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 More computer ebooks Flash Flash XML Applications: Use AS2 and AS3 to Create Photo Galleries, Menus, and Databases
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 How This ebook Is Organized:The book is divided into four sections. The first section deals with the introduction of XML, XML parsing methods, and a short introduction to AS2. For all properties and methods of the AS2 XML class there are specific code examples. Therefore the book serves also as a resource. In our first relatively simple exercises we will apply what we have learned. The second section introduces version 2 components, which use XML as the data source. As an example we will deal with RSS feeds and also learn how to get data from a Web service. In the third section we will build a real estate Web site. Parts of the Web site are applications from the first two sections. The core of the Web site is a search engine to search for houses according to the number of bedrooms and price. We will also develop our own component-like tools, such as a menu bar (or ComboBox in Section 4). We will add a simple content management system. And all applications have a commonality; they use XML as the data source and all applications are written as class files. Once we have completed the whole Web site in AS2 we will redevelop parts of the site, for example, the search engine, in AS3. And this is Section 4, which deals exclusively with AS3. The new XML class will be introduced in this section and, as in the AS2 section, there will be specific code examples that demonstrate how to apply methods and use properties. A particular focus in this section is the difference between AS2 and AS3 and how to transition from one AS version to the other, since we create the same applications using AS3. In the AS3 section we will also deal with the improvement of applications. We will delete unnecessary code and objects. This will in some cases dramatically improve code compilation and rendering times. Flash 8, Flash 9 Preview, Flash CS3, and Flex 2 The most recent Flash versions that were used to develop the applications in this book were Flash 8 for applications using AS2 and the Flash 9 preview for those using AS3. Although all AS3 exercises have been tested with the new Flash CS3 for accuracy, the Flash 9 preview, which was used to develop the tutorials, can be used. AS3 can be compiled by another application, Flex 2. The Flex 2 IDE is based on Eclipse, and the initial file used to start a Flex 2 application is an MXML file. The difference between Flash and Flex is that Flex is used to develop data exchange applications, while Flash is frame-based and used for animations. There are a large number of components in Flex 2. Comparing the AS3 language references for Flash and Flex you will notice that all the mx classes and components are missing in the Flash 9 preview. If you do not want to buy the Flex 2 builder but want to do some work with Flex 2 you can still use a free SDK after the trial version has timed out. In this book we are not dealing with Flex 2 applications nor any of its components. However, any AS3 knowledge obtained here can be applied, of course, to Flex 2 projects as well. Download free ebooks on flash: Flash XML Applications: Use AS2 and AS3 to Create Photo Galleries, Menus, and Databases
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