book

Learning ActionScript 2.0 for Macromedia® Flash® 8

by Jen deHaan, Peter deHaan

October 2005

Beginner to intermediate

864 pages

19h 5m

English

Adobe Press

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Copyright
Dedication
Introduction
Intended audienceSystem requirementsUpdating Flash XML filesAbout the documentationLearning ActionScript 2.0 book overviewTypographical conventionsTerms used in this documentCopy and paste codeAdditional resourcesAbout the sample filesWhere to find PDF files or printed documentationAbout LiveDocsAdditional online resourcesWhere to find documentation on other subjects
1. What’s New in Flash 8 ActionScript
New in ActionScript 2.0 and Flash 8Additions to the ActionScript languageAbout deprecated language elementsActionScript editing changesChanges to security model for locally installed SWF files
2. Writing and Editing ActionScript 2.0
About ActionScript and eventsMouse and keyboard eventsClip eventsFrame eventsOrganizing ActionScript codeAbout writing scripts to handle eventsUsing the Actions panel and Script windowAbout the Actions panelAbout the Script windowAbout coding in the Actions panel and Script windowAbout the Actions panel and Script window toolbarsAbout ActionScript editing optionsAbout ActionScript preferencesAbout code hinting in FlashAbout triggering code hintsUsing code hintsAbout typing objects to trigger code hintsAbout using suffixes to trigger code hintsAbout using comments to trigger code hintsFormatting codeUsing syntax highlightingUsing line numbers and word wrapUsing Escape shortcut keysShowing hidden charactersUsing the Find toolChecking syntax and punctuationImporting and exporting scriptsUnicode support for ActionScriptImport and export preferencesAbout Actions panel featuresAbout Script AssistPinning scripts in the Actions panelInserting target pathsAbout behaviorsAbout ActionScript publish settingsModifying ActionScript publish settingsModifying the classpathConfiguration files that install with Flash 8
3. About ActionScript
What is ActionScriptAbout choosing between ActionScript 1.0 and ActionScript 2.0Understanding ActionScript and Flash Player
4. Data and Data Types
About dataAbout data typesAbout primitive and complex data typesBoolean data typeMovieClip data typenull data typeNumber data typeObject data typeString data typeundefined data typeVoid data typeAbout assigning data types and strict data typingAssigning a data typeAbout type checkingAbout determining data typeAbout variablesAbout declaring variablesAbout default valuesAbout assigning valuesAbout operators and variablesAbout naming variablesUsing variables in an applicationPassing a variable by referenceAbout variables and scopeGlobal variablesTimeline variablesLocal variablesAbout loading variablesUsing variables from the URLUsing FlashVars in an applicationLoading variables from a serverUsing variables in a projectOrganizing data in objectsAbout castingAbout casting objects
5. Syntax and Language Fundamentals
About syntax, statements, and expressionsDifferences between ActionScript and JavaScriptAbout case sensitivityAbout dot syntax and target pathsAbout using dot syntax to target an instanceTargeting an instanceTargeting a nested instanceTargeting dynamic instances and loaded contentSetting variables using a pathAbout scope and targetingUsing the Target Path buttonAbout slash syntaxAbout language punctuatorsSemicolons and colonsCurly bracesParenthesesAbout literalsAbout commentsSingle-line commentsMultiline commentsTrailing commentsComments inside classesAbout constants and keywordsUsing constantsAbout keywordsAbout reserved wordsAbout statementsAbout compound statementsAbout conditionsAbout writing conditionsUsing the if statementUsing the if..else statementUsing the if..else if statementUsing a switch statementUsing try..catch and try..catch..finally statementsAbout the conditional operator and alternative syntaxRepeating actions using loopsAbout creating and ending loopsUsing for loopsUsing for..in loopsUsing while loopsAbout do..while loopsUsing nested loops in your ActionScriptAbout arraysUsing arraysAbout modifying arraysAbout referencing and finding lengthAbout adding and removing elementsCreating indexed arraysCreating multidimensional arraysCreating associative arraysAbout operatorsUsing operators to manipulate valuesAbout operator precedence and associativityAbout using operators with stringsUsing dot and array access operatorsAbout postfix operatorsAbout unary operatorsAbout multiplicative operatorsAbout additive operatorsUsing numeric operatorsAbout relational operatorsAbout equality operatorsUsing relational and equality operatorsAbout assignment operatorsUsing assignment operatorsAbout logical operatorsUsing logical operatorsAbout bitwise shift operatorsAbout bitwise logical operatorsUsing bitwise operatorsAbout the conditional operatorUsing operators in a document
6. Functions and Methods
About functions and methodsAbout types of methods and functionsAbout built-in and top-level functionsWriting named functionsWriting anonymous and callback functionsAbout function literalsAbout constructor functionsDefining global and timeline functionsTargeting and calling user-defined functionsNaming functionsUsing functions in FlashUsing variables in functionsPassing parameters to a functionReturning values from functionsAbout nested functionsUnderstanding methodsNaming methods
7. Classes
About object-oriented programming and FlashThe benefits of using classesAbout packagesA comparison of classes and packagesWorking with packagesAbout values and data typesObject-oriented programming fundamentalsObjectsInstances and class membersInheritanceInterfacesEncapsulationPolymorphismWriting custom class filesAbout working with custom classes in an applicationAbout importing class filesAbout setting and modifying the classpathUsing a global classpathUsing a document-level classpathHow the compiler resolves class referencesUsing a class file in FlashUsing methods and properties from a class fileAbout public, private, and static methods and properties (members)Public methods and propertiesPrivate methods and propertiesStatic methods and propertiesAbout class membersUsing the Singleton design patternUsing class membersAbout getter and setter methodsUsing getter and setter methodsAbout dynamic classesCreating dynamic classesAbout using encapsulationAbout using the this keyword in classesExample: Writing custom classesAbout general guidelines for creating a classAbout naming class filesCreating and packaging your class filesWriting the constructor functionAdding methods and propertiesControlling member access in your classesDocumenting the classesExample: Using custom class files in FlashImporting classes and packagesCreating instances of classes in an exampleAssigning a class to symbols in FlashCompiling and exporting classesUsing ASO filesUnderstanding classes and scopeAbout top-level and built-in classesOther language elementsTop-level classesThe flash.display packageThe flash.external packageThe flash.filters packageThe flash.geom packageThe flash.net packageThe flash.text packageThe mx.lang packageThe System and TextField packagesAbout working with built-in classesAbout creating a new instance of a built-in classAccessing built-in object propertiesAbout calling built-in object methodsAbout class (static) membersExcluding classesPreloading class files
8. Inheritance
About inheritanceAbout writing subclasses in FlashAbout writing a subclassExample: Extending the Widget classOverriding methods and propertiesUsing polymorphism in an application

9. Interfaces
About interfacesAbout the interface keywordAbout naming interfacesDefining and implementing interfacesCreating interfaces as data typesUnderstanding inheritance and interfacesExample: Using interfacesExample: Creating a complex interface
10. Handling Events
Using event handler methodsUsing event listenersEvent listener modelEvent listener exampleUsing event listeners with componentsUsing button and movie clip event handlersUsing on and onClipEvent with event handler methodsSpecifying events for on or onClipEvent methodsAttaching or assigning multiple handlers to one objectBroadcasting events from component instancesCreating movie clips with button statesEvent handler scopeScope of the this keywordUsing the Delegate class
11. Working with Movie Clips
About controlling movie clips with ActionScriptCalling multiple methods on a single movie clipLoading and unloading SWF filesSpecifying a root timeline for loaded SWF filesLoading image files into movie clipsChanging movie clip position and appearanceDragging movie clipsCreating movie clips at runtimeCreating an empty movie clipDuplicating or removing a movie clipAttaching a movie clip symbol to the StageAdding parameters to dynamically created movie clipsManaging movie clip depthsDetermining the next highest available depthDetermining the instance at a particular depthDetermining the depth of an instanceSwapping movie clip depthsAbout caching and scrolling movie clips with ActionScriptWhen to enable cachingWhen to use bitmap cachingWhen to avoid using bitmap cachingCaching a movie clipSetting the background of a movie clipUsing movie clips as masksAbout masking device fontsAbout alpha channel maskingHandling movie clip eventsAssigning a class to a movie clip symbolInitializing class properties
12. Working with Text and Strings
About text fieldsUsing the TextField classAssigning text to a text field at runtimeAbout text field instance and variable namesCreating text fields at runtimeAbout manipulating text fieldsChanging a text field’s positionChanging a text field’s dimensions at runtimeAbout loading text and variables into text fieldsUsing FlashVars to load and display textUsing LoadVars to load and display textLoading variables by using LoadVarsLoading and displaying text from an XML documentUsing fontsEmbedding charactersEmbedding fontsCreating custom character setsUsing TextField methods with embedded fontsAbout sharing fontsAbout font rendering and anti-alias textFont rendering options in FlashAbout continuous stroke modulationSetting anti-alias with ActionScriptSetting tables for fontsAbout text layout and formattingAbout formatting anti-alias textUsing a grid fit typeUsing the TextFormat classDefault properties of new text fieldsFormatting text with Cascading Style Sheet stylesSupported CSS propertiesCreating a style sheet objectLoading external CSS filesCreating new styles with ActionScriptApplying styles to a TextField objectApplying a style sheet to a TextArea componentCombining stylesUsing style classesStyling built-in HTML tagsAn example of using styles with HTMLUsing styles to define new tagsAn example of using styles with XMLUsing HTML-formatted textRequired properties and syntax for using HTML-formatted textAbout supported HTML tagsAnchor tagBold tagBreak tagFont tagImage tagItalic tagList item tagParagraph tagSpan tagText format tagUnderline tagAbout supported HTML entitiesAbout embedding images, SWF files, and movie clips in text fieldsEmbedding SWF and image filesEmbedding movie clip symbolsAbout specifying height and width valuesControlling embedded media with ActionScriptAbout making hypertext links out of embedded mediaExample: Creating scrolling textAbout strings and the String classAbout the Strings panelUsing the Locale classUsing an input method editorAbout the String classCreating stringsAbout the escape characterAnalyzing and comparing characters in stringsConverting and concatenating stringsReturning substrings
13. Animation, Filters, and Drawings
Scripting animation with ActionScript 2.0About animation and frame rateFading objects with codeAdding color and brightness effects with codeMoving objects with codePanning an image with codeAbout bitmap caching, scrolling, and performanceAbout the Tween and TransitionManager classesAdding tweens and transitions to a file in Flash Professional 8 (Flash Professional 8 only)Animating with the TransitionManager and Tween classesAbout easing classes and methodsAbout the Tween classUsing the Tween classAbout continuing animations using the continueTo() methodCreating animations that run continuouslyCombining the TransitionManager and Tween classesUsing filter effectsWorking with filter packagesWorking with filters, caching, and the MovieClip classAbout hit detection, rotating, skewing, and scaling filtersApplying filters to object instances and BitmapData instancesAbout error handling, performance, and filtersWorking with filters using ActionScriptUsing the blur filterUsing the drop shadow filterUsing the glow filterCreating gradient glowsUsing the bevel filterAbout the gradient bevel filterApplying a gradient bevel filterUsing the color matrix filterUsing the convolution filterUsing the displacement map filterManipulating filter effects with codeAdjusting filter propertiesAnimating a filter by using ActionScriptUsing the clone() methodCreating bitmaps with the BitmapData classAbout blending modesApplying blending modesAbout operation orderDrawing with ActionScriptUsing drawing methods to draw lines, curves, and shapesDrawing specific shapesUsing complex gradient fillsUsing line stylesSetting stroke and caps stylesSetting parameters of line stylesSetting line thicknessSetting line color (rgb)Setting line alphaSetting line pixel hinting (pixelHinting)Setting line scale (noScale)Setting line caps (capsStyle) and joints (jointStyle)Setting line miter (miterLimit)Using Drawing API methods and scripting animationUnderstanding scaling and slice guidesUnderstanding how 9-slice scaling worksWorking with 9-slice scaling in ActionScript
14. Creating Interaction with ActionScript
About events and interactionControlling SWF file playbackJumping to a frame or scenePlaying and stopping movie clipsJumping to a different URLCreating interactivity and visual effectsCreating a custom mouse pointerGetting the pointer positionCapturing keypressesSetting color valuesCreating sound controlsDetecting collisionsCreating a simple line drawing toolCreating runtime data bindings using ActionScriptCreating bindings between UI components using ActionScriptUsing components, bindings, and custom formattersFormatting data using the CustomFormatter classAdding and binding components on the StageDeconstructing a sample script
15. Working with Images, Sound, and Video
About loading and working with external mediaLoading external SWF and image filesAbout loading SWF files and the root timelineAbout loading and using external MP3 filesLoading an MP3 filePreloading MP3 filesReading ID3 tags in MP3 filesAssigning linkage to assets in the libraryAbout using FLV videoCreating a video objectPlaying back external FLV files dynamicallyCreating a video bannerPreloading FLV filesWorking with cue pointsTracing cue points from an FLV fileUsing embedded cue points with the FLVPlayback component (Flash Professional only)Creating cue points with ActionScript to use with components (Flash Professional only)Adding seek functionality with cue points (Flash Professional only)Working with metadataAbout configuring FLV files for hosting on a serverAbout targeting local FLV files on MacintoshAbout creating progress animations for media filesCreating a progress animation for loading SWF and image filesCreating a progress bar for loading MP3 files with ActionScriptCreating a progress bar for loading FLV files with ActionScript
16. Working with External Data
Sending and loading variablesChecking for loaded dataCreating a progress bar to display data loading progressUsing HTTP to connect to server-side scriptsUsing the LoadVars classAbout file uploading and downloadingAbout FileReference API functionality and securityAdding file upload functionality to an applicationAbout XMLUsing the XML classUsing the XMLSocket classSending messages to and from Flash PlayerUsing the fscommand() functionAbout using JavaScript to control Flash applicationsAbout Flash Player methodsAbout the External APICreating interaction with the External APIControlling Flash Video with the External API
17. Understanding Security
About compatibility with previous Flash Player security modelsAbout local file security and Flash PlayerUnderstanding local security sandboxesLocal-with-file-systemLocal-with-networkingLocal-trustedAbout Flash Player security settingsAbout local file security and projector filesAbout troubleshooting legacy SWF filesFixing legacy content deployed on local computersPublishing files for local deploymentAccess local files only (default)Access network onlyAccess file system and networkTesting content locally with Flash 8 local file security restrictionsSpecifying trusted files using the Settings ManagerCreating configuration files for Flash developmentAbout the sandboxType propertyAbout local-with-file-system restrictionsAbout domains, cross-domain security, and SWF filesDomain name rules for settings and local dataCross-domain and subdomain access between SWF filesAllowing data access between cross-domain SWF filesServer-side policy files for permitting access to dataAllowing cross-domain data loadingAbout custom policy file locationsAbout XMLSocket policy filesHTTP to HTTPS protocol access between SWF filesAllowing HTTP to HTTPS protocol access between SWF files
18. Debugging Applications
Debugging your scriptsDebugging a SWF file from a remote locationDisplaying and modifying variablesUsing the Watch listDisplaying movie clip properties and changing editable propertiesSetting and removing breakpointsAbout the breakpoints XML fileAbout working through lines of codeUsing the Output panelListing a SWF file’s objectsListing a SWF file’s variablesAbout displaying text field properties for debuggingUsing the trace statementUpdating Flash Player for testing
19. Best Practices and Coding Conventions for ActionScript 2.0
Naming conventionsGeneral naming guidelinesAvoiding reserved words or language constructsNaming variablesNaming constantsNaming Boolean variablesNaming functions and methodsNaming classes and objectsNaming packagesNaming interfacesNaming custom componentsUsing comments in your codeWriting good commentsAdding comments to classesActionScript coding conventionsKeeping your ActionScript code in one placeAttaching code to objectsHandling scopeAvoiding absolute targets (_root)Using _lockrootUsing the this keywordAbout scope in classesStructuring a class fileGuidelines for creating a classUsing the this prefix in class filesAbout initializationUse trace statementsAbout the super prefixAvoid the with statementAbout using functionsAbout stopping code repetitionActionScript and Flash Player optimizationOptimizing your codeFormatting ActionScript syntaxGeneral formatting guidelinesWriting conditional statementsWriting compound statementsWriting a for statementWriting while and do..while statementsWriting return statementsWriting switch statementsWriting try..catch and try..catch..finally statementsAbout using listener syntax
A. Error Messages
B. Deprecated Flash 4 operators
C. Keyboard Keys and Key Code Values
Letters A to Z and standard numbers 0 to 9Keys on the numeric keypadFunction keysOther keys
D. Writing Scripts for Earlier Versions of Flash Player
About targeting earlier versions of Flash PlayerUsing Flash 8 to create content for Flash Player 4Using Flash 8 to open Flash 4 filesUsing slash syntax
E. Object-Oriented Programming with ActionScript 1.0
About ActionScript 1.0Creating a custom object in ActionScript 1.0Assigning methods to a custom object in ActionScript 1.0Defining event handler methods in ActionScript 1.0Creating inheritance in ActionScript 1.0Adding getter/setter properties to objects in ActionScript 1.0Using Function object properties in ActionScript 1.0Invoking a function using the Function.call() method in ActionScript 1.0Specifying the object to which a function is applied using Function.apply() in ActionScript 1.0
F. Terminology

Overview

Powerful development and design tools require thorough and authoritative technical advice and documentation. When it comes to Macromedia Flash, no one is more authoritative than Macromedia Development and writing teams. Now their official documentation is available to you in printed book form. As you work, keep this guide by your side for ready access to valuable information on using Flash. We’ve designed it so that it’s easy to annotate as you progress.

Learning ActionScript 2.0 for Macromedia Flash 8 shows you how to write proper ActionScript syntax to create useful and interactive Flash applications. This book includes examples of object-oriented programming, and teaches you how to write custom classes for your Flash applications. Learning ActionScript 2.0 for Macromedia Flash 8 also includes numerous hands-on examples on how to apply expressive and interactive features to your files using ActionScript code, such as file upload, filter effects, scripted animation, and anti-alias text using the FlashType font rendering engine.

In Learning Actionscript 2.0 for Macromedia Flash 8, learn how to:
•    Write proper ActionScript syntax using the fundamentals of the ActionScript language.
•    Use object-oriented programming techniques to build Flash applications.
•    Use ActionScript classes to add interactivity and expressive features to your Flash applications.
•    Use best practices and coding conventions to optimize, structure, and write consistent ActionScript.

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