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F
APPENDIX F
Terminology
As with all scripting languages, ActionScript uses its own terminology. Macromedia Flash also
uses unique terminology. The following list provides an introduction to important
ActionScript terms, and Flash terms that relate to programming with ActionScript and that
are unique to working in the Flash authoring environment.
ActionScript editor is the code editor in the Actions panel and Script window. The
ActionScript editor consists of a number of features, such as Auto formatting, showing hidden
characters, and color coding parts of your scripts. (Also see: Script window, Actions panel).
Actions panel is a panel in the Flash authoring environment where you write
ActionScript code.
Anonymous function is an unnamed function that references itself; you reference the
anonymous function when you create it. For information and an example, see “Writing
anonymous and callback functions” on page 208.
Alias refers to aliased text that does not use color variations to make its jagged edges appear
smoother, unlike anti-aliased text (see following definition).
Anti-alias refers to anti-aliasing characters in order to smooth text so the edges of characters
that appear onscreen look less jagged. The Anti-Alias option in Flash makes text more legible
by aligning text outlines along pixel boundaries, and is effective for clearly rendering smaller
font sizes.
Arrays are objects whose properties are identified by numbers representing their positions in
the structure. Essentially, an array is a list of items.
Authoring environment is the Flash workspace including all elements of the user interface.
You create FLA files or script files (in the Script window) using the authoring environment.
Bitmap graphics (or raster graphics) are typically photo-realistic images, or graphics with a
high amount of detail. Each pixel (or bit) in the image contains a piece of data, and together
these bits form the image itself. Bitmaps might be saved in the JPEG, BMP or GIF file
formats. Another graphic type, different than bitmap, is vector.
Boolean is a true or false value.
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