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__ The first exercise starts on page 2 and you jump
right in and get to work on a Preloader. You read that right, page 2. Instead of
repeating the basics you can find in your manual or help files these authors get
right into the meat of Flash 4. They've included plenty of real world useful projects
in here.
__ All the instructions are accompanied by full color
illustrations and instructions. Every lesson explains how the ActionScript works
and suggestions are made for other options and variations. The code is also included
with each lesson. Some of the things you will build are a Password Panel, Laughinator,
a Stopwatch, product catalog, guestbook and a search box. How about a shopping cart
made in Flash? Well that's here to. You can even build a Poll for your site in which
you can incorporate variable questions and answers.
__ Each project is numbered and a highlighted section
lists the features involved in the Lesson. For example, the Drag-and-Drop interface
starts with Fitgirl and deals with Layers-Control Actions, Channel Bar, Windows,
and Background. Then it continues with the instructions and ends with the How it
Works and Modifications.
__ I found the Jukebox to be particularly fun, there
is also a Map explorer which displays a map with clickable landmarks-a house plan
with photographs of room views. You can also scroll and zoom the map with a draggable
compass interface.
__ Part 2 has various games in it, such as, a quiz,
memory game, Wack-a-Mole, Pong, Hangman and the Dodge Game.
__ Each lesson has a purpose other than the obvious
function, for example, the Hangman game, sure it's a game but you also are learning
about incorporating animations and dynamic letters. For a list of the techniques
covered the authors were considerate enough to make an index of Techniques used so
I could tell you about it quite easily, here they are.
- Algorithm-controlled movement Audio files and Flash
- Calculations in ActionScript
- Data matching
- Decision-making
- Dragable interface elements
- Duplicating objects
- Dynamic data
- JavaScript Keyboard input Loading movies
- Minimized windows with double-click event Motion tweening
- Mouse position tracking Object collision detection PHP scripting
- Playback quality
- Progress bar
Random events
- Random object placement Randomized sequential events
- Real-time digital display
- Score-keeping
- Scrolling and interactive images
- Scrolling text
- Shape tweening
- Search engine with Flash Server-side scripting
- Size Reports
- Sliders that snap into place
Text fields
- Time-tracing
- Trig with Flash
- Updating a text field Zooming with a scroll bar
Even the Appendixes are loaded, working with Standalone Flash Projectors (to view
flash offline without a browser, such as screensavers), Flash Resources, ActionScript
(which includes a guide for beginners) and how the Flash 4 magic CD was created.
__ You can get additional goodies at the Navpacs website,
here is a short description.
__ Flash Foundry is a membership area packed with a
virtual grab bag of interfaces, goodies (buttons, animations, gradients--even a customizable
Flash-based quiz game), audio loops, sound effects, and tutorials.
__ I don't usually go into quite so much detail, but
I really wanted to show you that this book has depth and plenty of content. If you
are serious about developing Flash then learn the basics and don't let this one slip
by you. This team are a group of pros and it shows.
Joyce
Joyce Evans from Idea Design
Copyright 1999 Joyce
Evans, All Rights Reserved
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