ActionScript 3.0 for Adobe Flash Professional CS5 Classroom in a Book

This project-based guide from Adobe will teach readers all they need to know to create engaging interactive content with ActionScript 3.0 for Flash Professional CS5. Using step-by-step instructions with projects that build on the knowledge acquired in each lesson, readers will learn the fundamentals of adding interactivity to Flash files using ActionScript, starting with using prewritten Code Snippets, but progressing to customizing and writing their own ActionScript code.

The tutorials start with simple navigation and timeline control and progress through controlling animation with ActionScript; using Event Listeners and writing event-handling functions; and controlling loading of and interaction with data, text, video, sound, and images. Readers will also learn to use third-party libraries and create Adobe Air applications. This Classroom in a Book also covers the improved text-handling tools that are new to Flash Professional CS5. The companion CD provides users with all the sample files they need to complete all the projects.

Note from the publisher:

FREE Adobe Flash Professional CS5.5 updates are available for this title. Simply register your product at www.peachpit.com/register and you will receive the updates when they become available.

Customer Reviews:

It holds your hand on your first walkthrough

By Jack J. Morte - September 25, 2010

I am not finished with this book yet but only a couple chapters in, it is really making this language make sense to me. Coupled with CS5 snippets, I am finally getting this language. The step by step, line by line coding, giving explanation while you write it, really helps me to retain the knowledge.. The setup before, and review and quiz at the end of each lesson also helped to stamp the knowledge into my brain.

I have several AS3 books, and all I can say is, this is the book that is actually "sticking". So far, anyway.

When I finish it I will try to update this review. But so far it is great!

Good, but definitely not great.

By MJG - December 21, 2011

While I purchased this book at a local bookstore, I just thought I'd pass along some information to help future buyers. ActionScript 3 is my first real attempt at programming. That being said, I'm not computer illiterate in the least. While this book has been helping me to get the language down, it does have a few errors that have cost me a couple hours needlessly. Whoever edited the book apparently has no eye for coding. Several snippets of code are left out in the pages. This gives you error messages which, if you know nothing about coding, leaves you befuddled. You look back over the text multiple times, trying to notice a discrepancy in your work, only for none to be found. Then you look at the code files that come with the CD, and see being to see the omissions. It seems very unprofessional. However, there is a good side to their mistakes. Having to figure out what is wrong seems to, perhaps, allow the stuff to sink in better. Gotta really understand what you're... read more

Trainers & Trainees

By C. M. N. Amaral - January 28, 2011

This is indeed a great book to be used by both trainers & trainees. It covers the most important subjects in AS3. It is detailed and, this way, helpful to quickly answer to student's questions. In general, it is a must to have this book. Just have to point a draw-back in the chapter 8: After you use the components in the formatClip this one cannot be made invisible any more. I hope, in the near-future, Adobe fully tests their book-examples in order to prevent uncomfortable class-moments!