ApplicationSetting the Default Program Menu FolderSetting a Custom Application IconAllowing an AIR Application to Interact with the BrowserSetting the Application to Handle All UpdatesDetermining the Application Version at RuntimeCreating Multilingual AIR Installations
3. Application Windows
Changing the Main Application WindowLaunching a New Window in ActionScriptLaunching a New Window (Flex)Launching a New Window (JavaScript)Creating Utility WindowsCreating Lightweight WindowsCreating a Full-Screen WindowManaging Multiple WindowsCreating Windows with Custom ChromeMinimizing and Maximizing a WindowResizing a WindowClosing a WindowDisplaying a Prompt Before Closing a WindowClosing All Open Windows at OnceAdding a Drop Shadow to a Custom Chrome Window in ActionScriptApplying a Pixel Bender Filter to a Custom Chrome Window in ActionScript
4. Screens
Positioning Windows on the DesktopPositioning Windows Across Multiple MonitorsDetermining the Monitors on Which an Application Is Currently Displayed
5. HTML Content
Displaying HTML ContentAccessing JavaScript from ActionScript in an HTML ContainerAccessing ActionScript from JavaScript in an HTML ContainerScripting the DOM from ActionScriptAccessing and Editing an HTML Style Sheet from ActionScriptAccessing the HTML Container History ListBridging Content from Different Security SandboxesCreating JavaScript Functions from ActionScriptScrolling HTML Content in ActionScriptUsing ActionScript Libraries Within an HTML Page
6. PDF Support
Detecting Whether PDF Support Is AvailableLoading a PDF DocumentCommunicating from AIR to PDFCommunicating from PDF to AIR

7. Clipboard Support
Working with the Clipboard Data TypesAdding Data to the Operating System ClipboardRetrieving Data from the Operating System ClipboardClearing Data from a ClipboardUsing Deferred Rendering with Clipboard DataCreating Custom Clipboard Data Formats
8. Drag and Drop Support
Dragging Data Out of an Application in ActionScriptDragging Data Out of an Application in JavaScriptDragging Data Into an Application in ActionScriptDragging Data Into an Application in JavaScriptDragging and Dropping Within an Application in ActionScriptDragging and Dropping Within an Application in JavaScript
9. File System Integration
Accessing Directory Aliases in the File ClassCreating a New File or DirectoryDeleting a File or DirectoryCopying a File or DirectoryMoving a File or DirectoryMoving a File or Directory to the TrashPrompting the User to Select a File or DirectoryReading Data from a FileWriting Data to a FileCreating a Temporary File or DirectoryCaching Images to Disk in ActionScriptSearching for Files of a Given Extension in a Directory in ActionScript9.1. Migrating Serialization Changes in ActionScript
10. Embedded SQL Database Programming
Creating a DatabaseConnecting to a Database in Synchronous ModeConnecting to a Database in Asynchronous ModeCreating an In-Memory DatabaseCreating an Encrypted DatabaseEncrypting a Database with a PasswordCreating Tables in a DatabaseQuerying a Database SynchronouslyQuerying a Database AsynchronouslyRetrieving Results from a QueryUsing Parameters in QueriesIncluding a Database in an ApplicationPersisting Application Settings
11. Encrypted Local Store
Storing Data in the Encrypted Local StoreRetrieving Data from the Encrypted Local StoreRemoving and Resetting Data in the Encrypted Local StoreStoring Application-Specific Data in the Encrypted Local StoreSafeguarding Files with Encrypted Local Store
12. Application and Window Native Menus
Creating a Native MenuResponding to Menu EventsAdding a Menu SeparatorCreating Nested MenusCreating a Native Window Menu (Windows)Creating a Native Window Menu (Mac)Creating a Context Menu (ActionScript)Creating a Context Menu (JavaScript)Assigning Keyboard Shortcuts to Menu ItemsEnabling and Disabling Menu ItemsToggling Menu Items
13. Taskbar and Dock Integration
Adding an Icon to the System Tray (Windows)Adding a Custom Menu to the System Tray Icon (Windows)Adding a Custom Menu to the Dock Icon (Mac)Changing the System Tray or Dock IconNotifying the User Through the Dock (Mac)Notifying the User Through the Taskbar (Windows)
14. File Types
Registering Custom File TypesDetermining Whether an Application Is the Default Application for a File TypeSetting and Removing an Application as the Default Application for a File TypeGetting the Path of the Default Application for a File Type
15. Service Monitor Framework
Including the Service Monitor Framework in an Application (JavaScript)Including the Service Monitor Framework in an Application (Flash)Monitoring the Connection to a URLReading Only the Head of a URLMonitoring the Connection to a Specific Port on a Server
16. Application Updates
Creating Applications with Update CapabilitiesCreating Custom Update Interfaces for Applications with Update Capabilities
17. AIR Application Distribution with the Browser API
Including the Browser APIDetecting the Installed Version of AIRLaunching an AIR Application from the BrowserInstalling an AIR Application from the BrowserUsing the Included Seamless Install Badge
Index
About the Authors
Colophon
Copyright

Overview

Thoroughly vetted by Adobe's AIR development team, Adobe AIR 1.5 Cookbook addresses fundamentals, best practices, and topics that web developers and application designers inquire about most. The hands-on recipes in this cookbook help you solve a variety of tasks and scenarios you may encounter using Adobe AIR to build Rich Internet Applications for the desktop. It's an ideal way to learn the nuances of Adobe AIR, with practical solutions you can use right away, and detailed explanations of why and how they work. These recipes will help you:

Build an AIR application with Flex, Flash, or HTML and Ajax
Create a database and connect it to your application
Put together native menus for PCs and Macs
Work with the Service Monitor Framework
Utilize the Adobe AIR Update Framework
Create branded desktop experiences with custom chrome and custom application icons
Distribute your AIR application with the Seamless Install Badge

And more. Adobe AIR 1.5 Cookbook includes dozens of recipes from rising stars in the AIR development community-David Tucker, Rich Tretola, Marco Casario, and Koen De Weggheleire-along with the best solutions posted by visitors to the Adobe AIR Cookbook community website hosted by Adobe and O'Reilly (www.adobe.com/go/air_cookbook). If you're ready to expand your skill set with Adobe AIR, this is the book you've been waiting for.

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,
and much more.

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