Creating Visual Experiences with Flex 3.0

7.1. Creating a Chat Dialog Window Using a List

A List component relies on data and displays it in a vertical orientation. Typically, a List component may look something like Figure 7.1-1, but using styling, skinning, and an item renderer, you can create a much richer visualization of the same data while adding functionality.

Figure 7.1-1. A typical list

Getting Started

In this walkthrough, you will use an item renderer with a list to create a simple mockup of a chat dialog window, as seen in Figure 7.1-2. This example will expose you to some of the possibilities of what can be achieved using an item renderer as well as techniques discussed ...