If you’re a true Flash master--and we’re betting you are--you know that the real power behind the throne in Macromedia’s wildly popular Web animation software is its programming language: ActionScript 2.0. Offering a more robust programming model and better object-oriented programming support than ever before, ActionScript 2.0 allows you to take your Flash MX 2004 designs to new levels--if, that is, you know how to make full use of it. This volume, from the folks behind the software, makes sure that you do! In this highly cross-referenced dictionary, you’ll find detailed descriptions of every ActionScript operator, keyword, statement, action, property, function, object, component, and method. What’s more, an invaluable chart will help you locate definitions for symbolic operators or methods even when you don’t know the object or component class. To top it all off, Macromedia has rounded up a posse of Flash and ActionScripting luminaries to contribute articles on a range of topics--from converting ActionScript 1.0 to ActionScript 2.0 to using design patterns in Flash.

Invaluable Reference
There’s a built-in ActionScript 2.0 Dictionary in the Flash Help files, and on the Adobe website. And it’s more up to date than this. However, there’s nothing like having the book right there when you need it.

I’ve designed and scripted two online Flash games (and I’ll plug them in just a moment), and this book sat on my desk the entire time. It’s basically falling apart at this point, so I might have to order another soon. If you’re still looking to learn AS 2.0 (AS 3.0 is great, but it might be a little more difficult for the non-programmer to grasp), do yourself a favor and get this, ASAP.

If you’d like to play the games that this book helped me create, you can search for "We Are Legend" or "Drunken Masters" in Google.

Very Useful Reference for a Great Price!
I have found this book to be a very useful reference. I don’t think it was really meant to teach novice Flash designers/developers how to become an ActionScript developer. It is however meant to be a thorough ActionScript dictionary and reference to which it does a very good job. If you are looking for a tutorial, get one of the O’reilly books (ActionScript for Flash MX: TDG, and/or Essential ActionScript 2.0), I have both of these books and they are wonderful learning books. I do have to say that the ActionScript 2.0 Dictionary (this book) and ActionScript for Flash MX (from O’reilly) are the two books on AS that have a permanent spot on my desk. Also, you can’t beat the price of this book, completely worth it if you are looking for a reference.

Comprehensiv dictionary
As its name states this is an ActionScript dictionary. It is devided in several parts being the last one the dictionary. The other parts will help you know what for is ActionScript and Flash and how to make AcitonScript work in your animations. You should have a good knowledge of Flash in order to understand and implement the contents of the book. Do not expect to find complete examples to run in Flash directly. Instead you will find short ones that help you understand and feel the power of ActionScript. If you work with ActionScript this dictionary must be on your desk at any time to know exactly what you are doing and how it is made.

It is not very expensive and very helpful.

BE AWARE!! This book contains MAJOR script errors
I bought this thinking "Macromedia should knopw how to write a dictionary about their own product, right?" This book looks like went to press without even passing NEAR an editor’s desk; in the first 5 references I looked up, four of them were incomplete or outright wrong. Syntax listings are written incorrectly, and I have found usage samples under code listings that just would not work, because they have been written incorrectly. Having worked with Flash for 6 years now, I was really hoping to have a nice handy reference to sit on my desk. This book is NOT it.

Why get the hard copy when you have it built-in-Flash?
If you think, like me, you are going to learn how to create chunky codes by buying this book, think again. In fact, except for the articles at the beginning, most of the stuff in this book is in help section of Flash. If you open the help panel in Flash, search for whatever item in the dictionary, you will get sometimes exact descriptions what the dictionary says. Yet, it is a good reference, assuming you don’t like reading off of a screen. This IS ONLY A REFERNCE. It is not going to teach you code, although they offer some sample codes depending on the feature you are looking for.

Excellent ActionScript 2 Resource
It has all you need when you get in trouble with ActionScipt 2. Also at the beginning of the book you will see some very useful articles. This book is a resouce, is not going to teach anything, it will guide you through the problems you have.

Excellent ActionScript 2 Resource
When you fall in troubles doing your Flash project this book is a must! A complete reference for ActionScipt 2. At the beginning there are few useful articles by professionals, which I really found them helpful and then whole the book, the reference. You’re not going to learn so much of ActionScript by this book, bear in mind this is a reference, meaning you know some stuff, but as a matter of forgetting the commands or finding the proper commands you refer to it. But don’t worry if you have the talent, which I’m sure, you can figure out how to program by the little examples at the end of each command. Good Luck...

Total ripp off [zero stars]
First of all, I am not that much of a review writer, but feel I have to add to the reviews above. I bought this book before the reviews above were written. If only I had waited. Anyway: why is this a ripp off?
1. it should have come with the software in the first place as the new help function within flash is totally unusable, and the documentation was far from complete.
2. it is full of mistakes, and the only erratum is the updated helpfunction with the software.
3. it was published at the time that even Macromedia knew that the documentation with their software was far from complete AND full of errors. Never could understand why they would repeat that unforgivable error in a book and dare ask money for it.

As a sidenote: the docs with the software are updated in the meantime, so you might as well put your printer to work if you need a printed copy. Don’t waste your money on this book.

John