ActionScript 3 for Designers

An introduction to creating interactive, dynamic interfaces with Flash ActionScript 3.0

Flash's ActionScript programming language enables Flash designers to step up the level of interactivity and complexity of their projects. With ActionScript 3 techniques, you can add unique functionality that enhances your visual interfaces.

Over six lessons, you'll work hands-on with ActionScript 3 to build a wide range of fun, functional, and attractive applications. You'll learn the ins and outs of writing error-free syntax while creating projects aimed at your design side. Each project builds in creativity and complexity.

Projects include an ActionScript-controlled image layout, a user-controlled character, a drag-and-drop puzzle game, a conversion calculator, and even a dynamic drawing interface. You'll be expected to combine your design sense with ActionScript code to build creative, interactive applications.

Tuition: $900 US

Course Instructor(s):

Russell Chun is a Flash author, teacher, and educational multimedia developer.

Course content developed by Russell Chun.

Requirements:

To take this course you'll need:

Computer with Internet connection (56 Kbps modem or faster).
Adobe Flash CS4 or CS5.
Basic experience using Adobe Flash including Movie Clip and Button symbols.

Prerequisites:

The following courses can help you meet the above requirements:

5500 - Flash Basics

Course Objectives:

Students learn how to:

Write and troubleshoot basic ActionScript 3.0 syntax.
Assign basic visual properties to objects and dynamically control objects on the Stage.
Use event listeners and MouseEvents to offer user interactivity and control.
Track user mouse motion and location.
Use multiple timelines for animated responses to user events.
Create basic drag and drop functionality with appropriate parameters and constraints.
Set up and use variables to store and process information.
Use operators, expressions, and conditional statements to control information flow.
Create and control Dynamic text boxes to display information to the user.
Create and control Input text boxes to accept information from the user.
Use coordinates and the Display List to manage objects on the Stage.
Draw graphics to the Stage dynamically based on user input.

Course Outline

LESSON 1 Language Basics and the Control of Visual Properties

The course starts off with a quick review of the goals of ActionScript as a programming language and some of the great things it can do for user interactivity. Then you'll delve into the basics of ActionScript 3.0 syntax, starting with objects, classes, and controlling the visual properties of Movie Clips. You'll also learn how to troubleshoot your code with a wide range of Flash tools. In the exercise, you'll design a layout of images that is controlled entirely from ActionScript.

LESSON 2 Interactivity and User Input

Lecture Two hands control to the user: You'll learn how to add interactivity to your Flash movies based on mouse actions from the user. You'll learn how to control objects based on MouseEvents like clicks, movements, and locations. The exercise will challenge you to develop a character whose movements can be controlled by user mouse events.

LESSON 3 Controlling and Displaying Graphics

Movie Clip methods in ActionScript enable many of the cool interactions you see in Flash projects, especially drag-and-drop interactions. Lecture Three will show you how to create those interactions through code that manages the Movie Clip, manages the Timeline, and uses event listeners to manage the interaction. You'll learn how to apply this functionality to games and user interfaces. In the exercise, you will design and develop a complete drag-and-drop puzzle game.

LESSON 4 Information Flow

Complex tasks in ActionScript revolve around the processing and flow of information. Variables are the key to information management, as they are like the "memory" of ActionScript. You'll learn in Lecture Four how to store and process information with variables, creating expressions with variables and operators and using conditional statements to control logic. These aspects of ActionScript culminate in a scoring system that you will create for your game or character.

LESSON 5 Managing Dynamic Text

Text is an integral part of any Flash project and can add information and input to interactive interfaces. Lecture Five explores the range of text options in Flash and shows you how to control Dynamic text and Input text with ActionScript for dynamic display and user interaction. You'll use Dynamic text and Input text in an exercise that challenges you to create a conversion calculator of your choice.

LESSON 6 Dynamic Graphics

By Lecture Six, you have already learned how to create responsive, interactive environments with graphics, text, and ActionScript code. Your final challenge will be to create dynamic graphics: Graphics that are drawn based on current information or user input. You'll learn the methods and parameters for creating dynamic graphics and you'll learn how to manage dynamic graphics with coordinates and stacking order. Your final exercise is to create a fully user-controlled drawing application.