Once you know the basic language components of ActionScript, you
need to know how to put it to good use. In this course you will
work with many real life examples. The course is taught with "Flash
MX 2004: ActionScript Training from the Source" which
includes a CD with dozens of examples.
Students are provided a copy of "Flash MX 2004: ActionScript
Training from the Source" by
Derek Franklin and Jobe Makar.
Course Outline
Introducing ActionScript
ActionScript matures to version 2.0
Differences between ActionScript 1.0 and 2.0
Why learn ActionScript?
ActionScript elements
Using the Actions Panel and the ActionScript Editor
Planning a project
Writing your first script
Testing your first script
Using event handlers
What event handlers do
Choosing the right event handler
Using mouse events
Making the most of attaching moue's events to movie clips
Using frame events
Using clip events
Orchestrating multiple events
Understanding event handler methods
Using event handler methods
Using listeners
Understanding target paths
Understanding multiple timelines
Targeting the current movie
Targeting the main movie
Targeting a parent movie
Targeting movie clip instances
Targeting movies on levels
Targeting movie clip instances
Understanding multiple identities
Creating and referencing global elements
Using object classes
What objects are and why they're useful
Built-in object classes
Using the Color class
Using the Key class to add interactivity
Working with String and Selection classes
Using functions
Creating functions
Adding parameters to functions
Using local variables and creating functions that return
results
Creating and manipulating data
Creating variables
Creating arrays
Creating dynamic text fields and retrieving information
Retrieving data
Building expressions
Operators
Manipulating numerical data using the Math object
Manipulating strings
Creating custom classes
Classes, top-level classes, and instances
Creating a class
The classpath
Packages and importing classes
Getters and setters
Defining members
Understanding inheritance
Using conditional logic
Controlling a script's flow
Determining conditions
Reacting to multiple conditions
Defining a boundary
Turning power on/off
Reacting to user interaction
Detecting collisions
Automating scripts with loops
Why loops are useful
Types of loops
Writing and understanding loop conditions
Nested loops
Loop exceptions
Scripting UI components
Components: a scripting primer
Configuring a component properties
Triggering scripts using component events
Using component methods
Using the FocusManager component
Customizing UI components with ActionScript
Getting data in and out of Flash
Understanding data sources and data formats
GET versus POST
Using the LoadVars class
Policy files
Using Shared Objects
Using the WebServiceConnector component
Using XML with Flash
XML basics
Using the XML class
Using socket servers
Validating data
The logic behind validating data
Using validation routines
Handling errors
Validating strings
Validating sequences
Validating against a list of choices
Validating numbers
Processing validated data
Working with text fields
Dynamically creating and configuring text fields
Using TextFormat objects
Loading and communicating with inline images and SWFs
Formatting text fields with Cascading Style Sheets
Controlling movie clips dynamically
Creating movie clip instances dynamically
Building continuous-feedback buttons
Using ActionScript to draw lines dynamically
Using the Drawing methods
Creating filled shapes dynamically
Z-sorting movie clip instances
Dragging and dropping movie clip instances
Removing dynamically created content
Time- and frame-based dynamism
The use of time in Flash
Working with dates in Flash
Determining the passage of time
Controlling the playback speed and direction of a timeline
