ActionScript for Flash MX: The Definitive Guide, 2nd Edition

ActionScript for Flash MX: The Definitive Guide PDF

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ActionScript for Flash MX: The Definitive Guide PDF

By Colin Moock

Publisher: O'Reilly Media

Released: December 2002

Pages: 1088

Updated to cover Flash MX, the newest version of Macromedia Flash, ActionScript for Flash MX: The Definitive Guide, Second Edition is the one book no serious Flash developer should be without.

ActionScript is Macromedia's programming language for Flash MX, the popular authoring tool for creating rich internet applications and animations for the Web. With Macromedia's new focus on application development, ActionScript now includes a direct drawing API, loading of external MP3 and JPG files, improved sound control, an extensive set of text formatting tools, complete support for component development using movie clip subclasses, local data storage, accessibility features, and much more. And ActionScript for Flash MX: The Definitive Guide is the most complete, up-to-date reference available for the latest version of this language.

Author Colin Moock, one of the most universally respected developers in the Flash community, has added hundreds of new code examples to show new Flash MX techniques in the real world: how to draw circles, save data to disk, convert arrays to onscreen tables, create reusable components, and preload variables, XML, and sounds. The book's language reference alone has nearly doubled from the first edition, with more than 250 new classes, objects, methods, and properties. You'll find exhaustive coverage of dozens of undocumented, under-documented, and mis-documented features.

Along with the new material, Colin Moock has meticulously revised the entire text to conform to Flash MX best-coding practices. In particular, objected-oriented programming and the new event model get special attention in light of changes to Flash MX ActionScript. From sending data between two movies to creating getter/setter properties, the new edition of this book demystifies the often-confusing new features of Flash MX, giving developers easy access to its powerful new capabilities.

ActionScript for Flash MX: The Definitive Guide is structured so non-programmers can learn how to use ActionScript and programmers can take their skills to new heights. If you are in the market to really learn about the hows and whys of ActionScript, then this is the book for you.

ActionScript Fundamentals
1. Chapter 1 A Gentle Introductionfor Nonprogrammers
  1. Some Basic Phrases
  2. Further ActionScript Concepts
  3. Building a Multiple-Choice Quiz
  4. Onward!
2. Chapter 2 Variables
  1. Creating Variables (Declaration)
  2. Assigning Values to Variables
  3. Changing and Retrieving Variable Values
  4. Types of Values
  5. Variable Scope
  6. Loading External Variables
  7. Some Applied Examples
  8. Onward!
3. Chapter 3 Data and Datatypes
  1. Data Versus Information
  2. Retaining Meaning with Datatypes
  3. Creating and Categorizing Data
  4. Datatype Conversion
  5. Primitive Data Versus Composite Data
  6. Copying, Comparing, and Passing Data
  7. Onward!
4. Chapter 4 Primitive Datatypes
  1. The Number Type
  2. Integers and Floating-Point Numbers
  3. Numeric Literals
  4. Working with Numbers
  5. The String Type
  6. Working with Strings
  7. The Boolean Type
  8. Undefined
  9. Null
  10. Onward!
5. Chapter 5 Operators
  1. General Features of Operators
  2. The Assignment Operator
  3. Arithmetic Operators
  4. The Equality and Inequality Operators
  5. The Strict Equality and Inequality Operators
  6. The Comparison Operators
  7. The Flash 4 String Operators
  8. The Logical Operators
  9. The Grouping Operator
  10. The Comma Operator
  11. The void Operator
  12. Other Operators
  13. Onward!
6. Chapter 6 Statements
  1. Types of Statements
  2. Statement Syntax
  3. The ActionScript Statements
  4. Statements Versus Actions
  5. Onward!
7. Chapter 7 Conditionals
  1. The if Statement
  2. The else Statement
  3. The else if Statement
  4. The switch Statement
  5. Compact Conditional Syntax
  6. Onward!
8. Chapter 8 Loop Statements
  1. The while Loop
  2. Loop Terminology
  3. The do-while Loop
  4. The for Loop
  5. The for-in Loop
  6. Stopping a Loop Prematurely
  7. Timeline and Clip Event Loops
  8. An Alternative to Timeline Loops:setInterval( )
  9. Onward!
9. Chapter 9 Functions
  1. Creating Functions
  2. Running Functions
  3. Passing Information to Functions
  4. Exiting and Returning Values from Functions
  5. Function Literals
  6. Function Availability and Life Span
  7. Function Scope
  8. Function Parameters Revisited
  9. Recursive Functions
  10. Nested Functions
  11. Built-in Functions
  12. Functions as Objects
  13. Centralizing Code
  14. The Multiple-Choice Quiz Revisited
  15. Onward!
10. Chapter 10 Events and Event Handling
  1. Synchronous Code Execution
  2. Event-Based Asynchronous Code Execution
  3. Types of Events
  4. Event Handling
  5. Event Handler Properties
  6. Listener Events
  7. Flash 5's on( ) and onClipEvent( ) Handlers
  8. Event Handler Lifespan
  9. Event Handler Scope
  10. Values of the this Keyword
  11. Flash 5-style onClipEvent( ) Order of Execution
  12. Copying Movie Clip Event Handlers
  13. Refreshing the Screen with updateAfterEvent( )
  14. Code Reusability
  15. Dynamic Movie Clip Event Handlers
  16. Event Handlers Applied
  17. Onward!
11. Chapter 11 Arrays
  1. What Is an Array?
  2. The Anatomy of an Array
  3. Creating Arrays
  4. Referencing Array Elements
  5. Determining the Size of an Array
  6. Named Array Elements
  7. Adding Elements to an Array
  8. Removing Elements from an Array
  9. General Array-Manipulation Tools
  10. Arrays as Objects
  11. Multidimensional Arrays
  12. The Multiple-Choice Quiz, Take 3
  13. Onward!
12. Chapter 12 Objects and Classes
  1. The Anatomy of an Object
  2. Instantiating Objects
  3. Object Properties
  4. Object Methods
  5. Classes and Object-Oriented Programming
  6. Using Standalone Object Instances as Associative Arrays
  7. The Almighty Prototype Chain
  8. Built-in ActionScript Classes and Objects
  9. OOP Quick Reference
  10. Further Topics
  11. Simulating Namespaces
  12. The Multiple-Choice Quiz, OOP Style
  13. Onward!
13. Chapter 13 Movie Clips
  1. The "Objectness" of Movie Clips
  2. Types of Movie Clips
  3. Creating Movie Clips
  4. Movie and Instance Stacking Order
  5. Referring to Instances and Main Movies
  6. Removing Clip Instances and Main Movies
  7. Method Versus Global Function Overlap Issues
  8. Drawing in a Movie Clip at Runtime
  9. Using Movie Clips as Buttons
  10. Input Focus and Movie Clips
  11. Building a Clock with Clips
  12. Onward!
14. Chapter 14 Movie Clip Subclasses and Components
  1. Creating the Library Symbol
  2. Creating and Invoking the Subclass Constructor
  3. Assigning the MovieClip Superclass
  4. Packaging Subclass Code and Library Symbols Together
  5. Making Movie Clip Components
  6. MovieClip Sub-Subclasses
  7. Summary
  8. Onward!
15. Chapter 15 Lexical Structure
  1. Whitespace
  2. Statement Terminators (Semicolons)
  3. Comments
  4. Reserved Words
  5. Identifiers
  6. Case Sensitivity
  7. Onward!
16. Chapter 16 ActionScript Authoring Environment
  1. The Actions Panel
  2. Adding Scripts to Frames
  3. Adding Scripts to Buttons
  4. Adding Scripts to Movie Clips
  5. Where's All the Code?
  6. Productivity
  7. Externalizing ActionScript Code
  8. Defining Components
  9. Onward!
17. Chapter 17 Building a Flash Form
  1. The Flash Form Data Cycle
  2. Creating a Flash Fill-in Form
  3. Onward!
Language Reference
1. Chapter 18 ActionScript Language Reference
  1. Global Functions
  2. Global Properties
  3. Built-in Classes and Objects
  4. Entry Headings
  5. Alphabetical Language Reference
  6. Accessibility Object
  7. Accessibility.isActive( ) Method
  8. Accessibility.sendEvent( ) Method
  9. Arguments Object
  10. arguments.callee Property
  11. arguments.caller Property
  12. arguments.length Property
  13. Array Class
  14. Array.concat( ) Method
  15. Array.join( ) Method
  16. Array.length Property
  17. Array.pop( ) Method
  18. Array.push( ) Method
  19. Array.reverse( ) Method
  20. Array.shift( ) Method
  21. Array.slice( ) Method
  22. Array.sort( ) Method
  23. Array.sortOn( ) Method
  24. Array.splice( ) Method
  25. Array.toString( ) Method
  26. Array.unshift( ) Method
  27. Boolean( ) Global Function
  28. Boolean Class
  29. Boolean.toString( ) Method
  30. Boolean.valueOf( ) Method
  31. Button Class
  32. Button._alpha Property
  33. Button.enabled Property
  34. Button._focusrect Property
  35. Button.getDepth( ) Method
  36. Button._height Property
  37. Button keyPress Event Handler
  38. Button._name Property
  39. Button.onDragOut( ) Event Handler
  40. Button.onDragOver( ) Event Handler
  41. Button.onKillFocus( ) Event Handler
  42. Button.onPress( ) Event Handler
  43. Button.onRelease( ) Event Handler
  44. Button.onReleaseOutside( ) Event Handler
  45. Button.onRollOut( ) Event Handler
  46. Button.onRollOver( ) Event Handler
  47. Button.onSetFocus( ) Event Handler
  48. Button._parent Property
  49. Button._rotation Property
  50. Button.tabEnabled Property
  51. Button.tabIndex Property
  52. Button._target Property
  53. Button.trackAsMenu Property
  54. Button._url Property
  55. Button.useHandCursor Property
  56. Button._visible Property
  57. Button._width Property
  58. Button._x Property
  59. Button._xmouse Property
  60. Button._xscale Property
  61. Button._y Property
  62. Button._ymouse Property
  63. Button._yscale Property
  64. call( ) Global Function
  65. Capabilities Object
  66. capabilities.hasAccessibility Property
  67. capabilities.hasAudio Property
  68. capabilities.hasAudioEncoder Property
  69. capabilities.hasMP3 Property
  70. capabilities.hasVideoEncoder Property
  71. capabilities.input Property
  72. capabilities.isDebugger Property
  73. capabilities.language Property
  74. capabilities.manufacturer Property
  75. capabilities.os Property
  76. capabilities.pixelAspectRatio Property
  77. capabilities.screenColor Property
  78. capabilities.screenDPI Property
  79. capabilities.screenResolutionX Property
  80. capabilities.screenResolutionY Property
  81. capabilities.serverString Property
  82. capabilities.version Property
  83. clearInterval( ) Global Function
  84. Color Class
  85. Color.getRGB( ) Method
  86. Color.getTransform( ) Method
  87. Color.setRGB( ) Method
  88. Color.setTransform( ) Method
  89. Date( ) Global Function
  90. Date Class
  91. Date.getDate( ) Method
  92. Date.getDay( ) Method
  93. Date.getFullYear( ) Method
  94. Date.getHours( ) Method
  95. Date.getMilliseconds( ) Method
  96. Date.getMinutes( ) Method
  97. Date.getMonth( ) Method
  98. Date.getSeconds( ) Method
  99. Date.getTime( ) Method
  100. Date.getTimezoneOffset( ) Method
  101. Date.getUTCDate( ) Method
  102. Date.getUTCDay( ) Method
  103. Date.getUTCFullYear( ) Method
  104. Date.getUTCHours( ) Method
  105. Date.getUTCMilliseconds( ) Method
  106. Date.getUTCMinutes( ) Method
  107. Date.getUTCMonth( ) Method
  108. Date.getUTCSeconds( ) Method
  109. Date.getYear( ) Method
  110. Date.setDate( ) Method
  111. Date.setFullYear( ) Method
  112. Date.setHours( ) Method
  113. Date.setMilliseconds( ) Method
  114. Date.setMinutes( ) Method
  115. Date.setMonth( ) Method
  116. Date.setSeconds( ) Method
  117. Date.setTime( ) Method
  118. Date.setUTCDate( ) Method
  119. Date.setUTCFullYear( ) Method
  120. Date.setUTCHours( ) Method
  121. Date.setUTCMilliseconds( ) Method
  122. Date.setUTCMinutes( ) Method
  123. Date.setUTCMonth( ) Method
  124. Date.setUTCSeconds( ) Method
  125. Date.setYear( ) Method
  126. Date.toString( ) Method
  127. Date.UTC( ) Class Method
  128. Date.valueOf( ) Method
  129. delete Operator
  130. duplicateMovieClip( ) Global Function
  131. #endinitclip Pragma
  132. escape( ) Global Function
  133. eval( ) Global Function
  134. _focusrect Global Property
  135. fscommand( ) Global Function
  136. Function Class
  137. Function.apply( ) Method
  138. Function.call( ) Method
  139. Function.prototype Property
  140. Function.toString( ) Method
  141. getProperty( ) Global Function
  142. getTimer( ) Global Function
  143. getURL( ) Global Function
  144. getVersion( ) Global Function
  145. _global Object
  146. gotoAndPlay( ) Global Function
  147. gotoAndStop( ) Global Function
  148. _highquality Global Property
  149. #include Directive
  150. Infinity Global Property
  151. -Infinity Global Property
  152. #initclip Pragma
  153. instanceof Operator
  154. int( ) Global Function
  155. isFinite( ) Global Function
  156. isNaN( ) Global Function
  157. Key Object
  158. Key.addListener( ) Method
  159. Key.getAscii( ) Method
  160. Key.getCode( ) Method
  161. Key.isDown( ) Method
  162. Key.isToggled( ) Method
  163. Key.onKeyDown( ) Listener Event
  164. Key.onKeyUp( ) Listener Event
  165. Key.removeListener( ) Method
  166. _leveln Global Property
  167. loadMovie( ) Global Function
  168. loadMovieNum( ) Global Function
  169. loadVariables( ) Global Function
  170. loadVariablesNum( ) Global Function
  171. LoadVars Class
  172. LoadVars.contentType Property
  173. LoadVars.decode( ) Method
  174. LoadVars.getBytesLoaded( ) Method
  175. LoadVars.getBytesTotal( ) Method
  176. LoadVars.load( ) Method
  177. LoadVars.loaded Property
  178. LoadVars.onData( ) Event Handler
  179. LoadVars.onLoad( ) Event Handler
  180. LoadVars.send( ) Method
  181. LoadVars.sendAndLoad( ) Method
  182. LoadVars.toString( ) Method
  183. LocalConnection Class
  184. LocalConnection.allowDomain( ) Event Handler
  185. LocalConnection.close( ) Method
  186. LocalConnection.connect( ) Method
  187. LocalConnection.domain( ) Method
  188. LocalConnection.onStatus( ) Event Handler
  189. LocalConnection.send( ) Method
  190. Math Object
  191. Math.abs( ) Method
  192. Math.acos( ) Method
  193. Math.asin( ) Method
  194. Math.atan( ) Method
  195. Math.atan2( ) Method
  196. Math.ceil( ) Method
  197. Math.cos( ) Method
  198. Math.E Property
  199. Math.exp( ) Method
  200. Math.floor( ) Method
  201. Math.LN10 Property
  202. Math.LN2 Property
  203. Math.log( ) Method
  204. Math.LOG10E Property
  205. Math.LOG2E Property
  206. Math.max( ) Method
  207. Math.min( ) Method
  208. Math.PI Property
  209. Math.pow( ) Method
  210. Math.random( ) Method
  211. Math.round( ) Method
  212. Math.sin( ) Method
  213. Math.sqrt( ) Method
  214. Math.SQRT1_2 Property
  215. Math.SQRT2 Property
  216. Math.tan( ) Method
  217. maxscroll Property
  218. Mouse Object
  219. Mouse.addListener( ) Method
  220. Mouse.hide( ) Method
  221. Mouse.onMouseDown( ) Listener Event
  222. Mouse.onMouseMove( ) Listener Event
  223. Mouse.onMouseUp( ) Listener Event
  224. Mouse.show( ) Method
  225. Mouse.removeListener( ) Method
  226. MovieClip Class
  227. MovieClip._alpha Property
  228. MovieClip.attachMovie( ) Method
  229. MovieClip.beginFill( ) Method
  230. MovieClip.beginGradientFill( ) Method
  231. MovieClip.clear( ) Method
  232. MovieClip.createEmptyMovieClip( ) Method
  233. MovieClip.createTextField( ) Method
  234. MovieClip._currentframe Property
  235. MovieClip.curveTo( ) Method
  236. MovieClip._droptarget Property
  237. MovieClip.duplicateMovieClip( ) Method
  238. MovieClip.enabled Property
  239. MovieClip.endFill( ) Method
  240. MovieClip.focusEnabled Property
  241. MovieClip._focusrect Property
  242. MovieClip._framesloaded Property
  243. MovieClip.getBounds( ) Method
  244. MovieClip.getBytesLoaded( ) Method
  245. MovieClip.getBytesTotal( ) Method
  246. MovieClip.getDepth( ) Method
  247. MovieClip.getURL( ) Method
  248. MovieClip.globalToLocal( ) Method
  249. MovieClip.gotoAndPlay( ) Method
  250. MovieClip.gotoAndStop( ) Method
  251. MovieClip._height Property
  252. MovieClip.hitArea Property
  253. MovieClip.hitTest( ) Method
  254. MovieClip.lineStyle( ) Method
  255. MovieClip.lineTo( ) Method
  256. MovieClip.loadMovie( ) Method
  257. MovieClip.loadVariables( ) Method
  258. MovieClip.localToGlobal( ) Method
  259. MovieClip.moveTo( ) Method
  260. MovieClip._name Property
  261. MovieClip.nextFrame( ) Method
  262. MovieClip.onData ( ) Event Handler
  263. MovieClip.onDragOut( ) Event Handler
  264. MovieClip.onDragOver( ) Event Handler
  265. MovieClip.onEnterFrame ( ) Event Handler
  266. MovieClip.onKeyDown ( ) Event Handler
  267. MovieClip.onKeyUp ( ) Event Handler
  268. MovieClip.onKillFocus ( ) Event Handler
  269. MovieClip.onLoad ( ) Event Handler
  270. MovieClip.onMouseDown( ) Event Handler
  271. MovieClip.onMouseMove( ) Event Handler
  272. MovieClip.onMouseUp( ) Event Handler
  273. MovieClip.onPress( ) Event Handler
  274. MovieClip.onRelease( ) Event Handler
  275. MovieClip.onReleaseOutside( ) Event Handler
  276. MovieClip.onRollOut( ) Event Handler
  277. MovieClip.onRollOver( ) Event Handler
  278. MovieClip.onSetFocus( ) Event Handler
  279. MovieClip.onUnload( ) Event Handler
  280. MovieClip._parent Property
  281. MovieClip.play( ) Method
  282. MovieClip.prevFrame( ) Method
  283. MovieClip.removeMovieClip( ) Method
  284. MovieClip._rotation Property
  285. MovieClip.setMask( ) Method
  286. MovieClip.startDrag( ) Method
  287. MovieClip.stop( ) Method
  288. MovieClip.stopDrag( ) Method
  289. MovieClip.swapDepths( ) Method
  290. MovieClip.tabChildren Property
  291. MovieClip.tabEnabled Property
  292. MovieClip.tabIndex Property
  293. MovieClip._target Property
  294. MovieClip._totalframes Property
  295. MovieClip.trackAsMenu Property
  296. MovieClip.unloadMovie( ) Method
  297. MovieClip._url Property
  298. MovieClip.useHandCursor Property
  299. MovieClip.valueOf( ) Method
  300. MovieClip._visible Property
  301. MovieClip._width Property
  302. MovieClip._x Property
  303. MovieClip._xmouse Property
  304. MovieClip._xscale Property
  305. MovieClip._y Property
  306. MovieClip._ymouse Property
  307. MovieClip._yscale Property
  308. NaN Global Property
  309. new Operator
  310. newline Constant
  311. nextFrame( ) Global Function
  312. nextScene( ) Global Function
  313. Number( ) Global Function
  314. Number Class
  315. Number.MAX_VALUE Property
  316. Number.MIN_VALUE Property
  317. Number.NaN Property
  318. Number.NEGATIVE_INFINITY Property
  319. Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY Property
  320. Number.toString( ) Method
  321. Object Class
  322. Object.addProperty Method
  323. Object.constructor Property
  324. Object.hasOwnProperty( ) Method
  325. Object.__proto__ Property
  326. Object.registerClass( ) Class Method
  327. Object.toString( ) Method
  328. Object.unwatch( ) Method
  329. Object.valueOf( ) Method
  330. Object.watch( ) Method
  331. parseFloat( ) Global Function
  332. parseInt( ) Global Function
  333. play( ) Global Function
  334. prevFrame( ) Global Function
  335. prevScene( ) Global Function
  336. print( ) Global Function
  337. printAsBitmap( ) Global Function
  338. printAsBitmapNum( ) Global Function
  339. printNum( ) Global Function
  340. _quality Global Property
  341. random( ) Global Function
  342. removeMovieClip( ) Global Function
  343. _root Global Property
  344. scroll Property
  345. Selection Object
  346. Selection.addListener( ) Method
  347. Selection.getBeginIndex( ) Method
  348. Selection.getCaretIndex( ) Method
  349. Selection.getEndIndex( ) Method
  350. Selection.getFocus( ) Method
  351. Selection.onSetFocus( ) Listener Event
  352. Selection.removeListener( ) Method
  353. Selection.setFocus( ) Method
  354. Selection.setSelection( ) Method
  355. setInterval( ) Global Function
  356. setProperty( ) Global Function
  357. SharedObject Object
  358. SharedObject.data Property
  359. SharedObject.flush( ) Method
  360. SharedObject.getLocal( ) Method
  361. SharedObject.getSize( ) Method
  362. SharedObject.onStatus( ) Event Handler
  363. Sound Class
  364. Sound.attachSound( ) Method
  365. Sound.duration Property
  366. Sound.getBytesLoaded( ) Method
  367. Sound.getBytesTotal( ) Method
  368. Sound.getPan( ) Method
  369. Sound.getTransform( ) Method
  370. Sound.getVolume( ) Method
  371. Sound.id3 Property
  372. Sound.loadSound( ) Method
  373. Sound.onLoad( ) Event Handler
  374. Sound.onSoundComplete( ) Event Handler
  375. Sound.position Property
  376. Sound.setPan( ) Method
  377. Sound.setTransform( ) Method
  378. Sound.setVolume( ) Method
  379. Sound.start( ) Method
  380. Sound.stop( ) Method
  381. _soundbuftime Global Property
  382. Stage Object
  383. Stage.addListener( ) Method
  384. Stage.align Property
  385. Stage.height Property
  386. Stage.onResize( ) Listener Event
  387. Stage.removeListener( ) Method
  388. Stage.scaleMode Property
  389. Stage.showMenu Property
  390. Stage.width Property
  391. startDrag( ) Global Function
  392. stop( ) Global Function
  393. stopAllSounds( ) Global Function
  394. stopDrag( ) Global Function
  395. #strict Pragma
  396. String( ) Global Function
  397. String Class
  398. String.charAt( ) Method
  399. String.charCodeAt( ) Method
  400. String.concat( ) Method
  401. String.fromCharCode( ) Class Method
  402. String.indexOf( ) Method
  403. String.lastIndexOf( ) Method
  404. String.length Property
  405. String.slice( ) Method
  406. String.split( ) Method
  407. String.substr( ) Method
  408. String.substring( ) Method
  409. String.toLowerCase( ) Method
  410. String.toUpperCase( ) Method
  411. super "Operator"
  412. System Object
  413. System.capabilities Property
  414. System.security.allowDomain( ) Method
  415. System.showSettings( ) Method
  416. System.useCodepage Property
  417. targetPath( ) Global Function
  418. tellTarget( ) Global Function
  419. TextField Class
  420. TextField.addListener( ) Method
  421. TextField._alpha Property
  422. TextField.autoSize Property
  423. TextField.background Property
  424. TextField.backgroundColor Property
  425. TextField.border Property
  426. TextField.borderColor Property
  427. TextField.bottomScroll Property
  428. TextField.condenseWhite Property
  429. TextField.embedFonts Property
  430. TextField.getDepth( ) Method
  431. TextField.getFontList( ) Class Method
  432. TextField.getNewTextFormat( ) Method
  433. TextField.getTextFormat( ) Method
  434. TextField._height Property
  435. TextField.hscroll Property
  436. TextField.html Property
  437. TextField.htmlText Property
  438. TextField.length Property
  439. TextField.maxChars Property
  440. TextField.maxhscroll Property
  441. TextField.maxscroll Property
  442. TextField.multiline Property
  443. TextField._name Property
  444. TextField.onChanged( ) Event Handler and Listener Event
  445. TextField.onKillFocus( ) Event Handler
  446. TextField.onScroller( ) Event Handler and Listener Event
  447. TextField.onSetFocus( ) Event Handler
  448. TextField._parent Property
  449. TextField.password Property
  450. TextField.removeListener( ) Method
  451. TextField.removeTextField( ) Method
  452. TextField.replaceSel( ) Method
  453. TextField.restrict Property
  454. TextField._rotation Property
  455. TextField.scroll Property
  456. TextField.selectable Property
  457. TextField.setNewTextFormat( ) Method
  458. TextField.setTextFormat( ) Method
  459. TextField.tabEnabled Property
  460. TextField.tabIndex Property
  461. TextField._target Property
  462. TextField.text Property
  463. TextField.textColor Property
  464. TextField.textHeight Property
  465. TextField.textWidth Property
  466. TextField.type Property
  467. TextField._url Property
  468. TextField.variable Property
  469. TextField._visible Property
  470. TextField._width Property
  471. TextField.wordWrap Property
  472. TextField._x Property
  473. TextField._xmouse Property
  474. TextField._xscale Property
  475. TextField._y Property
  476. TextField._ymouse Property
  477. TextField._yscale Property
  478. TextFormat Class
  479. TextFormat.align Property
  480. TextFormat.blockIndent Property
  481. TextFormat.bold Property
  482. TextFormat.bullet Property
  483. TextFormat.color Property
  484. TextFormat.font Property
  485. TextFormat.getTextExtent( ) Method
  486. TextFormat.indent Property
  487. TextFormat.italic Property
  488. TextFormat.leading Property
  489. TextFormat.leftMargin Property
  490. TextFormat.rightMargin Property
  491. TextFormat.size Property
  492. TextFormat.tabStops Property
  493. TextFormat.target Property
  494. TextFormat.underline Property
  495. TextFormat.url Property
  496. toggleHighQuality( ) Global Function
  497. trace( ) Global Function
  498. typeof Operator
  499. unescape( ) Global Function
  500. unloadMovie( ) Global Function
  501. unloadMovieNum( ) Global Function
  502. updateAfterEvent( ) Global Function
  503. $version "Global" Property
  504. XML Class
  505. XML.appendChild( ) Method
  506. XML.attributes Property
  507. XML.childNodes Property
  508. XML.cloneNode( ) Method
  509. XML.contentType Property
  510. XML.createElement( ) Method
  511. XML.createTextNode( ) Method
  512. XML.docTypeDecl Property
  513. XML.firstChild Property
  514. XML.getBytesLoaded( ) Method
  515. XML.getBytesTotal( ) Method
  516. XML.hasChildNodes( ) Method
  517. XML.ignoreWhite Property
  518. XML.insertBefore( ) Method
  519. XML.lastChild Property
  520. XML.load( ) Method
  521. XML.loaded Property
  522. XML.nextSibling Property
  523. XML.nodeName Property
  524. XML.nodeType Property
  525. XML.nodeValue Property
  526. XML.onData( ) Event Handler
  527. XML.onLoad( ) Event Handler
  528. XML.parentNode Property
  529. XML.parseXML( ) Method
  530. XML.previousSibling Property
  531. XML.removeNode( ) Method
  532. XML.send( ) Method
  533. XML.sendAndLoad( ) Method
  534. XML.status Property
  535. XML.toString( ) Method
  536. XML.xmlDecl Property
  537. XMLnode Class
  538. XMLSocket Class
  539. XMLSocket.close( ) Method
  540. XMLSocket.connect( ) Method
  541. XMLSocket.onClose( ) Event Handler
  542. XMLSocket.onConnect( ) Event Handler
  543. XMLSocket.onData( ) Event Handler
  544. XMLSocket.onXML( ) Event Handler
  545. XMLSocket.send( ) Method
Appendixes
1. Appendix A Resources
  1. ActionScript Books
  2. ActionScript and Programming Web Sites
  3. ECMA-262 Resources
  4. Object-Oriented Programming
  5. SWF File Format
  6. Character Encoding and Unicode
2. Appendix B Latin 1 Character Repertoire and Keycodes
3. Appendix C Backward Compatibility and Player Build Updates
  1. Best Practices in Flash 6 ActionScript
  2. Player Build Updates
  3. Flash 4 Versus Flash 5 (and Later)
4. Appendix D Differences from ECMA-262 and JavaScript
5. Appendix E HTML Support in Text Fields
  1. HTML Tag Support in Text Fields
  2. Entity Support
  3. Quoting Attribute Values
  4. Unrecognized Tags and Attributes
  5. Using HTML for Input and Output
  6. Executing JavaScript from HTML Links
  7. Calling ActionScript Functions from HTML Links
6. Appendix F Support for GET and POST
  1. Browser-Based Support for GET and POST
  2. Standalone Player Support for GET and POST
7. Appendix G Flash UI Component Summary
8. Appendix H Embedding a Flash Movie in a Web Page
  1. Attributes of the <OBJECT> Tag
  2. Attributes of the <EMBED> Tag
  3. Common Attributes of the <OBJECT> and <EMBED> Tags
  4. Runtime Access Affecting HTML Attributes

Colophon

Title:

ActionScript for Flash MX: The Definitive Guide, 2nd Edition

By:

Colin Moock

Publisher:

O'Reilly Media

Formats:

Print
Ebook
Safari Books Online

Print:

December 2002

Ebook:

June 2009

Pages:

1088

Print ISBN:

978-0-596-00396-8

| ISBN 10:

0-596-00396-X

Ebook ISBN:

978-0-596-55616-7

| ISBN 10:

0-596-55616-0

Colophon

Our look is the result of reader comments, our own experimentation, and feedback from distribution channels. Distinctive covers complement our distinctive approach to technical topics, breathing personality and life into potentially dry subjects. The animal on the cover of ActionScript for Flash MX: The Definitive Guide, Second Edition, is a siren, a particular type of salamander found in North American freshwater habitats. Salamanders are amphibians with tails; they diverged from other amphibian species (including frogs) early in amphibian evolution. All salamanders have smooth skin that is kept moist by secretions from numerous glands. When their environment becomes too dry, too hot, or too cold, the cold-blooded salamanders burrow into mud, and their body functions slow down.

Sirens develop cocoons to shelter themselves until conditions improve. Sirens are considered very primitive salamanders, as they are aquatic (live permanently in water), lack hind legs, have reduced front legs, gills, and other larval features into maturity, and their offspring are fertilized externally in the water. They are active at night, coming out and swimming much like eels do, using their dorsal fin in side-to-side motion to propel them forward. As they do so, they feed by gulping at insects and larvae. They expel plant matter through their gills.

Like all amphibians, sirens are an important part of a balanced ecosystem. They are small predators who in turn are preyed upon by fish and birds. Their glandular skin and fragile systems put sirens in the unfortunate position of being early pollution indicators in their freshwater habitats. Siren intermedia, an unusual siren subspecies that inhabits a large North American range and is known for its ability to produce vocal clicks and shrills, has nearly disappeared from Michigan, perhaps due to the presence of Rotenone, a chemical tool used to manage fisheries. Brian Sawyer was the production editor and copyeditor for ActionScript for Flash MX: The Definitive Guide, Second Edition. Linley Dolby, Jeff Holcomb, and Claire Cloutier provided quality control. Genevieve D'Entremont, Judy Hoer, and Andrew Savikas provided production support. Julie Hawks wrote the index.

Ellie Volckhausen designed the cover of this book, based on a series design by Edie Freedman. The cover image is a 19th-century engraving from the Dover Pictorial Archive. Emma Colby produced the cover layout with QuarkXPress 4.1 using Adobe's ITC Garamond font.

David Futato designed the interior layout. This book was converted to FrameMaker 5.5.6 by Joe Wizda with a format conversion tool created by Erik Ray, Jason McIntosh, Neil Walls, and Mike Sierra that uses Perl and XML technologies. The text font is Linotype Birka; the heading font is Adobe Myriad Condensed; and the code font is LucasFont's TheSans Mono Condensed. The illustrations that appear in the book were produced by Robert Romano and Jessamyn Read using Macromedia FreeHand 9 and Adobe Photoshop 6. The tip and warning icons were drawn by Christopher Bing. This colophon was written by Sarah Jane Shangraw and Brian Sawyer.

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