Macromedia Flash 8.0 is a powerful program for web site animations and interactive applications. However, the real power of Macromedia Flash 8.0 is in the ActionScript scripting language. Using ActionScript 2.0 in Flash 8.0 you can do things that just aren't possible any other way. At least not without a lot of work and the use of a lot of other products.

 

The problem with this much power is that it is a bear to learn. We are talking about a programming language here and while the syntax is similar to other languages like JavaScript it isn't these other languages. So, if you really want to learn how to make Macromedia Flash 8.0 sing, dance and do other nifty things you need to learn ActionScript. The good news is that the Learning ActionScript 2.0 for Macromedia Flash 8.0 book is here to help.

 

This is not one of the most massive books I have ever seen. It is however, a thick hefty volume and it needs to be if it is going to teach you how to code in ActionScript 2.0. This book is definitely for the advanced user of Macromedia Flash 8.0 and it would be helpful to have at least some basic programming knowledge. Unlike many other books on many other subjects this book has almost no screen shots in it. Instead it is loaded with code snippets, which makes sense since it is trying to teach you a programming language.

 

I have found this book fairly easy to follow, it is laid out in a logical fashion with it starting with the more basic things like What's New in Flash 8.0 ActionScript, Writing and Editing ActionScript and then it moves in to the more heavy weight things like Classes, Handling Events, Working with Text and Strings, Working with External Data and the like.

 

The one thing I do find comforting about this book is that it has been checked by the Macromedia Flash engineering team. Which means you can count on the information being complete and accurate. Which for me at least is important. Why go to all of the trouble to learn ActionScript if what you learn isn't correct or complete.

 

Chapters:

Chapter 1: What's New in Flash 8 Action Script
Chapter 2: Writing and Editing ActionScript 2.0
Chapter 3: About ActionScript
Chapter 4: Data and Data Types
Chapter 5: Syntax and Language Fundamentals
Chapter 6: Functions and Methods
Chapter 7: Classes
Chapter 8: Inheritance
Chapter 9: Interfaces
Chapter 10: Handling Events
Chapter 11: Working with Movie Clips
Chapter 12: Working with Text and Strings
Chapter 13: Animation, Filters and Drawings
Chapter 14: Creating Interaction with ActionScript
Chapter 15: Working with Images, Sound and Video
Chapter 16: Working with External Data
Chapter 17: Understanding Security
Chapter 18: Debugging Applications
Chapter 19: Best Practices and Coding Conventions for ActionScript 2.0
Appendix A: Error Messages
Appendix B: Deprecated Flash 4 Operators
Appendix C: Keyboard Keys and Key Code Values
Appendix D: Writing Scripts for Earlier Versions of Flash Player
Appendix E: Object-Oriented Programming with ActionScript 1.0
Appendix F: Terminology

As you can see from the chapter list above this is a very in-depth and thorough book on Macromedia Flash 8.0 ActionScript 2.0. This isn't a book for a novice, there are other books that are more suited to those that are just getting started with Flash 8.0 and ActionScript 2.0. Unless you are in to some heavy duty application creation with Macromedia Flash 8.0 you may not even need to know a lot of ActionScript, but knowing the basics and having a good reference book would be a handy thing. You can never know too much.