Macromedia Flash Actionscripting: Advanced Training from the Source [Paperback]

I have been using Flash since release 4 and I would like to think that I had mastered many advanced features of Actionscripting in that time. Flash MX, on the other hand, is a different kettle of fish - a lot has changed with the way that everything now works (object orientated), making it similar to the way other languages work, especially JavaScript. FMX, however, is far more powerful than JavaScript, and most other scripting languages too. There are also many additions to the scripting, not least of all the ability to use functions, at last!

All in all, whether you allready know Actionscripting, or not, you will have a host of things you need to read up on and with the recent release of MX there are few resources to do this.

'FMX Actionscripting - Advanced Training from the Source' is a great book. Suited more toward the established actionscripter, it tackles some of the more complex functions of Flash MX. XML now plays a major part in web development and as such has a rightfully earned place within MX and it is covered in the book with both simplicity and complexity. Multiplayer Flash games, as seen on electrotank.com, are covered too. Communication between languages such as ASP and PHP, the new drawing capabilities have a place, as do the concepts of controlling sound and images with scripting. Other topics covered include: Dynamic forms, data submission and valiation, external data and understanding/customization of
objects (the new smart clips)

The book comes with a CD that has all source files, part and fully completed. This enables you to complete each project in the book without having to create all non-actionscript parts, you simply enter the script. The full files can be used to compare your work to.

In my opinion this is the best Flash MX book available at the moment. There is another book which starts from a more introductory level called 'FMX Actionscripting - Training from the Source'

I've read those books before (not mentioning names) which I'm still reading now, and bought over 6 months ago, and find them just too boring, complex and uninspiring to bother wasting my time to read. But, with Flash MX ActionScripting I was given a fresh look into the world of coding. As I'm already aware of the wonders (honest) that PHP and JavaScript have to offer, ActionScripting not only came natural, but the way in which the book put the information across made it far easier.

With every script you make, every single detail is explained so that it all sinks in. You find the bugs, you find how to fix them. You find what you want to do, you go about making it. This book is the shrine for Flash designers around the world, making interactivity as easy.....as well reading a book.

Not only will you find yourself stuck to the book after a matter of hours, but a complimentary CD with Demo version of Flash MX and all the files needed to work with the book are added for optimum use. I found the authors approach to the book to be teaching someone who didn't have a clue about Flash ActionScripting, but ultimately aware of how to use Flash MX. So, if any newbies are just wanting to learn Flash MX and expecting this to be the only book you'll ever need, then I'm sorry to disappoint you, but it's not that simple. What it does offer is an enjoyable read and an educational experience that is well worth the money.