Introduction to Flash ActionScript 3.0

ActionScript 3.0 is the latest scripting language used to add functionality to .swf files intended to be deployed in the Flash Player 9.0. For students well-versed in ActionScript 2.0 we recommend our ActionScript 3.0 class as the language has sufficient changes to warrant an overview. The language has been revamped to execute in the new ActionScript Virtual Machine known as the Flash Player 9.0. The course is ideal for first-time programmers and students will leave the class with an understanding of the ECMAScript-based ActionScript 3.0 language. Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of object-oriented programming including variables, objects, methods, properties, functions, conditionals, and loops as well as more advanced topics including custom classes. Experienced programmers will learn the roll of ActionScript in creating Rich Internet Applications created with Adobe Flash, Adobe Flex and Adobe AIR.

Class Objectives:

* Understand the components of the ActionScript (AS) 3.0 language
* Understand the differences between AS 2.0 and AS 3.0
* Understand the syntax of AS 3.0
* Communicate with movie clips with AS 3.0
* Modify movie clip properties with AS 3.0
* Understand and set variables
* Use trace statements and comments
* Understand and write functions and methods
* Write modular functions
* Understand and respond to user events
* Understand, use and write classes
* Understand and write conditional statements and loops
* Understand and use the Math class
* Create and style text fields with AS 3.0
* Understand, use and write Arrays with AS 3.0
* Use the Flash drawing API
* Use AS 3 to load and control multimedia
* Write AS 3.0 for advanced interactivity

Lesson #1: Getting Started with ActionScript 3.0

1. Introducing ActionScript 3.0
2. Why you should learn ActionScript 3.0
3. Whats new in AS 3.0
4. Differences between as 2.0 and as 3.0
5. Moving beyond script assist

Lesson #2: Communicating with ActionScript

1. Communicating to Movie Clips
2. Modifying Movie Clip Properties
3. Understand variables
4. Setting Variable data types
5. Using trace statements
6. Using comments

Lesson #3: Using and Writing Functions

1. Understanding functions
2. Using methods
3. Writing custom functions
4. Understanding modular functions
5. Making a function modular
6. Functions that return values

Lesson #4: Responding to Events

1. Understanding event types
2. Using a listener to Listen for an event
3. Writing event handlers
4. Responding to mouse events
5. Responding to keyboard events
6. Creating a link to a website
7. Using AS 3.0 to create animation
8. Using the Timer event

Lesson #5: Understanding Classes

1. Understanding classes
2. Writing a custom class
3. Extending an existing class
4. Adding a class object to the timeline
5. Defining a document class
6. Setting up a class path

Lesson #6: Decision Making and Repitition

1. Understanding conditional statements
2. Writing a conditional statement
3. Using conditional operators
4. Setting up alternate conditions
5. Writing compound conditions
6. Understanding loops
7. Creating loop code
8. Using a loop to generate instances of a class
9. Placing instances created by a loop

Lesson #7: Using the Math Class

1. Understanding the Math class
2. Using Basic Math operators
3. Generating random numbers
4. Rounding Numbers

Lesson #8: Using Text and Arrays

1. Creating a text field with AS 3.0
2. Styling a text field with AS 3.0
3. Caputuring data from a text field with AS 3.0
4. Loading external text files
5. Understanding arrays

Lesson #9: Using Advanced Graphic and Animation Tools

1. Drawing with AS 3.0
2. Creating a color change
3. Generating a random color change
4. Animating a color change
5. Using Filters
6. Modifying filter properties
7. Animating filters

Lesson #10: Working with Multimedia

1. Loading external images and SWFs
2. Communicating with loaded movies
3. Loading sounds
4. Starting and stopping sound
5. Managing the volume of sound
6. Loading video
7. Controlling video playback

Lesson #11: Advanced User Interactivity

1. Creating a drag and drop class
2. Detecting movie clip collisions
3. Responding to collisions
4. Randomly placing objects

The next class is: Building Web Applications with Flash CS3

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