Message from Dean - May 8th 2007
I am currently testing out a new version of the APF Bridge Component - If you notice any errors within this demo store please drop me a line.
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 006.696
EAN: 9780596527877
Edition: 1st
ISBN: 059652787X
Label: O'Reilly/Adobe Developer Library
Manufacturer: O'Reilly/Adobe Developer Library
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 382
Publication Date: January 04, 2008
Publisher: O'Reilly/Adobe Developer Library
Release Date: January 04, 2008
Studio: O'Reilly/Adobe Developer Library
Alternate Versions: Click to Display
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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
Product Description:
Learning ActionScript 3.0 gives you a solid foundation in the Flash language and demonstrates how you can use it for practical, everyday projects. The book does more than give you a handful of sample scripts, defining how ActionScript and Flash work. It gives 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. Written for those new to the language, this book doesn't rely exclusively on prior knowledge of object-oriented programming (OOP). Instead, it helps you expand your skillset by first focusing on clear, concise examples in the timeline, evolving into OOP examples over time-allowing you to choose the programming approach with which you are most comfortable.
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
What good are they doing you showing how to write actionscript 3.0 code when they can't even write the proper code? There are so many errors and typos in their code, many of them not even fixed on the website's errata, that as you're working along side by side you'll be constantly confused as to why your code isn't working.
I don't know what guide is better, it's well suited for my experience level, but the amount of errors is just too much to be acceptable.
Rating:  -
I did a little bit of floundering in ActionScript before I got this book. This was the resource I was looking for. It is truly an introduction, but goes fairly deep into the language with good examples and clear presentation. I followed this book with _Essential ActionScript 3.0_ by Colin Moock. I wouldn't have made it through Moock's book if I hadn't started here. _Learning ActionScript 3.0: A Beginner's Guide_ Is excellent, far superior to the other books I tried to start with.
Rating:  -
While this is excellent book, this is actually "a beginners guide" for ActionScript 3, and may not be the best choice for complete novices with ActionScript in general. If the novice is looking for point and shoot solutions, they should look elsewhere, but if they are willing to endure a bit of brain strain, they will get and excellent look at the big picture an will end up being very well equipped for handling advanced projects.
Rating: -
There are a lot of good things about this book. Concisely written, I like the step by step approach to covering topics. But I can't give it above a 3-star review because it really drops the ball in its coverage of the NEW Document Class. Document Class is a new feature in Actionscript 3, and this documentation spends 4 pages on it. Your flash file won't run without proper use of the Document Class so this lack of coverage is a killer. I had to download their source files to figure out what I could, but I still have to go elsewhere to understand the Document Class. How does an omission like this happen?
Rating: -
I came to Flash from a procedural programming background. I took one class to learn the Flash interface but still felt confused about using Actionscript. Of all the Actionscript resources I have read, this is the one with the most clear explanations and that goes at about the right pace for me. The only problem I have with the book is that it is inconsistent in referencing the downloadable files. Sometimes it tells you exactly which file contains the code, sometimes it doesn't even tell you there is a file. For the most part the files are organized such that it is not too difficult to figure out which one to use, but this seems like a simple edit that could have been added to the book.
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