Learning ActionScript 2.0

[Steve1]

Dear Script Junkies,

I am desperate to learn ActionScript 2.0 but I don’t really know where to start. Ideally I’d like to go on a part time evening course here in London but can’t find one near me.

How/where did you guys learn? Is it something a person can teach himself with manuals and patience?

Does a person need to have a mathematical brain to really master ActionScript?

I’m now at a stage where I’m confident and comfortable with most aspects of the actual Flash software but realise I need to learn script to get the most from it. The thing is, although I’m keen as mustard, I’m really concerned as I have no experience with coding and whenever I look at a page of ActionScript it seems like a daunting task to me.

Any advice would be very welcome.

Whats the best manual to get or sites to visit?

Many thanks

[Satchel]

I'm in the same boat as you steve! Code just looks way to hard... Most of the time when I look at some code, I can get the general idea of what it does, but if I had to write my own I'd be totally lost! Thank God for programmer brother-in-laws!
S.

[JPnyc]

It's like anything else in life, for some it's hard, for some it's cake. It's a talent or an aptitude, like anything else. I hated math throughout my scholastic life, and yet I code entirely in notepad in HTML/CSS, Javascript, Java, and VBscript. For VB I use MS Visual Studio, of course. Flash actionscripting syntax is VERY much like Javascript, which really isn't that tough. THat's about as easy as scripting/coding gets, although you could also make that argument for VB and VBscript.

[John G]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/059600396X/qid=1134491961/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-8848288-1838211?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

In general great actionscript book especially for the beginner to the programing world.

http://www.actionscript.org/
http://www.flashkit.com/

Good tutorials (I like actionscript.org's better).

[Steve1]

Thanks chaps......John that book looks perfect. Check this review

"I've been a professional Flash user for many years, and got to the point where I could pull off just about anything using tweens, and simple actionscript like gotoAndPlay();, etc.

But the time came recently when I was truly ready to learn Actionscript. I looked at some other books, and even bought the Actionscript for Dummies book, which is fine if you don't really want to learn to script, but only want to fake your way through it. I already knew how to do this.

Then I bought this book. I can't believe it. I'm actully scripting! Just like that! Where was this book when I was trying to learn how to code in Flash 4? It didn't exist yet, that's where. But, now, luckily for you, here is THE BOOK FOR LEARNING FLASH ACTIONSCRIPT. BUY IT NOW!!!"

Satchel - I'll let you know how I'm getting on mate.

[embersyc]

My advice is to get the Lynda.com training videos.

http://movielibrary.lynda.com/html/modPage.asp?ID=76

http://movielibrary.lynda.com/html/modPage.asp?ID=90

They are extremely helpful, and if you're a fast learner I think they are better than even taking a class.

The downfall is they are on the expensive side.

[chris_bcn]

i've been looking at them - $375 for a year seems pretty reasonable??? Are they worth it?

[EC]

Once upon a time, I bought one of Lynda's flash video courses. Dude, so worth it. Everything I've ever used of theirs has been well worth the investment.

If you like to learn in a "workshop" sort of way -- watching, doing, watching, doing.

[chris_bcn]

christmas present to myself there then! 2 present sorted out already today - I'm on a roll