MACROMEDIA FLASH 8-LEARNING ACTIONSCRIPT 2.0 IN FLASH - Understanding Actionscript and Flash Player

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70 About ActionScript

Understanding ActionScript and

Flash Player

If you compile a SWF file that contains ActionScript 2.0 with publish settings set to Flash

Player 6 and ActionScript 1.0, your code functions as long as it does not use ActionScript 2.0

classes. No case sensitivity is involved with the code, only Flash Player. Therefore, if you

compile your SWF file with Publish Settings set to Flash Player 7 or 8 and ActionScript 1.0,

Flash enforces case sensitivity.

Data type annotations (strict data types) are enforced at compile time for Flash Player 7 and 8

when you have publish settings set to ActionScript 2.0.

ActionScript 2.0 compiles to ActionScript 1.0 bytecode when you publish your applications,

so you can target Flash Player 6, 7, or 8 while working with ActionScript 2.0.

Main Page

Default Chapter3
- Table of Contents3
- Intended Audience9
- Introduction9
- About the Documentation10
- System Requirements10
- Updating Flash XML Files10
- Additional Resources14
Chapter 1: What's New in Flash 8 Actionscript19
- New in Actionscript 2.0 and Flash 819
- Changes to Security Model for Locally Installed SWF Files28
Chapter 2: Writing and Editing Actionscript 2.031
- About Actionscript and Events32
  - For more Information on Handling Events, See the Following Sections: about Actionscript and Events32
- Organizing Actionscript Code33
- Using the Actions Panel and Script Window35
- About the Actions Panel36
- About the Script Window37
- About Coding in the Actions Panel and Script Window38
- About Actions Panel Features58
- About Behaviors61
- About Actionscript Publish Settings62
Chapter 3: About Actionscript67
- What Is Actionscript68
- About Choosing between Actionscript 1.0 and Actionscript 2.069
- Understanding Actionscript and Flash Player70
Chapter 4: Data and Data Types71
- About Data71
  - For more Information about Data and Data Types, See the Following Sections: about Data71
- About Data Types72
- About Variables86
- Organizing Data in Objects108
- About Casting110
Chapter 5: Syntax and Language Fundamentals113
- About Syntax, Statements, and Expressions114
  - For more Information on Working with Actionscript Syntax and Language Fundamentals, See the Following Topics: about Syntax, Statements, and Expressions114
- About Dot Syntax and Target Paths118
- About Language Punctuators124
- About Constants and Keywords135
- About Statements141
- About Arrays163
- About Operators176
Chapter 6: Functions and Methods201
- About Functions and Methods201
- Understanding Methods222
Chapter 7: Classes225
- About Object-Oriented Programming and Flash226
- Writing Custom Class Files235
- About Working with Custom Classes in an Application238
- Example: Writing Custom Classes263
- Example: Using Custom Class Files in Flash276
- Assigning a Class to Symbols in Flash279
- Compiling and Exporting Classes280
- Understanding Classes and Scope283
- About Top-Level and Built-In Classes286
- About Working with Built-In Classes296
Chapter 8: Inheritance301
- About Inheritance301
- About Writing Subclasses in Flash303
- Using Polymorphism in an Application308
Chapter 9: Interfaces313
- About Interfaces313
- Creating Interfaces as Data Types318
- Understanding Inheritance and Interfaces320
- Example: Using Interfaces321
- Example: Creating a Complex Interface323
Chapter 10: Handling Events329
- Using Event Handler Methods330
- Using Event Listeners332
- Using Event Listeners with Components335
- Using Button and Movie Clip Event Handlers337
- Broadcasting Events from Component Instances342
- Creating Movie Clips with Button States342
- Event Handler Scope343
- Scope of the this Keyword347
- Using the Delegate Class347
Chapter 11: Working with Movie Clips351
- About Controlling Movie Clips with Actionscript352
- Calling Multiple Methods on a Single Movie Clip354
- Loading and Unloading SWF Files355
- Changing Movie Clip Position and Appearance357
- Dragging Movie Clips359
- Creating Movie Clips at Runtime360
- Adding Parameters to Dynamically Created Movie Clips364
- Managing Movie Clip Depths366
- About Caching and Scrolling Movie Clips with Actionscript369
- Using Movie Clips as Masks376
- Handling Movie Clip Events378
- Assigning a Class to a Movie Clip Symbol378
- Initializing Class Properties379
Chapter 12: Working with Text and Strings381
- About Text Fields383
  - Using the Textfield Class384
- About Loading Text and Variables into Text Fields392
- Using Fonts398
- About Font Rendering and Anti-Alias Text406
- About Text Layout and Formatting414
- Formatting Text with Cascading Style Sheet Styles421
  - Creating a Style Sheet Object424
- Using HTML-Formatted Text436
- Example: Creating Scrolling Text449
- About Strings and the String Class450
Chapter 13: Animation, Filters, and Drawings469
- Scripting Animation with Actionscript 2.0470
- About Bitmap Caching, Scrolling, and Performance480
- About the Tween and Transitionmanager Classes481
- Using Filter Effects498
- Working with Filters Using Actionscript505
- Manipulating Filter Effects with Code530
- Creating Bitmaps with the Bitmapdata Class534
- About Blending Modes537
- About Operation Order540
- Drawing with Actionscript540
- Understanding Scaling and Slice Guides556
Chapter 14: Creating Interaction with Actionscript561
- About Events and Interaction562
- Controlling SWF File Playback562
- Creating Interactivity and Visual Effects566
- Creating Runtime Data Bindings Using Actionscript579
- Deconstructing a Sample Script588
Chapter 15: Working with Images, Sound, and Video591
- About Loading and Working with External Media592
- Loading External SWF and Image Files593
- About Loading and Using External MP3 Files598
- Assigning Linkage to Assets in the Library602
- About Using FLV Video603
- About Creating Progress Animations for Media Files624
Chapter 16: Working with External Data633
- Sending and Loading Variables634
- Using HTTP to Connect to Server-Side Scripts638
- About File Uploading and Downloading644
- About XML652
- Sending Messages to and from Flash Player663
- About the External API667
Chapter 17: Understanding Security677
- About Compatibility with Previous Flash Player Security Models677
- About Local File Security and Flash Player679
- About Domains, Cross-Domain Security, and SWF Files694
- Server-Side Policy Files for Permitting Access to Data702
- HTTP to HTTPS Protocol Access between SWF Files707
Chapter 18: Debugging Applications711
- Debugging Your Scripts711
- Using the Output Panel724
Chapter 19: Best Practices and Coding Conventions for Actionscript 2.0731
- Naming Conventions732
- Using Comments in Your Code742
- Actionscript Coding Conventions745
- Actionscript and Flash Player Optimization762
- Formatting Actionscript Syntax764
Appendix A: Error Messages773
Appendix B: Deprecated Flash 4 Operators779
Appendix C: Keyboard Keys and Key Code Values781
Appendix D: Writing Scripts for Earlier Versions of Flash Player787
- About Targeting Earlier Versions of Flash Player787
- Using Flash 8 to Create Content for Flash Player 4788
Appendix E: Object-Oriented Programming with791
- Actionscript 1.0791
- About Actionscript 1.0792
- Creating a Custom Object in Actionscript 1.0794
- Assigning Methods to a Custom Object in Actionscript 1.0795
- Defining Event Handler Methods in Actionscript 1.0796
- Creating Inheritance in Actionscript 1.0798
- Adding Getter/Setter Properties to Objects in Actionscript 1.0800
- Using Function Object Properties in Actionscript 1.0801
Appendix F: Terminology803
- Index811

MACROMEDIA FLASH 8-LEARNING ACTIONSCRIPT 2.0 IN FLASH - Understanding Actionscript and Flash Player

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