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Contents Listing

Foreword



Preface



Part I. ActionScript Fundamentals



1. A Gentle Introduction for Nonprogrammers

Some Basic Phrases

Further ActionScript Concepts

Building a Multiple-Choice Quiz



2. Variables

Creating Variables (Declaration)

Assigning Values to Variables

Changing and Retrieving Variable Values

Types of Values

Variable Scope

Loading External Variables

Some Applied Examples



3. Data and Datatypes

Data Versus Information

Retaining Meaning with Datatypes

Creating and Categorizing Data

Datatype Conversion

Primitive Data Versus Composite Data

Copying, Comparing, and Passing Data



4. Primitive Datatypes

The Number Type

Integers and Floating-Point Numbers

Numeric Literals

Working with Numbers

The String Type

Working with Strings

The Boolean Type

Undefined

Null



5. Operators

General Features of Operators

The Assignment Operator

Arithmetic Operators

The Equality and Inequality Operators

The Strict Equality and Inequality Operators

The Comparison Operators

The Flash 4 String Operators

The Logical Operators

The Grouping Operator

The Comma Operator

The void Operator

Other Operators



6. Statements

Types of Statements

Statement Syntax

The ActionScript Statements

Statements Versus Actions



7. Conditionals

The if Statement

The else Statement

The else if Statement

The switch Statement

Compact Conditional Syntax



8. Loop Statements

The while Loop

Loop Terminology

The do-while Loop

The for Loop

The for-in Loop

Stopping a Loop Prematurely

Timeline and Clip Event Loops

An Alternative to Timeline Loops:setInterval( )



9. Functions

Creating Functions

Running Functions

Passing Information to Functions

Exiting and Returning Values from Functions

Function Literals

Function Availability and Life Span

Function Scope

Function Parameters Revisited

Recursive Functions

Nested Functions

Built-in Functions

Functions as Objects

Centralizing Code

The Multiple-Choice Quiz Revisited



10. Events and Event Handling

Synchronous Code Execution

Event-Based Asynchronous Code Execution

Types of Events

Event Handling

Event Handler Properties

Listener Events

Flash 5's on( ) and onClipEvent( ) Handlers

Event Handler Lifespan

Event Handler Scope

Values of the this Keyword

Flash 5-style onClipEvent( ) Order of Execution

Copying Movie Clip Event Handlers

Refreshing the Screen with updateAfterEvent( )

Code Reusability

Dynamic Movie Clip Event Handlers

Event Handlers Applied



11. Arrays

What Is an Array?

The Anatomy of an Array

Creating Arrays

Referencing Array Elements

Determining the Size of an Array

Named Array Elements

Adding Elements to an Array

Removing Elements from an Array

General Array-Manipulation Tools

Arrays as Objects

Multidimensional Arrays

The Multiple-Choice Quiz, Take 3



12. Objects and Classes

The Anatomy of an Object

Instantiating Objects

Object Properties

Object Methods

Classes and Object-Oriented Programming

Using Standalone Object Instances as Associative Arrays

The Almighty Prototype Chain

Built-in ActionScript Classes and Objects

OOP Quick Reference

Further Topics

Simulating Namespaces

The Multiple-Choice Quiz, OOP Style



13. Movie Clips

The "Objectness" of Movie Clips

Types of Movie Clips

Creating Movie Clips

Movie and Instance Stacking Order

Referring to Instances and Main Movies

Method Versus Global Function Overlap Issues

Drawing in a Movie Clip at Runtime

Using Movie Clips as Buttons

Input Focus and Movie Clips

Building a Clock with Clips



14. Movie Clip Subclasses and Components

Creating the Library Symbol

Creating and Invoking the Subclass Constructor

Assigning the MovieClip Superclass

Packaging Subclass Code and Library Symbols Together

Making Movie Clip Components

MovieClip Sub-Subclasses

Summary



15. Lexical Structure

Whitespace

Statement Terminators (Semicolons)

Comments

Reserved Words

Identifiers

Case Sensitivity



16. ActionScript Authoring Environment

The Actions Panel

Adding Scripts to Frames

Adding Scripts to Buttons

Adding Scripts to Movie Clips

Where's All the Code?

Productivity

Externalizing ActionScript Code

Defining Components



17. Building a Flash Form

The Flash Form Data Cycle

Creating a Flash Fill-in Form



Part II. Language Reference



ActionScript Language Reference

Global Functions

Global Properties

Built-in Classes and Objects

Entry Headings

Alphabetical Language Reference



Part III. Appendixes



A. Resources



B. Latin 1 Character Repertoire and Keycodes



C. Backward Compatibility and Player Build Updates



D. Differences from ECMA-262 and JavaScript



E. HTML Support in Text Fields



F. Support for GET and POST



G. Flash UI Component Summary



H. Embedding a Flash Movie in a Web Page



Index