If you’re serious about Flash design, and if you want to push your ideas to the very limits of possibility in Flash MX, then this book and CD are your indispensible companions. The book and CD package combines two vital elements: 1. The most comprehensive and in-depth reference resource for Flash MX ActionScript 2. A collection of rich, practical tutorials on using ActionScript effectively in Flash movie design We’ve packed in 20 chapters of tutorials, 100s of detailed reference entries, and 100s of example FLAs and SWFs. The CD reproduces and expands the book’s Complete ActionScript Dictionary, providing a comprehensive and portable reference tool. Our aim has been to make this book the best Flash MX ActionScript resource, bar none - the book that you’ll keep on your desk and never exhaust. This book contains: - The complete reference and illustrated guide to ActionScript - Over 650 detailed reference entries - Over 400 fully functional illustrative FLAs - A-Z coverage of the ActionScript language - Over 300 pages of addition text content on the CD It’s the real ActionScript Reference you’ve been waiting for. Book Info The most comprehensive and in-depth reference resource for Flash MX ActionScript. A collection of rich, practical tutorials on using ActionScript effectively in Flash movie design. Softcover. CD-ROM included.

The most comprehensive and in-depth reference resource for Flash MX ActionScript. A collection of rich, practical tutorials on using ActionScript effectively in Flash movie design. Softcover. CD-ROM included.

If you’re serious about Flash design, and if you want to push your ideas to the very limits of possibility in Flash MX, then this book and CD are your indispensible companions. The book and CD package combines two vital elements: 1. The most comprehensive and in-depth reference resource for Flash MX ActionScript 2. A collection of rich, practical tutorials on using ActionScript effectively in Flash movie design We’ve packed in 20 chapters of tutorials, 100s of detailed reference entries, and 100s of example FLAs and SWFs. The CD reproduces and expands the book’s Complete ActionScript Dictionary, providing a comprehensive and portable reference tool. Our aim has been to make this book the best Flash MX ActionScript resource, bar none - the book that you’ll keep on your desk and never exhaust. This book contains: - The complete reference and illustrated guide to ActionScript - Over 650 detailed reference entries - Over 400 fully functional illustrative FLAs - A-Z coverage of the ActionScript language - Over 300 pages of addition text content on the CD It’s the real ActionScript Reference you’ve been waiting for. Book Info The most comprehensive and in-depth reference resource for Flash MX ActionScript. A collection of rich, practical tutorials on using ActionScript effectively in Flash movie design. Softcover. CD-ROM included.

Dated, but was a good resource for Cross-Compatible AS
I have actually used this reference for years as needed for ActionScript. I still had a good use for this text in ensuring compatibility with Flash MX until the lack of features became too overwhelming. This is in the face of newer versions of Flash such as CS3 (9.0) that use ActionScript 2.0/3.0. All in all, this book was wonderful until the release of Flash 8.

Because of the new Filters that have come out with Flash 8.0 and the features of ActionScript 2.0 to support these and other enhancements, I would instead recommend Flash 8 ActionScript Bible if one is concerned with cross-compatibility in their ActionScript code and wishes to still be able to use AS with newer features such as Filters (but not as new as Transitions or other CS3 exclusive features - for that, I’d recommend ActionScript 3.0 Bible or something similar).

As far as who I could possibly recommend this book for: It’s good for somebody who is still working with Flash MX 2004 and below to Flash 5 (much of the text is compatible with Flash 5), however, I don’t know that there are many of those sorts of individuals.

Excellent Resource
This book is a great resource for when you’re looking for that specific line of code. Its terrible to read from front to back, but its an excellent way to find exactly what you’re looking for. Its so much code, it’ll make your eyes bleed.

This book delivers all it says and then some.
One of the few comprehensive actionsctipt titles on the market. The first half of the book boasts a large variety of tutorials and examples that skillfully lead the reader through both the syntax and use of actionscript. Personally I found the text clear and practical. The chapters on OOP were of particular value as they went beyond actionscript basics into application, bordering on philosophical.

The second half is an invaluable reference of the entire actionscript dictionary with a comprehensive CD full of .fla example files and bonus chapters on the XML Object. As a qualified teacher I found it hard to fault the methodology employed by the various authors.

Well worth the purchase.

A programmers perspective
I am a former programming teacher and I have a style to teach my students the most UNDERSTANDABLE way to do something not just how to do it. This text/reference achieves that purpose. If you have an understanding of Flash (which you should have before getting into scripting see Weinman books) then this book will serve you well. There are other books on scripting - great books - such as Moock’s books but they are more so for the programmer. This book is for the novelist programmer that desires to learn about action scripting.

Relating to beginners
5 stars if you know Flash well.
1 star if you haven’t had any experience with it at all.

I was a beginner once, who couldn’t figure out Flash at all. I’d like to help you build a bridge between where you may be now, as a beginner, to where you may find yourself aspiring to go.

If your only experience with Flash is to have seen the many wonderful and breathtaking Flash movies on the Internet and just had a look at the authoring tool, I strongly recommend that you leave this book until much later. It has its place in the learning curve but it isn’t, in my opinion, the first book to see.

There are understandings to possess that this book doesn’t cover sufficiently well enough for those whose minds work in particular ways. This is a programming book, for using the phenomenon of programming to create great design and animations. Whilst the focus is on design, you aren’t using the design tools on the interface. With this book, you are using the Actionscript language and you have to have a logical mind for this activity (as well as keeping your strong creative one).

I began my steep learning curve with Flash by watching others and watching video tutorials, especially those by George Pierson. In this way, I can ask questions that are tailored for me and I get tailored responses. Books aren’t always able to do so well here.

What is great about this book is the MX Actionscript reference in it and the seemingly well designed theory tutorials. I can’t find a fault with the reference. The theory is quite good. In the reference, all Flash MX commands are covered. There are examples of how to use them, but the coverage may not be enough for some. Brill. Just BRILL. I can be excited but because I can follow Actionscript.

Approach this book when you are successfully making Flash movies on your own. Yes, on your own. For me, this book is an aid for when I am going to where I haven’t gone to before. It helps me make judgements on ideas I get.

You MUST get this book if you use ActionScript!
I cannot say enough about this book. I, like most programmers, have a stack of computer books that’s taller than I am, but this one is by far the best one I’ve ever seen. The ActionScript reference has entries that you can’t find other places, including deprecated functions/operators and functions/objects that Macromedia doesn’t tell anyone about. Each and every function, operator, symbol, etc. has an explanation and several examples, including how NOT to use it. Best of all, the entire reference is on CD, complete with text, images, and example files. I keep mine in my CD drive at all times when working with Flash.

This book doesn’t stop there, though. It also has 20 chapters (3 on the CD) that discuss various aspects of ActionScript programming. These are all clearly written and easy to read. I would not say they are suitable for absolute beginners, but anyone with some programming experience in any language should be able to get a lot out of them.

The bottom line? If you use Flash MX and you don’t have this book, you’re not getting all you can out of your ActionScript.

Excellent Tutorial and Reference
I started with Macromedia’s Flash MX ActionScripting Advanced and I learned a lot. However, it does not contain a complete dictionary. I bought John Davey’s book and in addition to the complete dictionary in the book, it is also on the CD. I keep the online version loaded when programming Flash. Furthermore, the 400+ pages of tutorials, are simple, plentiful, and each one illustrates one learning objective. Both books are good, but this one is better.