Adobe Flash CS3 is a powerful and complex program and like many programs today doesn’t come with much in the way of real documentation. In other words no owner’s manual and honestly if it did the chances are it wouldn’t be all that useful or at the very least it would be fine for some user’s but not for others as each person learns differently and without the information being presented in a way that the person can understand they won’t get it. So myself I am all for the lack of manuals coming with software especially when there is such a wide range of third party books to choose from. By choosing a third party book a user can find one that they can learn from and really use.

If you are new to Flash then a third party book like Flash CS3 The Missing Manual Cover Shot from Pogue Press/O’Reilly maybe just what you’re looking for. This book is very well done, easy to read and it covers everything a new or semi-new user is going to need to get started with Adobe Flash CS3. This is not a how to do this or that type of book or a reference to ActionScript or anything like that. This book is a third party replacement for the manual that doesn’t come with Flash CS3.

Chapters:

Chapter 1: Getting Around Flash
Chapter 2: Creating Simple Drawings
Chapter 3: Animating Your Drawings
Chapter 4: Organizing Frames and Layers
Chapter 5: Advanced Drawing and Coloring
Chapter 6: Adding Special Effects
Chapter 7: Reusable Flash: Symbols and Templates
Chapter 8: Incorporating Non-Flash Media Files
Chapter 9: Automating Flash with ActionScript
Chapter 10: Controlling Animation
Chapter 11: Interacting with your Audience
Chapter 12: Components for Interactivity
Chapter 13: Testing and Debugging
Chapter 14: Publishing and Exporting
Appendix A: Installation and Help
Appendix B: Flash CS3 Menu by Menu

As you can see from the chapter list Flash CS3 The Missing Manual walks you through the basics of the Flash CS3’s interface right on through to the more advanced aspects of the program like using non-flash media files, basic ActionScript, testing and debugging and publishing and exporting. This is the perfect book for any one new to Flash, Flash CS3 or even an intermediate newbie that may have dabbled in Flash before CS3. It is well laid out, well written and easy to read.