FLASH MX -> Now

[tZ]

I have this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Flash-MX-ActionScript-James-Mohler/dp/0766829103/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197513152&sr=8-3

Would it be a waste of my time to read it? – has actionscript changed that much from MX?

I plan on picking up this book soon but, will the above suffice (for anyone who knows flashMX or has read the above book)? – thanks

http://www.amazon.com/Object-Oriented-ActionScript-3-0-Todd-Yard/dp/1590598458/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197513353&sr=8-1

[reuber1]

I hear from one of my old profs that Actionscript 3 is significantly different than 2, which that was kind of different from the original. You might be best off to go with the latter if you only want one, but I'd imagine many of the inherent principles are the same so I can't think of the first book being a waste of time.

Hard to tell from the reviews if that second book is a good starting point or something you should get into after having a lot more experience with the language.

[Drazan]

If you are moving up to flash CS3, yep it would be a waste of time.

Flash 8 still runs on the old plateform updated from MX.

All the basic commands are still there, with only a few depreciated from release to release. however, with CS3 the development platform changed. What used to take a ton of code to do, is now done with components. Much more flexible than flash 8. CS3 also is optimized a bit more for handling variables and passing them to and from the flash application. There's also a whole new set of coding for the .mobi including templates.

If you were looking to really invest time into flash, I highly suggest learning actionscript methods from the start. Concepting using actionscript for even the most basic of tweens will highly reduce your file size and make the flash much fast to load and navigate.

CS3 and Actionscript3 actually did create a whole new way of building flash applications geared more towards usability, interactive media, and standards.

I dabbled with CS3 for the month trial.

[CkretAjint]

Could you take a trip down to the local book store and thumb through the books or similar ones to get your toes wet? Might help you make a sted-fast decision before shelling out hte money on the book. Especially since we don't really know your skill level and what your comfortable with... :D

[tZ]

well I have this book from my highschool days(3 years ago). Since, then I haven't really seen flash. However, unlike my highschool days I know java, javascript, php and I think you get the gist. I actually began reading some of it just now and understand it much more then I did in hs – wonderwhy,lol

I'll probably shell out for the new book but, it can't hurt to read this one. I already have a great understanding of OOP so its just applying it to flash. Which doesn't seem that difficult just knowing the proper methods, attributes and trageting from what I've been reading.

Even though i haven't used flash I would say I'm more intermediate to advanced because I understand all the basic principles of the language. I'm just looking for a away to apply them to flash directly to create something – if that makes any sense.

I have read a bit about 3.0 and from my understanding it appears that the largest change is the ability to set up classes in external files. Which something I undoubtably would like to do.

[JPnyc]

You have more than a good handle on JavaScript and action script is quite similar syntactically. Of course it has its own unique methods, but I think you'll absorb it very quickly, perhaps even without a book. This (http://board.flashkit.com/board/index.php)is pretty good resource. It's one of our sites.

[tZ]

Reading that above book now is a piece of cake.

I remember trying to read it back in the day and just becoming frustrated. I believe the part that stumped me the most was the array actually -> I just didn't get,lol

thanks for that link I'll take a look at it.

[tZ]

Does anyone have a good resource for setting up classes in external as files?

Things regarding syntax and primitive types declarations as applied to 3.0.

[tZ]

so I assume this is illegal in the 3.0 – correct?

dog = function() {
this.breed = "lab";
this.legs = 4;
}

dog1 = new dog();
trace(dog.breed);

Just out of curiosity what would be the correct way to write that and set up a class?

[tZ]

n/m

I figured it all out.

Very similar to java actually.

[tZ]

I've read four chapters of the listed 3.0 book and would recommend it for anyone who already has a basic understanding of OOP. Its a bit vague unless you already have the basic OOP knowledge. Good book so far – learning a lot.

[Irine]

I agree that CS3 is really better..we work with it in class..and people say it`s much more easier to do the actionscrip there..but you don`t seem to have a problem. it`s just what goes now.