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  3. Flash and XML: A Developer's Guide

Flash and XML: A Developer's Guide, 1st edition

  • Dov Jacobson
  • Jesse Jacobson

Published by Addison-Wesley Professional (November 20th 2001) - Copyright © 2002

1st edition

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Overview

"This book is an exceptional training manual to bring a web developer or flash designer with scripting skills into an entirely new world of coding."
--Christopher Ian Smith,
XML Developer, RespondTV.com

"This is a 'must-read' for any Flash developer."
--John Paul Rawlins, Editor
FlashNewz.com

Flash and XML shows designers and developers how to integrate these powerful technologies and create dynamic web sites. With this thoroughly readable guide you take Flash to the next level, interfacing ActionScript with XML. Empower your Flash projects with dynamic content, backend databases, server-based applications, peer-to-peer, and more.

Flash and XML is a tutorial that brings you up to speed on both technologies, offering clear and concise explanations. In addition, this book presents a number of important web technologies, including PHP, MySQL, and sockets. It shows how to work with these technologies to create n-tier, interactive systems that access the full resources of the Internet.

Sample projects (trivia game, XML browser, simple chat) showcase the capabilities of Flash and XML together and demonstrate important concepts, approaches, and techniques.

The companion web site at http://www.FlashandXML.com contains all of the source code referenced in the book, as well as updates, discussion groups, and links to other resources.

Containing plentiful examples, experience-based techniques, and just enough theory, Flash and XML is a one-stop sourcebook that will guide you in the development of web sites that are not only animated, interactive, and powerful, but extremely useful as well.

Specific topics covered include:

  • Flash architecture
  • ActionScript techniques
  • XML in detail--for Flash developers
  • DTD specification
  • Internet request and response: HTTP
  • Server scripting with PHP
  • Basic SQL syntax
  • Designing MySQL databases
  • From MySQL to Flash via XML and PHP
  • Cookies
  • Packet sniffers
  • Escaping the Domain Perimeter
  • XML Sockets and streaming data
  • Multi-user communication in Flash


0201729202B01142002

Table of contents



Preface.

Why this book, who should read it.



Acknowledgments.


1. Flash Basics.

Starting out: Buttons, graphics, text, sound, script.

The Background of Flash.

Practical Flash.

Event-Driven Graphics.

Building a Button.

Constructing a Round.

Making Keyframes.

Constructing the Responses.

Finishing Features.

Conclusion--and Beyond.



2. FlashActionScript: Objects and Events.

Core concepts: Object orientation, event handlers, dynamic text.

Object Orientation Concepts.

Object-Oriented Theory vs. ActionScript Reality.

Flash Objects.

Programmable Button.

Data Encapsulation.

Conclusion.



3. More ActionScript: Data-Driven Interfaces.

Practical work: Thin client, smart graphic elements, exposing data structure.

Data-Driven Decisions.

Data-Driven Everything.

Isolating the Data.

Dynamic Creation of Graphics.

Multiple Questions.

Conclusion.



4. XML Fundamentals.

Big picture: Inspiration, evolution, esthetic, promise.

XML Background.

How XML Works.

Designing the Data.

Conclusion.



5. XML Structure.

Definitions: Elements, names, tags, attributes, content, markup, etc.

Element.

Name.

Start Tag.

End Tag.

Attributes.

Text (Character Data).

Entity References.

Comments.

Processor Instructions.

Conclusion.



6. XML Validation: DTD.

Declaration: Entities, parameters, notations, namespaces.

Purpose of DTD.

Valid XML and Well-Formed XML.

DTD Declarations.

Entities.

Namespace.

Conclusion.



7. HTTP Connection.

Transaction: Request/response, GET, POST, load, variable scope.

Characteristics of HTTP.

Structure of HTTP.

Loading Data from a File.

Making a Self-Loading High Score Display.

Object-Oriented Implementation.

Data File.

Flash Download Security.

Conclusion.



8. XML Connection.

Download: XML files, ActionScript parser, debugger, DOM.

Downloading XML.

XML.load.

Debugging Flash.

Event-Driven Functionality.

Conclusion.



9. Recursive Approach.

Recursion: See Chapter 9.

Event-Driven Code.

Recursive Design.

Recursion.

Recursion in Practice.

Graphic XML Browser.

Interactive Node Viewer.

Conclusion.



10. XML Server.

Two tier: Server-side options, PHP, HTTP header variables.

XML Online.

Dedicated XML Server.

Middle-Tier Solutions.

PHP Basics.

PHP and XML.

XML-Driven Flash Client.

Conclusion.



11. Database Fundamentals.

DBMS 101: Purpose, technology options, relational, rows, columns, keys, joins.

Background.

Advantages of a DBMS.

Advantages of SQL.

Keys.

Conclusion.



12. SQL Syntax.

Practical DB: Building tables, data types, designing queries, getting records.

Varieties of SQL.

Prompt

Tables.

Guidelines for Building a Table.

Types of Data.

Adding Data to Tables.

Reading Records from the Table.

Conclusion.



13. Serving from SQL.

Middle tier: PHP and MySQL, MySQL/functions, results tables.

Connecting to a Database.

Interaction with a Database.

Parsing Commands.

Fetching a Row.

Trial-and-Error Approach.

Scalable Alternative.

Conclusion.



14. XML Upload.

Upload: ActionScript and PHP, HTTP, XML as HTML, XML in browser.

Flash Client.

Uploading to PHP.

Conclusion.



15. Two-Way XML.

Roundtrip: Object exchange, PHP parsing, expat, event-based parser, packet sniffing.

Event-Driven Parsing.

Building the PHP Parser.

Conclusion.



16. Cookies.

Persistence: ActionScript parsing, DOM-based parser, setting cookies, reading cookies.

ActionScript XML Objects.

Stateless Persistence.

Conclusion.



17. Three Tiers.

Three tier: Database, application, client; a flexible system.

Database.

Flexible Middle Tier.

Client Tier.

Conclusion.



18. Flash to the World.

Proxies: Domain perimeter, security, escape, RSS, newsfeeds, content browsing.

Domain Perimeter.

PHP Proxy.

Client.

RSS File.

RSS Browser.

Conclusion.



19. XML Sockets.

Realtime: Socket programming, ports, streaming XML, single-user communications.

Advanced Socket Programming.

XMLSocket.

Simple Socket System.

Simple Socket Server.

Conclusion.



20. Multiplexed XML Sockets.

Multisockets: Scalable, stream servers, multi-user environments, live peer Connections.

Chat.

Client with History.

Multiclient Server.

Beyond PHP.

Conclusion.

End Note.

Upload: ActionScript and PHP, HTTP, XML as HTML, XML in browser.



Appendix A: Microsoft Compatibility.

MS: XML in ASP, MSXML, PHP on IIS

ASP Code with Flash.

IIS and PHP.



Appendix B: Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG).

SVG: Flash without Flash, beyond the swf file



Appendix C: Tools and Sources.

Debuggers, editors, web sites, books, newsgroups, conferences.

Network Tool.

Servers.

XML Tools.

PHP Tools.

MySQL Tools.

Flash.



Index. 0201729202T10222001

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