The long-stale page metaphor for Web sites is finally dying out, replaced by the single-screen rich-Internet apps that Flash MX 2004 is at last bringing to the mainstream. To stay ahead of the curve¿and to start creating the kind of Web sites you used to only dream of¿you need this guide. In these pages you’ll learn how to create the sites that more and more companies are demanding¿the kind that pull complex data from multiple sources for delivery via a single Web interface, so that users can perform multiple functions from a single screen. The focus here is on building the Flash MX 2004 front end to work with that complex data. You’ll learn how to structure applications to eliminate page refreshes while reducing download time, build real-time and time-delayed applications with Flash Communication Server, integrate technologies like Flash Remoting and Macromedia Central, and more. You can even download all of the source files form the book’s companion Web site.

Author: Flash programmer or Macromedia brainwashed? Avoid it.
This book provided no information to Flash programming. Show of hands who uses Flash Communication Server. One third of this book is dedicated to it. Most people now use either PHP, or even ASP with XML, talking to a database. Show of hands who ever used those pre-defined controls, fields, buttons, etc. Then you’re probably no Flash developer. There is no mention in this book about developing/designing controls from scratch and solving related problems.

From beginning to end, this book reads like an advert for everything Macromedia and how well their solutions fit together, and offers no real-life Flash programming insights. Flash is graphic-oriented development solution, yet the author uses it to develop irrelevant apps, that could have been made in Java or others.

The irony: the author wants to appear cool and all-knowing, yet only succeeds in producing a mish mash of incoherent advice on how he thinks things should be done to develop useless apps. This book might be useful to him alone.

Good start for RIA Technology
Macromedia Flash MX 2004 for Rich Internet Applications is a good book but it’s not enough.
The book is useful for intermediate users, but if they lack knowledge in some branches, it will be hard for them to undersatand. Advanced users will gain a lot of new ideas.

Philip Kerman divides his book into three parts, the first part is an introduction and overview. Reading this part will make you understand what the writer wants from his book and how ideas flow through the book. You will feel as if you know Philip kerman a long time ago and as if he is one of your friends. Yet, the introduction of more than 60 pages is too much.

The second part of the book is very useful, especially for Multimedia developers who haven’t got much experience in web applications. It makes you understand how to design data structure, use Flash Communication Server, XML, Flash Remoting, Local, Shared Objects and Flash components for sure.

The third part offers new ways of working with flash and makes it more easier and organized. It will attract your attention to some of Flash MX 2004 new features, which you may know but may not use.

Good start for RIA Technology
Macromedia Flash MX 2004 for Rich Internet Applications is a good book but it’s not enough.

The book is useful for intermediate users, but if they lack knowledge in some branches, it will be hard for them to undersatand. Advanced users will gain a lot of new ideas.



Philip Kerman divides his book into three parts, the first part is an introduction and overview. Reading this part will make you understand what the writer wants from his book and how ideas flow through the book. You will feel as if you know Philip kerman a long time ago and as if he is one of your friends. Yet, the introduction of more than 60 pages is too much.



The second part of the book is very useful, especially for Multimedia developers who haven’t got much experience in web applications. It makes you understand how to design data structure, use Flash Communication Server, XML, Flash Remoting, Local, Shared Objects and Flash components for sure.



The third part offers new ways of working with flash and makes it more easier and organized. It will attract your attention to some of Flash MX 2004 new features, which you may know but may not use.

A must read that introduce Flash MX 2004
Phillip Kerman have the Way to present his content. This book help me alot to know more Flash MX 2004 and to be able to pass my Macromedia Flash MX 2004 developper certification. He present also good knowledge about Flash Communication server, a subject not enought covered. And finaly the Productivity part is the must usefull, alot to learn!

A Different Approach
My view after reading this book is as a beginner it offers an insight to the world of flash and taking it to the next level. I tended to focus on certain chapters I required for projects I was working on and avoided reading from start to finish and to be honest got what I wanted. It put the ideas into my head and gave me a starting block to build on. It is not one of these ’tell you everything and work word for word tutorials’ and I use it in conjunction with other books but all in all has helped a lot.

Too many code errors...
As a fellow Portlander, I’ve met Philip on a few occasions and appreciate his Flash knowledge. However, I think he must have written this book in an aweful hurry given that it is riddled with horendous coding errors. If you are able to identify these and overlook them there is some interesting information given about the Local Shared Object, Local Connections and the Flash Communications Server. Just don’t try to copy the code out of the book and expect it to work. I found this to be somewhat frustrating. Phil, I know you can do better.

An easy-to-use and well-written book
This is easily the most useful book I have purchased on developing applications with Flash (I have been using Flash since version 2.0 and have been writing games and apps with it for 5 years). The book covers the subject of RIA’s in structured chapters that help developers of all skill levels understand the tools that Flash MX 2004 provides. I keep this book within arms reach of my workstation because it also serves as a great reference tool.

In my opinion, the highlights of this book include the best chapters I’ve read on Flash Communication Server (FCS). FCS is one the most exciting and important new technologies to come from Macromedia and this book will have you building amazing connected applications quickly and easily. (I personally learned to develop for FCS in a matter of hours using step-by-step examples in this book). If you want to learn FCS, get this book first.

Other topics I found very helpful are Kerman’s discussions of Local Shared Objects, Flash Remoting, Components and XML. In addition to the specifics of these and other technologies, the author presents excellent information regarding general application development techniques and practices.

All in all, this book covers the subject of RIA’s in a thorough manner. Most aspects of application dev are discussed and there are lots of great detailed code examples throughout. Bottom line, I own books twice as thick that don’t explain the material nearly as well as this book.