Actionscript 3 - Getting Started

Actionscript 3 - Getting Started

ActionScript 3 - Getting Started is a blended learning course that combines 3 days of instructor led ActionScript 3 training with an additional 2 days of online learning content covering a range of more advanced ActionScript topics.

The classroom based modules can either be completed either at our fully equipped London training centre or at your own facility for larger groups, whilst the online modules combine high quality flash video presentations backed up with instructor led course discussion forums, exercises files, real world samples, and loads more.

Summary of Topics Covered

Variables

• string variables
• Object variables
• name conflicts
• untyped variables
• default values
• isNaN
• deleting variables

Functions

• creating functions
• functions and arguments
• Default argument
• default argument order
• the rest symbol

Objects, Properties, Methods, and Classes

• trace
• this
• common properties
• basic objects
• common methods
• common classes

Iteration

• for loops
• do while loops
• arrays and for in loop
• var and for in
• this and for in
• for each loop
• for in and for each in

Display Objects

• Timeline based symbols
• Symbol type
• MovieClip
• Button
• Graphic
• Class type
• MovieClip
• SimpleButton
• Shape
• Text Classes
• StaticText
• TextField

Accessing Display Objects

• tracing a movieclip's name
• changing names
• Understanding the Class Inheritance Hierarchy
• Referencing Movie Clips in the Timeline
• The Display List
• The root and stage
• Dynamic display objects
• Bitmaps
• new Bitmaps
• Removing bitmaps
• removeChild()
• Creating Dynamic Instances from the Library
• Dynamic graphics
• Drawing a triangle

Events

• stage click handler
• buttonMode
• Reacting to the Mouse
• Event Propagation
• tracing evt.target
• Stage events
• drag and drop
• Keyboard Events
• tracing keyCode

Animation

• Moving a ball
• Accelerating a ball
• Controlling a ball
• Adding gravity
• Rotating a movieclip
• Rotating and controlling a movieclip
• Creating balls at random
• Creating balls where the mouse clicks
• Creating balls automatically
• Boundaries
• Bouncing a ball left and right
• Bouncing a ball again
• Moving a ball in x and y directions
• Moving a ball smoothly with oscillation
• Moving a ball with easing

What is a class?

• Creating classes
• Creating methods
• Creating properties
• Using a class-based timer system

Creating Custom Classes

• Designing a custom class
• Adding methods to the class
• Adding properties to the class
• Using getters and setters
• Applying the class to a movie clip
• Applying the class to the MainTimeline

Introducing Components and Data

• List the components
• Setting up a server and database
• Testing server/flash/db integration
• Ways to connect Flash and data

UI Components

• Accordian, Button, Checkbox, Radio Buttons
• List, ComboBox, DataGrid
• DateChooser, Date Field
• Loader
• ScrollPane
• ProgressBar
• Menu and MenuBar
• Numeric Stepper
• TextArea, TextInput, and Labels
• Tree component
• Windows/Alerts
• Handling Scrollbars

Video Components

• FLVPlayback
• Flash Video Components
• Videomaru
• Fullscreen video

Data binding

• XML
• Inputting data & binding data

Database integration

• Flash and php
• Flash and amfphp
• Flash Remoting
• Flash and web services

Customising Components

• Stylizing components
• CSS and components
• Custom shapes

Creating Your Own Components

• Creating a movieclip with code
• Converting to a component
• Making the component installable

Introducing Flex & AIR