Although this book is vast, ActionScript is vaster. It is no longer feasible to cover every possible ActionScript topic within the confines of a single book. We made a conscious editorial decision in this edition to omit formal coverage of the following items (though these topics are covered in passing where relevant):
Features used exclusively to extend the Flash MX authoring tool (e.g., CustomActions and LivePreview). These topics are covered in Macromedia's online article "Creating Components in Flash MX" at http://www.macromedia.com/support/flash/applications/creating_comps.
Macromedia's library of Flash UI Components, which extend the authoring tool beyond the core language. See Appendix G, for a summary of Flash UI Components properties and methods. For resources that cover Flash UI Components in depth, see Section 14.7 in Chapter 14.
The Macromedia Flash Communication Server MX (Comm Server) API (e.g., Remote SharedObject, Camera, Microphone, NetConnection, and NetStream). Comm Server is used to create multiuser web applications with audio and video. See http://www.macromedia.com/software/flashcom/ for details.
The basics of the Flash MX authoring tool. However, if you are a programmer who is new to Flash, we give you enough hints so you can input the code examples and follow along. To learn Flash MX animation and graphic design, start with the online help and manual; then explore the web sites listed at http://www.moock.org/moockmarks.
There is no CD in the back of the book, but all the code examples can be downloaded from the online Code Depot (cited later in this The Code Depot).