ActionScript 3 is the foundation language for Adobe's entire Flash Platform, which can be used to build applications of unprecedented richness and power. In just 24 lessons of one hour or less, Sams Teach Yourself Adobe ActionScript 3 CS4 in 24 Hours will help ActionScript 3 beginners and upgraders gain true mastery over ActionScript 3, so they can build production applications for virtually any environment. In this book's straightforward, step-by-step approach, each lesson builds on everything that's come before, helping you learn all of ActionScript 3's core features and techniques from the ground up. Friendly, accessible, and conversational, this book gives ActionScript 3 beginners a practical grounding in the entire language, without ever becoming overwhelming or intimidating. Coverage includes: creating interactivity, working with data and multimedia, using XML, designing effective programs, troubleshooting and debugging, and much more. Throughout, step-by-step instructions carefully walk you through the most common ActionScript 3 questions, issues, and tasks...Q and As, Quizzes, and Exercises help you build and test their knowledge..."Did You Know?" tips offer you insider advice and shortcuts...and "Watch Out! " alerts help you avoid problems. By the time you've finished with these lessons, you won't just understand ActionScript 3: you'll be comfortable using it in real-world projects.

Table of Contents

PART 1. ACTIONSCRIPT BASICS Hour 1. Where to ActionScript Hour 2. Translating Thoughts to Code Hour 3. Getting out of the Timeline Hour 4. Understanding Datatypes (and Variables) Hour 5. Listening for Trees Falling (Event based programming) Hour 6. Assembling Building Blocks of Code Hour 7. Consolidating Code Using Functions (could be "Using Functions") Hour 8. Manipulating Text and Handling Keyboard Events Hour 9. Applying the Basics PART 2. ADVANCED ACTIONSCRIPTING Hour 10. Storing Multiple Values in Arrays Hour 11. Drawing & Transforming Graphics Using Code Hour 12. Pushing Pixels with the Bitmap Classes Hour 13. Loading External Data Hour 14. Using XML Hour 15. Playing Sounds and Video with Code PART 3. OBJECT ORIENTED PROGRAMMING AND CUSTOM CLASSES Hour 16. Creating Custom Classes Hour 17. Dispatching Custom Events Hour 18. Extending Classes to Add Functionality Hour 19. Extending Components and Native Classes Hour 20. Understanding OOP Hour 21. OOP Architectures and Design Patterns PART 4. APPLIED ACTIONSCRIPT Hour 22. Constructing Projects Hour 23. Developing a Programmer's Attitude Hour 24. Bulletproofing Your Code with Debugging and Testing

Author Biography

Philip Kerman is an internationally recognized expert on the use of the Web and multimedia for training and entertainment. He is author of the best-selilng Sams Teach Yourself Flash in 24 Hours and the highly-regarded Flash ActionScripting (New Riders). He frequently presents at Flash and Adobe development conferences, contributes to Flash publications, and has taught Flash and other Adobe authoring tools in workshops worldwide. Kerman programmed the all-Flash website www.m-three.com for Paris France Inc., a site that was included in both Communication Arts Interactive Design Annual and the British Design and Art Direction Annual.