Flash MX ActionScript

This series introduces the student to the ActionScript programming language and its capabilities, covering basic programming concepts such as objects, actions, arrays, and variables.

Syllabus

GETTING STARTED

Introduces users to the ActionScript programming language and explains how Flash MX uses ActionScript to control objects within Flash MX files. This section explains how to create and publish an ActionScript movie, how to add actions to a movie file, and discusses common ActionScript commands, arguments, properties, and syntax.

• Introducing ActionScript
• ActionScript Elements
• ActionScript Component Books
• Creating an ActionScript
• Working with an ActionScript
• Testing and Debugging an ActionScript
• Exploring the Actions Panel
• Assigning an Action to a Keyframe
• Controlling Actions
• Using Options and Context Menus
• Tracking and Preferences
• Expert Mode, Code Hints, and Version Compatibility
• Understanding ActionScript Terminology
• Syntax, Keywords, and Context
• Dissecting a Typical ActionScript

DIRECTING AND MANAGING MOVIES

Explains how to use ActionScript to manage the flow of a Flash MX movie file by advancing and stopping a movie at a particular frame or scene, and by creating loops.

• Using the stop Action
• Using the goto and play Actions
• Creating an Interactive Animation
• Programming and Testing an Animation
• Using the getURL Action
• Creating Individual Movies
• Loading and Unloading Movies
• Working with Scenes
• Creating a while Loop
• Creating a for Loop
• Testing for Preloader Needs
• Building a Preloader

USING VARIABLES, PROPERTIES AND FUNCTIONS

Explains how to create variables in ActionScript that collect and display data. This section explains how to use ActionScript to create and store data in an array and to retrieve and display data from an array. The section also explains how to create objects, set and change the properties of an object, and to use functions to perform tasks within a Flash MX movie clip.

• Understanding Data Types
• Understanding String and Numeric Data
• Creating Variables
• Working with Strings
• Working with Numbers and Boolean Values
• Creating Arrays
• Working with Arrays
• Creating Movie Clips
• Setting an Object's Properties
• Moving Objects
• Rotating and Scaling Objects
• Changing Opacity and Hiding Objects
• Getting an Object's Properties
• Creating Functions
• Using Functions

CREATING OBJECTS AND INTERACTIVE ELEMENTS

Explains how to create and modify ActionScript objects that retrieve time and date information, transform colors, and control sounds within a Flash MX movie clip. This section also explains how to use ActionScript to program a movie clip, load a movie into a movie clip, and to create a user-defined component within a movie clip.

• Creating Objects
• Working with Date Objects
• Creating a Clock
• Working with Color Objects
• Creating a Sound Object
• Using Sound Methods
• Understanding Targets and Paths
• Producing a Movie Clip
• Creating and Loading Target Movie Clips
• Using the onClipEvent and with Actions
• Creating a User-Defined Component

WORKING WITH TEXT, BUTTONS AND MENUS

Explains how to use ActionScript to create and manipulate dynamic text within a Flash MX movie. This section also explains how to use ActionScript to create interactive buttons, drag-and-drop objects, and interactive menus.

• Working with Dynamic Text
• Loading and Creating Text Data
• Working with Input Text
• Creating Hyperlinked Text
• Scrolling Text
• Building a Button
• Programming a Button
• Creating an Invisible Button
• Creating Drag-and-Drop Objects
• Using the startDrag and stopDrag Actions
• Assembling a Customizable Menu
• Programming Menu Buttons

STATEMENTS, EXPRESSIONS AND TESTING

Explains how to use ActionScript to create conditional statements that evaluate parameters within a Flash FX movie. This section explains how to use ActionScript to create and evaluate logical operators, string expressions, and mathematical expressions. The section also explains how to use the Key object to execute actions.

• Creating Conditional Statements
• Working with Conditional Statements
• Working with Logical Operators
• Creating String and Mathematical Expressions
• Creating Incremental and Decremental Expressions
• Using the Key Object
• Scripting a Guess Number Game
• Testing Movies
• Using the trace Action
• Debugging in Authoring Mode
• Watching a Variable
• Working with Breakpoints
• Using the Movie Explorer

ADDING ADVANCED FEATURES

Explains how to use ActionScript to create advanced interactive elements such as animated buttons, multi-state rollover buttons, custom cursors, scrolling text blocks, and On When Pressed buttons. This section explains how to use ActionScript to create an e-commerce shopping cart and a response form. This section also explains how to use ActionScript to program interactive movie clips, test for object collision, and animate a mask layer.

• Creating Animated Buttons
• Creating a Multi-State Rollover Button
• Creating a Custom Cursor
• Building an On When Pressed Button
• Building a Scrolling Text Block
• Building an E-Commerce Shopping Cart
• Constructing a Cartoon Face
• Collision Detection in Flash
• Creating an Animated Mask

FINISHING TOUCHES

Explains how to use ActionScript to incorporate complex multimedia elements in Flash MX movies such as a jukebox, a stereo sound controller, pop-up menus, and mouse chasers. This section explains how to combine arrays, variables, graphics, and conditional statements to create an interactive quiz game. This section also explains how to organize ActionScript files that allow the user to find coding problems more easily.

• Building a Flash Jukebox
• Building a Stereo Sound Controller
• Programming a Pop-Up Menu
• Creating a Mouse Chaser
• Creating an ActionScript Quiz
• Ten Tips for Trouble-Free ActionScript
• Export and Import ActionScript
• Ten Internet Resources for ActionScript

Qualifications

Qualification: Printable Transcript

On completion of this course you may print a transcript off as evidence of your progression throughout the course.

Requirements for Entry

There is no experience or previous qualifications required for enrolment on this course. It is available to all students, of all academic backgrounds.

Study Options

If you do not have Internet access, or would prefer to study this course via the traditional paper/postal based study method, you can find more information on the course by clicking on the link below.

Study Hours

This is only an approximate figure and is dependant upon how much time you can dedicate to your studies and how well you grasp the learning concepts in the course material. Furthermore, at the end of each lesson there is a question paper that needs to be completed and returned to your tutor. You should allow at least 1 - 2 hours of study to complete each question paper.

The approximate amount of time required to complete the course is: 40 hrs.