Macromedia Flash 8 @Work : Projects and Techniques to Get the Job Done

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Edition: 1st
Format: Paperback
Pub. Date: 2006-02-03
Publisher(s): Sams Publishing
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Summary

Phillip Kerman'sMacromedia Flash 8 @work: Projects and Techniques to Get the Job Doneapproaches learning from a different perspective than the typical book on a web graphics application. Rather than simply describing how to use each feature of a product,Macromedia Flash 8 @workintroduces key tools in a single chapter and then moves on to what you really want to know -- how to use Macromedia Flash to complete the projects you're likely to face every day on the job. You'll get step-by-step coverage of how to complete 10 common projects chosen by a panel of Flash users. Plus, tips, tricks, and notes will provide you with the information you need to apply what you learn on these projects to others you'll undoubtedly be asked to create at work.

Author Biography

Phillip Kerman is an accomplished trainer, conducting training all around the world. He is a frequent speaker at the annual Macromedia User Conference. Author of Sams Teach Yourself Flash in 24 Hours and ActionScripting in Flash MX, Phillip is lauded as teaching very effectively in his books.

 

Table of Contents

Introduction 1(8)
Part I: Getting Started
1 Exploring Flash 8
9(20)
What's New in Flash 8
9(8)
Expressive Features
9(3)
Video Improvements
12(1)
Workflow Improvements
13(2)
Flash Player
15(2)
Flash Professional 8 and Flash Basic 8
17(1)
ActionScript Additions
17(10)
A Programming Primer
17(4)
The flash.filters Package
21(1)
The flash.display.BitmapData Class
22(1)
The flash.geom Package
22(2)
The flash.externalExternalInterface Class
24(2)
The flash.net Package
26(1)
Final Thoughts
27(2)
2 Producing a Flash Project
29(32)
Flash's File Structure
29(15)
Timeline Animation
30(2)
Movie Clip Hierarchy
32(2)
Selecting
34(2)
Modular Delivery
36(3)
ActionScript
39(1)
Library Items
40(1)
Disabling Export in First Frame
41(3)
Authortime Versus Runtime
44(1)
An ActionScript 2 Primer
45(5)
Typing Variables
46(1)
Flash's Classpath
46(2)
The Import Statement and Namespaces
48(2)
Sample Project Template
50(7)
Planning for the End Product First
50(3)
Building a Template
53(2)
Understanding Other Project Variations
55(2)
Final Thoughts
57(4)
Part II: Projects
3 Creating a Video with Synchronized Captions
61(36)
About the Projects
61(1)
Prerequisites
61(1)
@work resources
61(1)
Planning the Projects
62(3)
Cue Points and Captions
62(1)
Cue Point Types
62(2)
Embedded Cue Points Versus Separate Text Files
64(1)
Project: Navigation Cue Points in a .flv File
65(5)
Creating a New .fla File
66(1)
Importing the Source Video
66(1)
Choosing Video Options
66(1)
Adding the First Navigation Cue Point
67(2)
Adding More Navigation Cue Points
69(1)
Skinning the Video
69(1)
Navigating the Video
70(1)
Project: ActionScript Cue Points for Captions in an XML File
70(3)
Preparing to Use the Offline Gathering Tool
70(1)
Loading the Video and Transcript into the Gathering Tool
71(1)
Setting Cue Points While the Video Plays
71(1)
Exporting the XML File
72(1)
Project: Basic Caption Display Template
73(2)
Creating a captionTypel.fla File
74(1)
Adding the Minimum Code
74(1)
Creating the .swf File
75(1)
Project: Channeling Cue Points to the Caption Display
75(5)
Creating the main.fla File
76(1)
Creating the CaptionHolder Symbol
76(1)
Assembling Support Class Files
77(1)
Implementing the Final Code
78(1)
Alternative 1: Making the Video Play Automatically
79(1)
Alternative 2: Adding a Second captionText1.swf That Supports Navigation Cue Points
79(1)
Project: Code for Audio-only Captions
80(4)
Capturing the Cue Points
80(1)
Creating the main_audio.fla File
81(1)
Assembling Support Files
81(1)
Writing the Code
81(1)
Alternative: Using the MediaPlayback Component
82(2)
Project: Advanced Captioning Template
84(4)
Creating the captionType2.fla File
84(1)
Nesting the Text in a Clip
84(1)
Modifying the Code to Move the Text
85(1)
Publishing and Testing
86(1)
Adding Code for the Hide/Reveal Feature
87(1)
Creating the Hide/Reveal Button
88(1)
Project: Synchronized Images Template
88(6)
Encoding the Video
89(1)
Preparing to Gather Cue Points
89(1)
Creating an Animated Sequence
89(1)
Gathering the Cue Points
90(2)
Implementing the ActionScript in imagesTemplate.fla
92(1)
Entering the ActionScript in main_coffee.fla
92(2)
Testing main_coffee.fla
94(1)
Exploring the Support Classes
94(2)
Final Thoughts
96(1)
4 Creating a Portfolio
97(52)
About the Project
97(1)
Prerequisites
97(1)
@work resources
97(1)
Planning the Projects
98(4)
Media Selection
98(1)
Internal Versus External
99(1)
Stage Layout
100(1)
Communication Gateways
101(1)
Project: Media Preparation
102(2)
Resizing Images
102(1)
Preparing the Thumbnails
102(1)
Tagging the Images
103(1)
Project: Main Framework and Minimum Support Templates
104(12)
Creating the Main File
105(1)
Creating a Holder for the ProgressBar Clip
105(1)
Entering Image Information
105(2)
Entering Template Information
107(1)
Instantiating the
PhotoController
107(1)
Creating a Simple Display Template
108(1)
Creating a Simple Thumbnails Template
109(2)
Coding the Thumbnails Template
111(2)
Testing It
113(1)
Creating the Simple Chapters Template
113(2)
Including the Chapters Template and Testing
115(1)
Project: Advanced Display Templates
116(8)
Creating the display_slide.fla File
116(1)
Writing the Code for display_slide.fla
117(2)
Modifying the Main File to Run display_slide.swf
119(1)
Creating the display_fade.fla File
120(1)
Writing the Code for display_fade.fla
120(3)
Modifying the Main File to Run display_fade.swf
123(1)
Project: Alternative Chapter Templates
124(6)
Creating the chapters_hardwired.fla File
124(1)
Writing the Code for chapters_hardwired.fla
124(2)
Modifying the Main File to Run chapters_hardwired.swf
126(1)
Creating the chapters_homemade.fla File
127(1)
Writing the Code for chapters_homemade.fla
127(2)
Modifying the Main File to Run chapters_homemade.swf
129(1)
Project: Advanced Thumbnail Templates
130(11)
Creating the Clip-based Horizontal Thumbnail Template
131(1)
Entering the Code for thumbnailsH_clip.fla
132(4)
Using main_tester_app.swf to Test Your Template
136(1)
Creating the thumbnailsH_linkage.fla Template
137(1)
Modifying the Code for the thumbnailsH_linkage.fla File
138(1)
Creating the thumbnailsH_import.fla Template
139(1)
Entering the Code for thumbnailsH_import.fla
139(1)
Creating Vertical Thumbnail Templates
140(1)
Project: Externalized Image Information
141(4)
Creating and Populating the images.xml File
141(1)
Creating the main_external.fla File
142(1)
Coding the main_external.fla File
143(2)
Exploring the Class Structure
145(1)
Final Thoughts
146(3)
5 Creating an Assessment Quiz
149(38)
About the Project
149(1)
Prerequisites
149(1)
@work resources
149(1)
Planning the Projects
150(4)
Writing Effective Questions
150(1)
Designing Question Templates
151(2)
Client-side Versus Server-side
153(1)
Planning for Extensibility
153(1)
Project: Quiz Content
154(4)
Studying the XML Format
155(1)
Writing Sample Content for multipleChoiceSingle
155(1)
Writing Sample Content for multipleChoiceMultiple
156(1)
Writing Sample Content for hotSpot
157(1)
Writing Sample Content for dragAndDrop
157(1)
Project: Starter Template
158(5)
Creating the Starter File
159(1)
Placing Text on the Stage
159(1)
Entering Skeleton Code
159(2)
Publishing
161(1)
Modifying the quiz.xml File
161(1)
Testing the Quiz Engine
162(1)
Project: Multiple-Choice/Single Answer Template
163(4)
Creating the multipleChoiceSingle.fla File
163(1)
Laying Out the Stage
163(1)
Adding the RadioButton Component
163(1)
Changing the ActionScript
163(3)
Testing the multipleChoiceSingle Template
166(1)
Project: Multiple-Choice/Multiple Answer Template
167(3)
Creating the multipleChoiceMultiple.fla File
167(1)
Laying Out the Stage
167(1)
Adding the CheckBox Component
168(1)
Changing the ActionScript
168(2)
Testing the multipleChoiceMultiple Template
170(1)
Project: A Hotspot Template
170(7)
Creating the hotSpot.fla File
171(1)
Laying Out the Stage
171(1)
Modifying the File's Contents
171(2)
Changing the ActionScript
173(3)
Testing the hotSpot Template
176(1)
Project: Drag-and-Drop Template
177(2)
Creating the dragAndDrop fla File
177(1)
Laying Out the Stage
177(1)
Changing the ActionScript
177(2)
Testing the dragAndDrop Template
179(1)
Project: Results Template
179(5)
Creating the results.fla File
180(1)
Laying Out the Stage
180(1)
Building a Simple Results Template
180(1)
Testing the Simple Results Template
181(1)
Building an Advanced Results Page
182(2)
Testing the Advanced Results Page
184(1)
Exploring the Class Structure
184(1)
Final Thoughts
185(2)
6 Saving and Evaluating Quiz Results
187(30)
About the Projects
187(1)
Prerequisites
187(1)
@work resources
187(1)
Planning the Projects
188(4)
Benefits of Application Servers
188(1)
Keeping Login Separate
188(1)
Login Options
189(1)
Ascertaining Variable Values from Inside quiz.swf
189(1)
Chapter Projects
190(2)
Project: External Paths to Server-side Methods
192(2)
Adding Methods to the urls.xml File
192(1)
Specifying the Location of the urls.xml File
193(1)
Project: Traditional Login
194(4)
Adding FlashVars to quiz.html
195(1)
Adding the debug Switch in quiz. fla
195(2)
Testing It
197(1)
Project: Simple All-Flash Login
198(4)
Creating the login_simple.fla File
198(1)
Coding It
199(1)
Creating the quiz_html_simple.html File
200(1)
Publishing and Testing
200(2)
Project: Advanced All-Flash Login
202(5)
Creating the login_advanced.fla File
203(1)
Adding Methods to the urls.xml File
203(1)
Creating Static XML Files in Lieu of Live Server-side Methods
204(1)
Creating the login_advanced_html.html File and Adding the FlashVars
205(1)
Applying the ActionScript
206(1)
Project: APIs for the Admin Assessment Tool
207(6)
Defining How to Get Quiz Data
208(1)
Defining How Quiz Results Are Saved
209(1)
Defining How Users Can Log In
210(1)
Providing a Way to Retrieve All the quizIDs
210(1)
Defining an API to Retrieve All userIDs
210(1)
Defining an API to Retrieve All quizIDs for One userID
211(1)
Defining an API to Retrieve All Scores for a Quiz
211(1)
Defining an API to Retrieve Detailed Quiz Results
212(1)
Project: API Tester
213(1)
Project: Simple Admin Tool
214(3)
Using the Full-featured Admin Tool
215(1)
Final Thoughts
216(1)
7 Creating a PowerPoint-style Slide Presentation
217(32)
About the Projects
217(1)
Prerequisites
217(1)
@work resources
217(1)
Planning the Projects
218(5)
Understanding the Presentation Features
218(1)
Understanding the Template Requirements
219(1)
Formatting the Presentation Data
220(1)
Designing Templates
221(1)
Effective Transitions
222(1)
Deployment Options
222(1)
The Point of a Presentation
222(1)
Project: Simple Photo Caption Template
223(4)
Setting Up the Document
223(1)
Laying Out the Photo Holder
223(1)
Laying Out the Caption Text
223(1)
Adding the Customized ActionScript
224(2)
Editing the XML and Testing the Template
226(1)
Project: Advanced Before-and-After Photo Template
227(5)
Creating the Document and Layout
227(1)
Writing the Code to Support Stepping
227(4)
Writing the XML for This Template
231(1)
Project: CSS Support in a Pull Quote Template
232(6)
Creating the CSS Styles
233(1)
Designing the Slide Node
233(1)
Embedding the Fonts
234(1)
Writing the Code for the pullquote.swf Template
235(3)
Project: Bullet List Template
238(6)
Designing the XML
Structure
238(1)
Adding the Styles to the CSS Document
239(1)
Embedding the Fonts
239(1)
Writing the Template Code
240(4)
Project: Slideshow Distribution
244(2)
Choosing Distribution Options
245(1)
Creating a Projector
245(1)
Collecting the Necessary Distribution Files
245(1)
Exploring the Support Classes
246(1)
Final Thoughts
247(2)
8 Creating a CD-ROM Front End
249(38)
About the Project
249(1)
Prerequisites
249(1)
@work resources
249(1)
Planning the Projects
250(5)
Why Not Create a Flash Projector?
250(1)
Designing a Workable and Organized File Structure
251(1)
Making Custom Icons
252(1)
Autorun
252(1)
Full Screen, Title Bars, and Quitting
253(1)
Decoupling the Front End, Data, and System-level Calls
254(1)
Pieces You'll Build in This Chapter
254(1)
Project: XML Document That Identifies All Files
255(4)
Creating the Skeleton XML File
255(1)
Adding and Modifying the Item.as Class
256(2)
Adding and Modifying the Section.as Class
258(1)
Copying the Data Folders
259(1)
Project: The main.fla File
259(3)
Adding the SectionMaker as and utils.as Class Files
259(1)
Creating the main.fla File
260(1)
Writing the Code
260(2)
Project: Section Templates
262(14)
Assembling the section_simple.fla File
263(1)
Writing the Code
264(3)
Testing the Simple Template
267(1)
Creating the section_animated.swf Template
268(1)
Modifying the Code in section_animated.fla
269(1)
Modifying main.fla to Point to section animate.swf
270(1)
Designing the section_static.swf Template
271(1)
Building the section_static.swf Template
271(2)
Writing the Code for the section_static.fla File
273(2)
Modifying main.fla to Point to section static.swf
275(1)
Project: Listeners in the main.fla File
276(3)
Adding User Interface Elements to main.fla
276(1)
Writing ActionScript That Listens for User Events
277(1)
Adding Code to Respond to User Events
277(2)
Project: Third-party Product Integration
279(3)
Copying the Support Files
280(1)
Instantiating the ThirdParty.as Class
280(1)
Triggering the ThirdParty Class's openFile() and doSaveAs() Methods
281(1)
Project: Stub Application
282(2)
Preparing the File Structure
283(1)
Creating the stub.fla File
283(1)
Building the Projector
283(1)
Project: Auto-play Functionality
284(1)
Creating the autorun.inf File
284(1)
Copying the Files
284(1)
Exploring the Class Structure
285(1)
Final Thoughts
286(1)
9 Creating Special Effects
287(38)
About the Project
287(1)
Prerequisites
287(1)
@work resources
287(1)
Planning the Projects
288(1)
Think About Impressions, Not Effects
288(1)
Start with the End in Mind
288(1)
Timeline Versus Scripted Effects
288(1)
Justify Everything
289(1)
Project: Continuous Loop
289(4)
Creating One Cycle
289(1)
Matching the End with the Beginning
290(1)
Making the Animation
291(1)
Touching Up the Animation
292(1)
Project: Jitter Effect
293(1)
Drawing the Base Elements
293(1)
Adding the Jitter
293(1)
Project: Magnifier Lens Effect
294(3)
Creating the Large Movie Clip
294(1)
Creating the Small Movie Clip
295(1)
Adding the Mask
295(1)
Animating the Mask
296(1)
Adjusting the Motion
296(1)
Adding a Layer for the Reflection
296(1)
Project: Blends and Filters
297(3)
Using the Layer Blend for Accurate Transparency
297(1)
Making a Spotlight Effect Using the Alpha Blend
298(1)
Making a Black-and-White Photo
299(1)
Making a Sepia-toned Photo
299(1)
Project: Matrixes for the ColorMatrixFilter
300(1)
Making a Photograph Black and White Using Code
300(1)
Making a Photograph Sepia Using Code
301(1)
Project: Film Dirt
301(4)
Copying the Required Files
302(1)
Creating the Dirt
302(1)
Entering Simple Code
303(1)
Setting Up a File to Put Dirt on a Video
304(1)
Entering Code to Show Dirt While Video Plays
304(1)
Project: Tracers
305(2)
Creating an Animation
305(1)
Copying the Support Files
306(1)
Tracing While the Mouse Is Down
306(1)
Making Tracers Appear in Specific Parts of the Animation
307(1)
Project: VU Meter
307(5)
Planning Your VU Meters
308(1)
Creating the Digital VU Meter Symbol
308(1)
Copying the Support Files
309(1)
Building a Test Bed Application
309(1)
Entering Starter Code
310(2)
Making an Analog Version
312(1)
Project: DualFilter Classes
312(6)
Selecting the Start and End Filters
314(1)
Creating Two Filter Instances
314(1)
Copying the Support Files
315(1)
Passing a Start and End BlurFilter to the DualBlurFilter Class
315(1)
Combining Filter Effects
316(1)
Using the WavyFilter Class
316(2)
Project: Offline ListAnim Filter Class
318(4)
Creating the Offline Animation
320(1)
Copying the Support Files
320(1)
Running the FilterMonitor.as Class to Gather the Filter Values
320(1)
Creating the Online Version
321(1)
Final Thoughts
322(3)
10 Building a Photo Share Application
325(48)
About the Project
325(1)
Prerequisites
325(1)
@work resources
325(1)
Planning the Projects
326(5)
Features for This Project
326(2)
Additional Tags
328
Limits of the fileReference Class
39(291)
Uploading and Downsloading from a Server Only
330(1)
Project: Work Environment
331(2)
Setting Up the Static XML Files
331(1)
Setting Up a Starter Folder of Images
332(1)
Copying the Support Files
333(1)
Project Basic Photo Share Project
333(23)
Creating the Main File.
334(1)
Creating the selection.swf Template
335(3)
Creating the upload.swf Template
338(3)
Assembling the thumbnail.swf Template
341(2)
Applying the Code for thumbnail.swf
343(4)
Creating the zoom.swf Template
347(4)
Creating the edit.swf Template
351(2)
Testing It
353(3)
Project: No Upload and Editing Features
356(2)
Modifying the Selection Screen
356(1)
Modifying the Zoom Screen
357(1)
Modifying the Main Screen
357(1)
Project: A Version That Downloads .pdf Documents
358(5)
Creating a New Working Folder
359(1)
Creating a New main.fla
359(1)
Exploring the getlmages xml Schema
360(1)
Creating the zoom_document_ version.swf File
360(3)
Testing the PDF Download Project
363(1)
Project: List View for the Image Filenames
363(5)
Creating Another New Working Folder
364(1)
Creating a New Thumbnail Screen
364(1)
Applying the ActionScript to the Thumbnail Screen
365(1)
Analyzing the ActionScript
365(2)
Creating a New Main File
367(1)
Testing the Thumbnail List Screen
367(1)
Exploring the Class Structure
368(1)
Final Thoughts
369(4)
Part III: Appendixes
A Resources
373(6)
Configuration Folders
373(2)
Macromedia Links
375(1)
Flash Uninstaller
375(1)
Player Archive
375(1)
Player Version
375(1)
LiveDocs
375(1)
Macromedia Labs
376(1)
Community Sites
376(1)
Full as a Goog
376(1)
Community MX
376(1)
Chatty Fig.
376(1)
Open Source Flash
376(1)
Flashkit
376(1)
We're Here
376(1)
Ultrashock
376(1)
Third-Party Products
377(1)
ActionScript Viewer
377(1)
Swift 3D
377(1)
Toon Boom Studio
377(1)
Flix
377(1)
Sorenson Media
377(1)
Techsmith's Camtasia
377(1)
Zoomify
377(1)
SWF Studio
378(1)
M Projector
378(1)
Zinc V2
378(1)
Screenweaver
378(1)
Content Site
378(1)
Moving Image Internet Archive
378(1)
B Components
379(8)
Using V2 Components
379(5)
Simple Listener
379(3)
Using a Custom Object As a Listener
382(1)
Using mx.utils.Delegate
383(1)
Instantiating Components Dynamically
384(1)
Dispatching Events
384(2)
Where to Go from Here
386(1)
Glossary 387(10)
Index 397

Excerpts

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