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Adobe Flex 3: Training from the Source
Part of the Adobe Training from the Source series, the official curriculum from Adobe, developed by experienced trainers. Using project-based tutorials, this book/CD volume is designed to teach the techniques needed to create sophisticated, professional-level projects. Each book includes a CD that contains all the files used in the lessons, plus
completed projects for comparison. In the course of the book, the reader will build several Web applications using Flex Builder incorporating MXML and ActionScript 3.0. This title covers the component framework for Rich Internet Applications, Adobe Flex 3.0. New Flex 3 features covered in this edition are: the advanced DataGrid, Data Connectivity Wizards, Modularizing the Flex application, and options for deploying your Flex project with AIR (Adobe Integrated Runtime).
CONTENTS:
Copyright
Bios
Acknowledgments
Foreword
Introduction
Prerequisites
Outline
Technical Notes
Who Is This Book For?
The Project Application
Standard Elements in the Book
Adobe Training from the Source
Adobe Authorized Training and Certification
What You Will Learn
Minimum System Requirements
Flex Builder 3 Pro vs. Flex Builder 3 Standard
Lesson 1. Understanding Rich Internet Applications
Understanding the Evolution of Computer Applications
Breaking Away from Page-Based Architecture
Identifying the Advantages of Rich Internet Applications
RIA Technologies
What You Have Learned
Lesson 2. Getting Started
Getting Started with Flex Application Development
Creating a Project and an MXML Application
Understanding the Flex Builder 3 Workbench
Running Your Application
Creating a Second Application Page and Working in Design Mode
Getting Ready for the Next Lesson
What You Have Learned
Lesson 3. Laying Out the Interface
Learning About Containers
Laying Out the E-Commerce Application Using Design Mode
Working with Constraint-Based Layouts
Working with View States
Laying Out an Application in Source Mode
What You Have Learned
Lesson 4. Using Simple Controls
Introducing Simple Controls
Displaying Images
Building a Detail View
Using Data Binding to Link a Data Structure to a Simple Control
Using a Form Layout Container to Lay Out Simple Controls
Adding Radio Buttons and Date Fields to the Dashboard
What You Have Learned
Lesson 5. Handling Events and Data Structures
Understanding Event Handling
Building a Data Structure on the creationComplete Event
Using Data from the Event Object
Building a Custom ActionScript Class
Building a Method to Create an Object
Building Shopping Cart Classes
What You Have Learned
Lesson 6. Using Remote XML Data with Controls
Retrieving XML Data with HTTPService
Retrieving XML Data via HTTPService
Populating an ArrayCollection with HTTPService Data
Populating a ComboBox Control and Programmatically Adding an Option
Using XML Data with a Tree Control
Retrieving XML Data and Transforming It into an ArrayCollection of Custom Objects
Using Data Binding with Complex Data Structures
Manipulating Shopping Cart Data
Adding a Remove Button
What You Have Learned
Lesson 7. Creating Components with MXML
Introducing MXML Components
Creating an Update/Delete Product Component and Instantiating It
Popping Up Product Information When Clicking the Update and Delete Buttons
Creating Another Value Object
Creating a Data Manager Component for All Three Applications
Using the New Data Manager Component
Implementing Add Product Functionality
Creating and Using a Component for the Dashboard Application
What You Have Learned
Lesson 8. Using Controls and Repeaters with Datasets
Using Datasets
Displaying the Categories Using a HorizontalList and an itemRenderer
Displaying Grocery Products Based on Category Selection
Coding States to Display Detailed Product Information
Placing Products in the Shopping Cart
What You Have Learned
Lesson 9. Using Custom Events
Understanding the Benefits of Loosely Coupled Architecture
Dispatching Events
Declaring Events for a Component
Identifying the Need for Custom Event Classes
Building and Using the CategoryEvent
Creating and Using the ProductEvent Class
Understanding Event Flow and Event Bubbling
What You Have Learned
Lesson 10. Creating Custom Components with ActionScript 3.0
Introducing Building a Component with ActionScript 3.0
Creating the Structure of the Class
Overriding the createChildren() Method
Sizing and Positioning in Flex
Understanding the measure() Method
Overriding the updateDisplayList() Method
What You Have Learned
Lesson 11. Using DataGrids and Item Renderers
Introducing DataGrids and Item Renderers
Adding a Generic DataGrid to ChartPod
Adding HTTPService Calls to Dashboard
Displaying the Shopping Cart with a DataGrid
Using the AdvancedDataGrid
What You Have Learned
Lesson 12. Using Drag and Drop
Introducing the Drag and Drop Manager
Dragging and Dropping Between Two DataGrids
Dragging and Dropping Between a DataGrid and a List
Using a Nondrag-Enabled Component in a Drag-and-Drop Operation
Dragging a Grocery Item to the Shopping Cart
What You Have Learned
Lesson 13. Implementing Navigation
Introducing Navigation
Using a TabNavigator in the DataEntry Application
Adding a Home Page and Checkout Page in the E-Commerce Application
Creating the First Step of the Checkout Process Displayed by a ViewStack
Completing the Checkout Process Using the ViewStack
What You Have Learned
Lesson 14. Using Formatters and Validators
Introducing Formatters and Validators
Using a Formatter Class to Display Currency Information in the E-Commerce Application
Using Validator Classes
Using Regular Expressions to Validate Data (Part 1)
Using Regular Expressions to Validate Data (Part 2)
Building a Custom Validator Class
What You Have Learned
Lesson 15. Implementing History Management and Deep Linking
Introducing History Management
Implementing History Management within a Navigator Container
Building a Custom History Manager
Introducing Deep Linking
What You Have Learned
Lesson 16. Customizing the Look and Feel of a Flex Application
Applying a Design with Styles and Skins
Applying Styles
Changing CSS at Runtime
Skinning Components
What You Have Learned
Lesson 17. Working with Web Services
Introducing Server Communication
Using the Event Model Remote Server Calls
Configuring an Application to Work Locally
Using a Web Service in the Dashboard
Using a Web Service in the DataEntry Application
Using the Web Service Introspection Wizard
Using the Generated Code in Your Application
Refactoring with Flex Builder
Completing the Integration of the Generated Code
Updating and Deleting Products
What You Have Learned
Lesson 18. Accessing Server-Side Objects
Uploading Files to the Server
Using RemoteObject to Save an Order
Mapping ActionScript Objects to Server Objects
The Flex Builder Data Wizards
What You Have Learned
Lesson 19. Visualizing Data
Exploring Flex Charting Components
Laying Out Initial Charts
Populating Charts
Adding Legends to Charts
Limiting the Labels Shown on an Axis
Interacting with Charts
Adding Chart Events
Adding Animations to Charts
Customizing Chart Appearance with Styles
What You Have Learned
Lesson 20. Creating Modular Applications
Introducing Modular Applications in Flex 3
Using Flex Modules
Understanding Runtime Shared Libraries (RSLs)
Using the Flex Framework RSL Caching
Creating a Library Project
What You Have Learned
Lesson 21. Deploying Flex Applications
Compiling a Deployment Version of Your Application
Breaking Out of the Browser with the Adobe Integrated Runtime (AIR)
Creating an AIR Application
What You Have Learned
Lesson 22. Creating Transitions and Behaviors
Introducing Behaviors and Transitions
Implementing Effects on a Component
Adding Effects to View States
What You Have Learned
Lesson 23. Printing from Flex
Introducing Flex Printing
Printing for the First Time from Flex
Using the PrintDataGrid in a Nonvisible Container
Building the Printable View in a Separate Component
Scaling the Printed Output
Printing a Receipt from the Checkout Process
What You Have Learned
Lesson 24. Using Shared Objects
Introducing Shared Objects
Building a SharedObject to Store Shopping Cart Data
Reading Data from an Existing Shared Object
What You Have Learned
Lesson 25. Debugging Flex Applications
Introducing Debugging Techniques
Watching Client/Server Data Exchange
Learning More About the Debugger
Handling Errors with try-catch
What You Have Learned
Lesson 26. Profiling Flex Applications
Flash Player Memory Use
Memory Profiling a Flex Application
Performance Profiling a Flex Application
What You Have Learned
Appendix A. Setup Instructions
Installing Flex Builder
Installing Lesson Files
Installing the ColdFusion Server
Starting the ColdFusion Server
Installing Flash Debug Player
Index
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