Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3960 in Books
• Published on: 2008-01-04
• Released on: 2008-01-04
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 382 pages

Amazon.com Review
Product Description
In this book, authors Rich Shupe and Zevan Rosser share the knowledge they've gained from their years as multimedia developers/designers and teachers. Learning ActionScript 3.0 gives you a solid foundation in the language of Flash and demonstrates how you can use it for practical, everyday projects. The authors do more than just give you a collection of sample scripts. Written for those of you new to ActionScript 3.0, the book describes how ActionScript and Flash work, giving you a clear look into essential topics such as logic, event handling, displaying content, migrating legacy projects to ActionScript 3.0, classes, and much more. You will learn important techniques through hands-on exercises, and then build on those skills as chapters progress. ActionScript 3.0 represents a significant change for many Flash users, and a steeper learning curve for the uninitiated. This book will help guide you through a variety of scripting scenarios. Rather than relying heavily on prior knowledge of object-oriented programming (OOP), topics are explained in focused examples that originate in the timeline, with optional companion classes for those already comfortable with their use. As chapters progress, the book introduces more and more OOP techniques, allowing you to choose which scripting approach you prefer. Learning ActionScript 3.0 reveals: New ways to harness the power and performance of AS3 Common mistakes that people make with the language Essential coverage of text, sound, video, XML, drawing with code, and more Migration issues from AS1 and AS2 to AS3 Simultaneous development of procedural and object-oriented techniques Tips that go beyond simple script collections, including how toapproach a project and which resources can help you along the way The companion web site contains material for all the exercises in the book, as well as short quizzes to make sure you're up to speed with key concepts. ActionScript 3.0 is a different animal from previous versions, and Learning ActionScript 3.0 teaches everything that web designers, GUI-based Flash developers, and those new to ActionScript need to start using the language.

Praise
"The best ActionScript book ever written."
-Lee Brimelow, Creator of The Flash Blog

About the Author
Rich Shupe has been designing and developing with Flash since it was called FutureSplash, and has been teaching ActionScript programming to all levels of students since ActionScript became available. He founded his own training and development company, FMA, in 1995. He is a recognized authority on several technologies, including Flash, Director and QuickTime. In addition to his production experience, Rich has been teaching professionally for 10 years, and is a full-time faculty member at New York's School of Visual Arts' Computer Art Dept.

Zevan Rosser is a freelance designer/programmer/consultant and computer artist. He teaches ActionScript and Flash animation at New York's School of Visual Arts and FMA. When he's not working on commercial projects he works on his personal site, http://www.shapevent.com.

Customer Reviews

Explains AS2 to AS3 Migration Points
I think the book does a great job explaining all of the intricate details of OOP for experienced Actionscript users. I have used AS2 for a long time and I was very frustrated how so much had changed in AS3 and I never seemed to find a good book to explain each change. This book does that and more.

In addition to spelling out the advantages of using AS3 and OOP in general, it even takes things a step further by actually DEFINING programming design methodologies that are using in most development based work environments (i.e. Agile, XP, Waterfall, etc.). You know, all of those acronyms and other garbage that people through into job descriptions to intimidate newbies.

I'm inclined to agree that this book may not be suited for beginners to Actionscript, I would strongly recommend that anyone who is learning AS for the first time should grab a beginner's book (maybe a cheap one) and then use this as your professional reference guide. Everything is categorized and color coded for you: Need to attach a sound? Chpt. 13. Need to read XML? Chpt. 14

john

Good for beginers
This book is great. I am starting off with AS 3.0 and its a great reference. I feel though sometimes it gets too complicated. Also it does not have many pictures, but the good thing is that the code is color coded. According to my professor who is very into finding books, its the best one out there for AS. I haven;t had a ton of time to look through the book yet, but so far what I see is helpful, just a really boring read.

Very good book for a beginner (like I am)
I'm starting from scratch to learn Flash AS 3 and this book seems to be a very good starting point. I haven't read it through yet, but it's yet been very understandable and there's not too much technical jargon (I have 5+ years of PHP-coding to start with).