David Doull

Creating web designs and site content in Macromedia Flash MX can be a lot of fun, but there are always tasks that you'll want to do again and again. It's always a bit of a hassle to have to keep recreating and tweaking the same old content or functionality in different projects, so why can't you just reuse what you've created? With components, you can do just that! Flash MX Components enable the creation of self-contained design building blocks that can be simply dragged and dropped into any Flash movie. They are flexible enough to be easily customized to take care of many different tasks. No fuss, no bother - you can repurpose the standard elements of your design, application, or game, and use them over and over again. But wait, it gets better! Components can be used by anyone, not just the person who created them. So in this book, we've done all the hard work for you and collected together the Most Wanted components that will make your life easier. In this book (and on the CD) youíll find a perfect combination of creative and functional components from some of today's leading Flash designers and developers. Just look at the fantastic components you get: - Event Calendar - David Doull - Text Editor - Josh Dura - XML News Ticker - Jon Steer - Tool Tip - Brandon Williams - Sketchpad - Steve Young - Video Player - Jen DeHaan - Image Scroller - Brian Monnone - Pattern Generators - Paul Prudence - TabControl - Jeremy Larkin - Sliding Panel - Todd Marks - ColorPicker - Jeremy Larkin - Game Player Selector - Todd Coulson - Particle Emitter - Jared Tarbell - Layout Manager - Michael Montagna - Data Grid - Daryn Nakhuda - Movie Loader - Aral Balkan - Image Modulators - Lifaros - XML-to-ActionScript Converter - Mike Pearce - Virtual 3D Trackball - James Palmer - Text Animations - Todd Yard - Dynamic Text Manager - Peter Elst Each of these components is included on the accompanying CD, ready to incorporate within your designs, along with plenty of example files giving practical demonstrations of their use. On top of that, each chapter in this book presents a comprehensive designer-oriented guide that will help you to get the most out of using all of the featured components. If youíre a Flash designer, of any ability from novice to professional, this book will increase the power of your Flash designs and enhance your project workflow ñ instantly! From the Publisher This book is for experienced Flash users and novices alike. That is the beauty of Flash components, they are so easy to use that those who are fairly new to Flash can use them to create movies that would ordinarily be out of their reach, whereas the more experienced designer can use them as great time-saving tools, cutting the time needed to create their applications and improving their productivity.

"Usability makes everything easier, except the job of the developer. Usability is not easy. There are no macros to run on Macromedia Flash projects to apply usability. Applying usability requires a change in the development process. It requires a new method of thinking about a project from start to finish." - Chris McGregor, Macromedia Usability White Paper. With the latest MX release, Flash has taken a significant step towards becoming the standard tool for delivery of web content. This brings with it a whole range of new challenges for those working with Flash, the biggest of which is making sure that their Flash material can be easily used by everyone that it is intended for. This book isn't about stifling flair and creativity, this is about making sure that your viewers stick around to appreciate the fruits of your creativity (and your hard work), and that your skills stay current in a quickly changing web landscape. As suggested above, Usability is not an easy topic when you depart from crass dictatorial statements and into the real world. This book exists to take the role of the user's web experience seriously and to show you how to remember them when designing. As such, it could be the most valuable Flash MX book you'll read this year. Book Info With this guide you will discover how to succeed with Flash in the business environment that demands economy, efficiency, and effectiveness from your web site. Covers Flash MX. Softcover. From the Author Usability makes everything easier, except the job of the developer. Usability is not easy. There are no macros to run on Macromedia Flash projects to apply usability. Applying usability requires a change in the development process. It requires a new method of thinking about a project from start to finish. - Chris McGregor, Macromedia Usability White Paper. About the Author Chris McGregor is the author of Macromedia's Usability White Paper and the man behind flazoom.com.

Some friends of ED books concentrate on more serious aspects of Flash - this one concentrates on the fun. Flash can be used for many purposes, but making visually stunning effects to impress your boss, your friends, and anyone who looks at your site is one of the most rewarding. Friends of ED have scoured the web and the Flash community, discovering the most requested and popular Flash effects in action today. We have investigated the visual effects and actual design techniques that Flash beginners have been asking for. The visual inspiration and detailed explanations of how to recreate these effects are combined together in this book. The eight leading designers in this full color book take these effects apart, showing you how to adapt your basic Flash knowledge to achieve results exceeding anything you thought possible. The effects stay true to the tried and tested friends of ED design-centric approach, with full exercises and explanations for each effect. Topics include: ground-breaking site navigation; a dynamic MP3 jukebox; cartoon animation; and Flash math visual effects. All you need to use this book is a knowlegde of the Flash MX interface, and some imagination. So sit back, relax, and open up your mind to the visual potential of Flash MX. As with all books from friends of ED our support is fast, friendly and free. Your queries will be passed onto the editors and authors who put the book together.