The Essential Guide to Flash CS4 AIR Development

Description

We all know what a great tool Flash is for creating dynamic, engaging web content, and Adobe's CS4 release just makes it even better. Among the newer features is the ability to take all the power of Flash for the Web and put in on the desktop using AIR. AIR capability is built right into the Flash CS4 integrated development environment, which means you can start writing desktop applications right away.

This book not only covers the essentials of using Flash with AIR (and AIR with Flash), but also shows you how to extend application functionality in new ways. Once you've got Flash on the desktop, you're no longer constrained by the limitations of running inside a web browser. You'll have access to the local desktop file system, and AIR adds SQLite functionality for native database support. And just as Flash animations have a consistent look and feel across browsers, AIR allows you to create applications that work consistently across operating systems - Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux.

For any Flash developer who wants to go from the Web to the desktop (and who doesn't?), this book is required reading. It not only tells you how to do it, but is full of practical, easy-to-follow examples that will have you building desktop AIR applications with Flash in no time. Expanding your existing Flash skills with the Essential Guide to Flash CS4 AIR Development will make you an even more potent and indispensable force on any development team!

CONTENTS:

Ch 1 : Introducing Adobe AIR

Ch 2 : Introducing Flash CS4

Ch 3 : Building your first AIR application

Ch 4 : Setting AIR application properties

Ch 5 : Working with the Winwod API and Screen

Ch 6 : Creating Menu

Ch 7 : Accessing the File System

Ch 8 : Working with the operating system

Ch 9 : Adding Rich Media: PDFs, Videos and audios

Ch 10 : Using the Flash CS4 AIR Components

Ch 11 : Monitoring network connectivity

Ch 12 : SQLite programming in Flash CS4

Ch 13 : Packaging and distributing AIR applications using Flash CS4

Ch 14 : Understanding AIR security Appendix