ActionScript evolved tremendously from Flash 5 to Flash MX (as the authoring tool is known) and the corresponding Flash Player 6, and this book has evolved along with it. See Table P-2 in this Preface for details on the Flash version naming conventions.
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Table P-1 provides a high-level overview of the major additions to ActionScript and tells you where to find more information about each new topic in this book. Unless otherwise stated, cross-references are to Part II, the Language Reference.
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Feature |
For details, see... |
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Drawing API: draw strokes, shapes, and fills at runtime using new MovieClip methods |
MovieClip.beginFill( ), MovieClip.beginGradientFill( ), MovieClip.clear( ), MovieClip.curveTo( ), MovieClip.endFill( ), MovieClip.lineStyle( ), MovieClip.lineTo( ), MovieClip.moveTo( ); Section 13.8 in Chapter 13 |
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Load JPEG-format images at runtime |
MovieClip.loadMovie( ), loadMovie( ) |
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Load MP3-format sounds at runtime |
Sound.loadSound( ) |
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Check the length of a sound and the amount of time it has been playing |
Sound.position, Sound.duration |
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Detect when a sound finishes playing |
Sound.onSoundComplete( ) |
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Create, manipulate, and format text fields at runtime |
The TextField class, the TextFormat class, MovieClip.createTextField( ) |
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Mask or unmask a movie clip at runtime |
MovieClip.setMask( ) |
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Create movie clips from scratch at runtime |
MovieClip.createEmptyMovieClip( ) |
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Determine a movie clip's depth at runtime |
MovieClip.getDepth( ) |
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Execute a function or method periodically |
setInterval( ), clearInterval( ) |
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Manipulate XML, string, and array data faster due to Flash Player performance improvements |
The XML class, the String class, the Array class |
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Store data locally (much like JavaScript cookies) |
The SharedObject object |
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Create packaged code modules with MovieClip subclasses and components |
#initclip, #endinitclip, Object.registerClass( ), attachMovie( ); Chapter 14 |
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Communicate between two Flash Players on the same computer |
The LocalConnection class |
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Declare global variables |
_global; Section 5.3 in Chapter 2 |
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Use international characters in the Unicode character set |
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Define event handlers on movie clips using callback functions |
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Use event listeners to respond to events from any object |
Chapter 10 and Key.addListener( ), Mouse.addListener( ), Stage.addListener( ), Selection.addListener( ), TextField.addListener( ) |
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Add button behavior to a movie clip |
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Control button objects at runtime |
The Button class |
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Make content accessible to screen readers for the visually impaired |
The Accessibility object |
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Check the movie width and height at runtime, and reposition movie elements when the movie is resized |
Stage.height, Stage.width, Stage.onResize( ) |
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Use lexical and nested function scope, or execute a function as a method of an arbitrary object |
Function.call( ), Function.apply( ); Section 2.5.7 in Chapter 2; Section 9.7 in Chapter 9 |
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Access Player and system information such as screen resolution, operating system, and current language |
The Capabilities object |
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Capture keyboard and mouse input events with a centralized input API |
The Key object, the Mouse object |
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Load variables using an intuitive variable loading class rather than the loadVariables( ) function |
The LoadVars class |
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Monitor the download progress of XML or loading variables |
XML.getBytesLoaded( ), LoadVars.getBytesLoaded( ) |
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Control the tab order for buttons, text fields, and movie clips |
TextField.tabIndex, Button.tabIndex, MovieClip.tabIndex |
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Turn off the hand cursor for buttons |
Button.useHandCursor, MovieClip.useHandCursor |
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Add getter/setter properties to an object, and receive notification when a property changes |
Object.addProperty( ), Object.watch( ) |
