• Contents

  Page III

• + ActionScript for Flash MX Pocket Reference

  Page 1

  • Introduction

    Page 1

  • + Authoring ActionScript Code

    Page 1

    • Outputting Debug Messages

      Page 3

    • Code Placement Best Practices

      Page 3

    • Finding Code

      Page 4

  • + Using Movie Clips

    Page 5

    • Movie Clip Depths

      Page 8

    • Referring to Movie Clips

      Page 9

  • + ActionScript Syntax

    Page 9

    • Comments

      Page 9

    • Whitespace

      Page 10

    • Statement Terminators (Semicolons)

      Page 10

    • Case Sensitivity

      Page 10

    • Identifiers

      Page 11

    • Keywords

      Page 11

  • + Variables

    Page 12

    • Timeline Variables

      Page 12

    • Global Variables

      Page 13

    • Local Variables

      Page 14

    • Code Hinting

      Page 14

  • + Datatypes

    Page 15

    • Datatype Conversion Rules

      Page 16

    • + Explicit Datatype Conversion

      Page 18

      • Converting to a string

        Page 18

      • Converting to a number

        Page 19

      • Converting to a Boolean

        Page 20

    • Determining Datatype and Class

      Page 20

    • The number Datatype

      Page 20

    • The string Datatype

      Page 21

    • The boolean Datatype

      Page 23

    • The null and undefined Datatypes

      Page 24

    • The object Datatype

      Page 24

    • The function Datatype

      Page 24

    • The movieclip Datatype

      Page 24

  • Arrays

    Page 25

  • Operators

    Page 26

  • + Conditionals and Loops

    Page 29

    • The if–else if–else Statements

      Page 29

    • The switch Statement

      Page 30

    • The while Statement

      Page 31

    • The do-while Statement

      Page 32

    • The for Statement

      Page 32

    • The for-in Statement

      Page 33

    • The break and continue Statements

      Page 34

    • Loops, Screen Updates, and Maximum Iterations

      Page 34

  • Creating and Using Functions

    Page 35

  • + Event Handling

    Page 38

    • Event Handler Properties

      Page 38

    • Event Listeners

      Page 39

    • The onClipEvent() and on() Event Handlers

      Page 40

  • Object-Oriented ActionScript

    Page 44

  • Working with Graphics

    Page 47

  • Working with Text

    Page 48

  • GUIs and Components

    Page 50

  • + Working with External Media and Data

    Page 52

    • Loading Images and .swf Files

      Page 53

    • Loading Sounds

      Page 53

    • Loading Web Pages

      Page 54

    • Loading Variables

      Page 55

    • Loading XML

      Page 56

    • Persistent Socket Connections

      Page 57

    • Security Restrictions

      Page 58

  • + Working with Web Browsers

    Page 59

    • JavaScript Communication

      Page 61

  • Finding Help, Examples, and Code Libraries

    Page 61

  • ActionScript Language Reference

    Page 62

• Index

  Page 133

Flash MX developers who need instant on-the job reminders about the ActionScript language will find O'Reilly's new ActionScript for Flash MX Pocket Reference to be the ideal solution. This concise and easy-to-use reference is the portable companion to the Flash coder's essential resource, ActionScript for Flash MX: The Definitive Guide by Colin Moock. Completely up- to-date, including methods and properties added in the latest Flash Player, it is the indispensable quick reference for ActionScript programmers. The ActionScript for Flash MX Pocket Reference provides a complete summary of ActionScript, Flash MX's object-oriented programming language, covering the core objects' and classes' methods and properties. Also covered are ActionScript's global properties, global functions, operators, statements, keywords, and directives. This compact book also includes an excellent summary of ActionScript syntax and best practices, covering datatypes, variables, loops, conditionals, identifiers, event handling, and object-oriented programming in short order. For programmers coming from other languages, it offers a quick orientation to the most common Flash elements and operations including Movie Clips, loading and drawing graphics, text manipulation, data transfers, and XML parsing. O'Reilly's Pocket References have become a favorite among developers everywhere. By providing a wealth of important details in a concise, well-organized format, these handy books deliver just what you need to complete the task at hand. When you've reached a sticking point and need to get to the answer quickly, the new ActionScript for Flash MX Pocket Reference is the book you'll want close by.