Flash 8: The Missing Manual

The Missing Credits

About the Author

E. A. Vander Veer started out in the software trenches, lexing and yaccing and writing shell scripts with the best of them. She remained busy and happy for years writing C++ programs and wresting data from recalcitrant databases until reaching the proverbial fork in the road, when she chose the dark path—marketing. After a stint as an Object Technology Evangelist (yes, that’s an actual job title), she found a way to unite all of her passions: writing about cool computer stuff in prose any human being can understand. Books followed—over a dozen so far—including JavaScript For Dummies, XML Blueprints, and the fine tome you’re holding right now. Her articles appear in online and print publications including Byte, CNET, Salon.com, WEBTechniques, CNN.com (and a bunch you’ve never heard of). She lives in Minnesota with her husband and daughter. Email: [e-mail].

About the Creative Team

Nan Barber (editor) has worked with the Missing Manual series since its inception—long enough to remember booting up her computer from a floppy disk. Email: [e-mail].

Michele Filshie (editor) is assistant editor for the Missing Manual series and editor of four of O’Reilly’s Personal Trainer books. Email: [e-mail].

Sohaila Abdulali (copy editor) is a freelance writer and editor. She has published a novel, several children’s books, and numerous short stories and articles. She’s currently finishing an ethnography of an aboriginal Indian woman. Sohaila lives in New York City with her husband Tom and their small but larger-than-life daughter, Samara. Web: www.sohailaink.com.

Greg Dickerson (tech reviewer) is a systems administrator at O’Reilly. During his time at O’Reilly, he has helped tech review several titles and was the QA lead for O’Reilly’s Deluxe CD Bookshelf’s product line.

Michael Hurwicz (technical reviewer) is a writer, animator, musician, and trainer who has written two books and a number of articles on Macromedia Flash and Studio. Web: http://www.hurwicz.com.

Michael D. Murie (technical reviewer) is a multimedia consultant and developer based in Boston.

Rose Cassano (cover illustration) has worked as an independent designer and illustrator for over 20 years, working for both corporate and nonprofit clientele. She lives in southern Oregon, grateful for the technology that makes working there a reality. Email: [e-mail]. Web: www.rosecassano.com.

Acknowledgements

My name may be on the cover, but the fact is, this book wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the tireless army of editors, technical editors, copy editors, production folks, and other O’Reilly professionals who shepherded it from manuscript to finished product. An especially heartfelt shout out to Sarah Milstein, who took a chance; Nan Barber, who made my life easier (while making this book ever so much better); and Michaels Hurwicz and Murie, whose eagle eyes straightened the bent, buffed the cloudy, and trimmed the fat. Quality is second nature to this team—and in this day and age, that’s saying something.

—E. A. Vander Veer

The Missing Manual Series

Missing Manuals are witty, superbly written guides to computer products that don’t come with printed manuals (which is just about all of them these days). Each book features a handcrafted index; cross-references to specific page numbers (not just “see Chapter 14“); and RepKover, a detached-spine binding that lets the book lie perfectly flat without the assistance of weights (or cinder blocks).

Access for Starters: The Missing Manual by Kate Chase and Scott Palmer

AppleScript: The Missing Manual by Adam Goldstein

AppleWorks 6: The Missing Manual by Jim Elferdink and David Reynolds

CSS: The Missing Manual by David Sawyer McFarland

Creating Web Sites: The Missing Manual by Matthew MacDonald

Dreamweaver 8: The Missing Manual by David Sawyer McFarland

eBay: The Missing Manual by Nancy Conner

eBay Business: The Missing Manual by Nancy Conner

Excel: The Missing Manual by Matthew MacDonald

Excel for Starters: The Missing Manual by Matthew MacDonald

FileMaker Pro 8: The Missing Manual by Geoff Coffey and Susan Prosser

FrontSection 6.2.13: The Missing Manual by Jessica Mantaro

GarageBand 2: The Missing Manual by David Pogue

Google: The Missing Manual, Second Edition by Sarah Milstein, Matthew Mac-Donald, and J. D. Biersdorfer

Home Networking: The Missing Manual by Scott Lowe

iLife ’05: The Missing Manual by David Pogue

iMovie HD 6 & iDVD 6: The Missing Manual by David Pogue

iPhoto 6: The Missing Manual by David Pogue

iPod & iTunes: The Missing Manual, Third Edition by Jude Biersdorfer

iWork ’05: The Missing Manual by Jim Elferdink

Mac OS X Power Hound, Panther Edition by Rob Griffiths

Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Tiger Edition by David Pogue

Office 2004 for Macintosh: The Missing Manual by Mark H. Walker and Franklin Tessler

PCs: The Missing Manual by Andy Rathbone

Photoshop Elements 4: The Missing Manual by Barbara Brundage

QuickBooks 2006: The Missing Manual by Bonnie Biafore

Quicken for Starters: The Missing Manual by Bonnie Biafore

Switching to the Mac: The Missing Manual, Tiger Edition by David Pogue and Adam Goldstein

Windows 2000 Pro: The Missing Manual by Sharon Crawford

Windows XP Power Hound by Preston Gralla

Windows XP for Starters: The Missing Manual by David Pogue

Windows XP Home Edition: The Missing Manual, Second Edition by David Pogue

Windows XP Pro: The Missing Manual, Second Edition by David Pogue, Craig Zacker, and Linda Zacker