Flex 2: Developing Rich Client Applications Level 1

Requirements:
This course is designed for object-oriented developers who want to bring the power of Rich Internet applications to their web applications. To gain the most from this class, you should:

• Be familiar with an object oriented programming language such as Java or C++


• Be familiar with XML terminology

Course objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to:

• Create your first Flex application
  


• Constraint-based layout in MXML
  


• Add user interface controls
  


• Use the DataGrid control
  


• Understand Flex Containers
  


• Exchange Data Between Components
  


• Create Application Navigation
  


• Retrieve XML Data with HTTPService
  

Course content:
Course Summary
Flex 2: Developing Rich Internet Client Applications Level 1 provides experienced application developers with hands-on, practical experience using Flex. This three day course introduces developers to all the primary features of Flex they'll need to kno- in order to build a fully functional, well architected front end for a Rich Internet Application (RIA).
Course Content
Introducing Adobe Flex 2

• Understanding rich Internet applications
  


• Introducing the Adobe Flex 2 product line
  


• The foundation of the RIA: Flash Player/Flash Virtual Machine
  


• Understanding the Flex application process fl ow
  


• Getting help and other resources
  


• Exploring the course application 13
  

Getting Started with Flex Builder 2

• Understanding the relationship between Eclipse and Flex Builder 2
  


• Exploring the Flex Builder 2 interface
  


• Creating a project and your fi rst application
  


• Creating a main application page and running it
  


• Using debugging
  


• Getting help in Adobe Flex Builder 2
  

Learning Flex Fundamentals

• Creating a simple Flex application
  


• Creating your fi rst Flex application
  


• Laying out a Flex application with containers
  


• Adding user interface controls
  


• Creating bindings between components
  


• Architecting an application with MXML components
  


• Creating properties and methods of MXML components
  

Handling Events

• Understanding events
  


• Creating event handlers using inline ActionScript
  


• Using inline ActionScript
  


• Handling events with ActionScript functions
  


• Placing ActionScript functions in external fi les
  


• Understanding the event object
  


• Implementing the addEventListener() method
  

Using Simple Controls

• Getting familiar with Flex controls
  


• Using the Button control
  


• Using a CheckBox Control
  


• Using NumericStepper controls
  


• Using Text controls
  


• Displaying images
  


• Adding simple controls to an application
  

Laying Out an Application with Containers

• Understanding Containers
  


• Using the Application container
  


• Setting an application's layout
  


• Using the Panel container
  


• Using the Form container
  


• Using the Grid container
  


• Using Box Containers
  


• Using the DividedBox container
  


• Using the Tile container
  


• Container best practices
  


• Using the ControlBar container
  


• Component layout and sizing rules
  

Laying out an Application Using Constraint-Based Layout

• Understanding absolute positioning
  


• Positioning components within the Canvas container
  


• Positioning components inside a Canvas
  


• Creating a constraint-based layout using Flex Builder 2
  


• Creating a constraint-based layout in MXML
  


• Using constraint-based layouts with nested components
  

Using Vie- States for Application Design

• Understanding vie- states
  


• Creating two states for the Contact page
  


• Controlling vie- states
  


• Reviewing the generated MXML code
  


• Creating vie- states that include custom components states
  

Creating Application Navigation

• Understanding navigator containers
  


• Using the LinkBar container
  


• Using the TabBar container
  


• Using the ViewStack container
  


• Navigating the Caf... Townsend application using the ViewStack and TabBar container
  


• Using the TabNavigator container
  


• Using the Accordion container
  


• Using ButtonBar & ToggleButtonBar
  


• Using the ApplicationControlBar container
  

Customizing the Application

• Customizing Flex application look and feel
  


• Using the Styles API to change look-and-feel
  


• Using theme styles
  


• Changing the look and feel of the Caf... Townsend application
  


• Applying behaviors to components
  


• Applying transitions to vie- states
  

Using MXML and ActionScript Data Models

• Using the MVC design pattern
  


• Creating an MXML data model
  


• Using ActionScript classes as a data model
  


• Instantiating an Object in MXML from an ActionScript class
  


• Creating an ActionScript constructor with parameters
  


• Defi ning class methods
  

Exchanging Data Between Components Using Custom Events

• Understanding the problem with bindings
  


• Using a binding to get data from a component
  


• Creating custom events
  


• Creating, dispatching and handling a custom event
  


• Sending data with a custom event
  

Retrieving XML Data with HTTPService

• Retrieving XML data at runtime
  


• Handling results
  


• Retrieving data at runtime with HTTPService
  


• Handling results using an event handler
  


• Handling faults
  


• Making HTTP requests to different domains
  

Looping Through Data Using a Repeater

• Understanding the Repeater component
  


• Using dataProvider data in repeated controls
  


• Dynamically creating components using a Repeater
  


• Using Repeater data in ActionScript
  


• Referencing repeated components
  

Displaying Data Using the DataGrid

• Using the DataGrid control
  


• Displaying Simple XML Data in a DataGrid
  


• Specifying DataGrid columns
  


• Specifying DataGrid columns
  


• Formatting DataGrid columns
  


• Using item renderers and item editors
  


• Using the TileList and HorizontalList
  


• Using events and selected items with list-based components