Recomendations

Recomendations
Elo all, I recently discovered this site, an amazing one aswell. My interest in Flash is now rapidly increasing, so much that i want to do stuff which i know mothing of !!!.
Can any one recoment ay tutorials to get me started, so that i can produce near enough decent swf files. I use Swish but i feel that is only usefull for text. I want to use Flash as it is good for all fields of entertainment (i think), but it is also hard to work.
Please can ne1 help ???
TY
Jamie/[-MoM-Ne0-]

"If it aint broken, tweak it"

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[Recomendations] .....
I need to add functionality to a movie that will allow users to browse files on their hard drive and select the mp3 song, and upload selected file to our server. I know flash 6 or 7 can't do this natively (or atleast, i think it can't), But i also came to know that Flash 8 can handle it. I don't know how. Any help would be highly appreciated.

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Mail List Recomendations
Hi,

We already have an email form on the website based on php, but what I'm now looking for is a way for people to subscribe to a 'newsletter', without manually having to record the email addresses through the standard email form.

Can anyone recommend a good php script that would link into a mysql database ?

Ideally, when a newsletter is sent out, I'd like it to be personalised. I guess this will be based on the form they fill in though in the flash interface, and hence the fields that are passed via the php script.

Any suggestions on a script welcome..

thanks in advance

ade

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Recomendations For QueueManager Class
Hi All,

Does anyone on the board have any recommendations for a good "queue manager" class for AS2. On several designs i need to load a large number of files in the background, and see problems with failed loads and timeouts as a result.

I have seen several different takes on queue managers on the web, but after trying one of them (from zeh), i found the performance to be sub par when dealing with a large number of files (too many tight loops checking on every frame). There appears to be another one from "bit-tube" but it appears to be unsupported at the moment.

So the short questions are;
1) Have people used Queue managers?
2) Can you recommend any?
3) is it worth reverse enginnering the bit-tube example to understand its use since there is no documentation?
4) should i just code my own?

Thanks for any insight.

edit: I forgot to mention that i would like to reorder priorities of files in the queue since the plan is to have all files loading the in the background, and then bump the priority of those that are needed immediately.

Thanks and Best Regards
Neil































Edited: 10/08/2007 at 11:25:53 PM by Neil Hand

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Flash 8 Books, Recomendations
Just a post for recomendations on good books for Flash 8. I've been using Flash 8 Advanced (Visual Quickpro Guide) and Flash 8 Actionscript (traing from the source). Both are descent books but I find that they don't cover a lot of topics or don't go into detail as much as I'd like them to. So I'm looking to add another book to my collection. Macromedia Flash Professional 8 Unleashed (Sams) and the Flash Bibles look interesting, any thoughts on these or other recomendations. Thanks,

Max

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Need Recomendations For Optimizing My First AS2.0 Classes
I recently put together my first AS2.0 class system. It loads an XML file and parses it into a multi-dimensional array. It works well as-is but, given my inexperience with classes, I was hoping people could check it out and let me know if there's anything I could do to optimize it, make it more generic/useable, improve error checking, etc. Any recomendations would be greatly appreciated.

It consists of two classes (download files here: http://www.indivision.net/box/XMLKit_AS2_BETA.zip):

XMLObject.as:

Code:


/**
* XMLObject, Version 0.5 BETA
* A recursive method for converting XML into a multi-dimensional Array.
* Updates at: http://www.indivision.net
*
* @author: Joseph Miller
* Based on work by: Max Ziebell & J. Milkins
* @version: 0.5.0
*/
class XMLObject {
// The extension used to clip root of XML from return Object
private var rootVal:String = "firstChild";
//
public function XMLObject() {
}
//
//*
//* Getter for stripRoot value
//* returns true if set to strip root XML level
//*
public function get stripRoot():Boolean {
if (rootVal eq "firstChild") {
return true;
} else {
return false;
}
}
//
//*
//* Setter for stripRoot value
//*
//* @paramztrue or false determining whether or not root level is stripped from return Object
//* true = strip root XML level from return Object
//* false = leave return Object with root
//*
public function set stripRoot(z:Boolean):Void {
if (z eq true) {
rootVal = "firstChild";
} else {
rootVal = undefined;
}
}
//
//*
//* Checks for valid type of input Object, parses and returns Object on successful type
//*
//* @paraminputXML Object or String with XML formatting
//*
public function build(input:Object):Object {
var pXML:XML;
var pObj:Object = {};
if (typeof (input) eq "string") {
pXML = new XML(String(input));
} else if (input instanceof XML) {
pXML = XML(input);
} else {
trace("**Error** XMLKit.as(makeObject): Invalid or non-existent 'input' type.");
return;
}
pObj = _mxp(pXML[rootVal], {});
return pObj;
}
//
//*
//* Function resolved to if node is referred to as any Object other than an Array. Returns appropriate Array value.
//*
//* @paramfName representation of an XML node
//*
private function _mxr(f:Object) {
return this[0][f];
}
//
//*
//* Recursive method that spiders through an XML and returns a same-structured multi-dimensional Array.
//*
//* @paramxObjXMLNode Object / current location in XML
//* @paramobjMulti-Dimensional Array Object / current position of return Object as it is built
//*
private function _mxp(xObj:XMLNode, obj:Object):Object {
var c:Number, nName:String, nType:Number, cNode:XMLNode;
// Attributes:
// add '.attributes' to obj to extend attributes into their own Object
var oa = obj;
var xa = xObj.attributes;
for (c in xa) {
oa[c] = xa[c];
}
// Child Nodes:
for (c in xObj.childNodes) {
cNode = xObj.childNodes[c];
nName = cNode.nodeName;
nType = cNode.nodeType;
if (nType == 3) {
obj._value = cNode.nodeValue;
} else if (nType == 1 && nName != null) {
if (!(obj[nName] instanceof Array)) {
obj[nName] = new Array();
obj[nName].__resolve = _mxr;
}
var sObj:Object = _mxp(cNode, {});
obj[nName].unshift(sObj);
}
}
return obj;
}
}



XMLKit.as:

Code:


/**
* XMLKit, Version 0.5 BETA
* A loader extension for XMLObject.as. Loads an XML file into an Object and runs a callBack Function.
* Updates at: http://www.indivision.net
*
* @author: Joseph Miller
* @version: 0.5.0
*/
class XMLKit extends XMLObject {
// Constructor
public function XMLKit() {
super();
}
//
//*
//* Loads XML file, parses XML into Array Object into target Object, runs callBack Function on completion.
//*
//* @paramfilepath to XML file or script returning XML data
//* @paramtargetString name of Object to load parsed data into
//* @paramcallBackFunction to run once data is loaded and parsed into target
//* @paramoObject to run callBack Function on
//* @parampArray of paremeters to include with callBack Function
//*
public function load(file:String, target:String, callBack:Function, o:Object, p:Array) {
var XMLKitObj:XMLKit = this;
var myXML:XML = new XML();
myXML.ignoreWhite = true;
myXML.load(file);
myXML.onLoad = function() {
set(target, XMLKitObj.build(myXML));
callBack.apply(o, p);
};
}
}



Sample XML (test.xml):


Code:


<portfolio>
<web>
<job month="01" year="2002">
<href>http://www.nike.com</href>
<desc>this was a job for nike</desc>
</job>
<job month="04" year="2002">
<href>http://www.audi.com</href>
<desc>this job was made with Flash</desc>
</job>
</web>
<print>
<job id="test_id_feature" month="14" year="2003">
<desc>A flyer</desc>
</job>
</print>
</portfolio>



And code from the fla to test:


Code:


//
xmlString = '<portfolio attr="test"><web><job month="01" year="2002"><href>http://www.nike.com</href><desc>this was a job for nike</desc></job><job month="04" year="2002"><href>http://www.audi.com</href><desc>this job was made with Flash</desc></job></web><print><job id="test_id_feature" month="14" year="2003"><desc>A flyer</desc></job></print></portfolio>';
//
//portfolio = new XMLObject().build(xmlString);
new XMLKit().load("test.xml", "portfolio", testXML);
//
//testXML();
//
function testXML() {
trace("XMLNode.makeXMLSA EXAMPLES
");
trace("direct access on values:");
trace(" portfolio.web.job.href._value = "+portfolio.web.job.href._value);
trace(" portfolio.web.job[0].href._value = "+portfolio.web.job[0].href._value);
trace(" portfolio.web.job[1].href._value = "+portfolio.web.job[1].href._value);
trace("
now in a loop over jobs in web:");
for (var c = 0; c<portfolio.web.job.length; c++) {
trace(" portfolio.web.job["+c+"].href._value = "+portfolio.web.job[c].href._value);
}
trace("
direct access on attriubtes:");
trace(" portfolio.web.job.year = "+portfolio.web.job.year);
}

---

Optimization Recomendations For My First AS2.0 Class Project
I recently put together my first AS2.0 class system. It loads an XML file and parses it into a multi-dimensional array. It works well as-is but, given my inexperience with classes, I was hoping people could check it out and let me know if there's anything I could do to optimize it, make it more generic/useable, improve error checking, etc. Any recomendations would be greatly appreciated.

It consists of two classes (download files here: http://www.indivision.net/box/XMLKit_AS2_BETA.zip):

XMLObject.as:

Code:
/**
* XMLObject, Version 0.5 BETA
* A recursive method for converting XML into a multi-dimensional Array.
* Updates at: http://www.indivision.net
*
* @author: Joseph Miller
* Based on work by: Max Ziebell & J. Milkins
* @version: 0.5.0
*/
class XMLObject {
// The extension used to clip root of XML from return Object
private var rootVal:String = "firstChild";
//
public function XMLObject() {
}
//
//*
//* Getter for stripRoot value
//* returns true if set to strip root XML level
//*
public function get stripRoot():Boolean {
if (rootVal eq "firstChild") {
return true;
} else {
return false;
}
}
//
//*
//* Setter for stripRoot value
//*
//* @paramztrue or false determining whether or not root level is stripped from return Object
//* true = strip root XML level from return Object
//* false = leave return Object with root
//*
public function set stripRoot(z:Boolean):Void {
if (z eq true) {
rootVal = "firstChild";
} else {
rootVal = undefined;
}
}
//
//*
//* Checks for valid type of input Object, parses and returns Object on successful type
//*
//* @paraminputXML Object or String with XML formatting
//*
public function build(input:Object):Object {
var pXML:XML;
var pObj:Object = {};
if (typeof (input) eq "string") {
pXML = new XML(String(input));
} else if (input instanceof XML) {
pXML = XML(input);
} else {
trace("**Error** XMLKit.as(makeObject): Invalid or non-existent 'input' type.");
return;
}
pObj = _mxp(pXML[rootVal], {});
return pObj;
}
//
//*
//* Function resolved to if node is referred to as any Object other than an Array. Returns appropriate Array value.
//*
//* @paramfName representation of an XML node
//*
private function _mxr(f:Object) {
return this[0][f];
}
//
//*
//* Recursive method that spiders through an XML and returns a same-structured multi-dimensional Array.
//*
//* @paramxObjXMLNode Object / current location in XML
//* @paramobjMulti-Dimensional Array Object / current position of return Object as it is built
//*
private function _mxp(xObj:XMLNode, obj:Object):Object {
var c:Number, nName:String, nType:Number, cNode:XMLNode;
// Attributes:
// add '.attributes' to obj to extend attributes into their own Object
var oa = obj;
var xa = xObj.attributes;
for (c in xa) {
oa[c] = xa[c];
}
// Child Nodes:
for (c in xObj.childNodes) {
cNode = xObj.childNodes[c];
nName = cNode.nodeName;
nType = cNode.nodeType;
if (nType == 3) {
obj._value = cNode.nodeValue;
} else if (nType == 1 && nName != null) {
if (!(obj[nName] instanceof Array)) {
obj[nName] = new Array();
obj[nName].__resolve = _mxr;
}
var sObj:Object = _mxp(cNode, {});
obj[nName].unshift(sObj);
}
}
return obj;
}
}


XMLKit.as:

Code:
/**
* XMLKit, Version 0.5 BETA
* A loader extension for XMLObject.as. Loads an XML file into an Object and runs a callBack Function.
* Updates at: http://www.indivision.net
*
* @author: Joseph Miller
* @version: 0.5.0
*/
class XMLKit extends XMLObject {
// Constructor
public function XMLKit() {
super();
}
//
//*
//* Loads XML file, parses XML into Array Object into target Object, runs callBack Function on completion.
//*
//* @paramfilepath to XML file or script returning XML data
//* @paramtargetString name of Object to load parsed data into
//* @paramcallBackFunction to run once data is loaded and parsed into target
//* @paramoObject to run callBack Function on
//* @parampArray of paremeters to include with callBack Function
//*
public function load(file:String, target:String, callBack:Function, o:Object, p:Array) {
var XMLKitObj:XMLKit = this;
var myXML:XML = new XML();
myXML.ignoreWhite = true;
myXML.load(file);
myXML.onLoad = function() {
set(target, XMLKitObj.build(myXML));
callBack.apply(o, p);
};
}
}


Sample XML (test.xml):


Code:
<portfolio>
<web>
<job month="01" year="2002">
<href>http://www.nike.com</href>
<desc>this was a job for nike</desc>
</job>
<job month="04" year="2002">
<href>http://www.audi.com</href>
<desc>this job was made with Flash</desc>
</job>
</web>
<print>
<job id="test_id_feature" month="14" year="2003">
<desc>A flyer</desc>
</job>
</print>
</portfolio>


And code from the fla to test:


Code:
//
xmlString = '<portfolio attr="test"><web><job month="01" year="2002"><href>http://www.nike.com</href><desc>this was a job for nike</desc></job><job month="04" year="2002"><href>http://www.audi.com</href><desc>this job was made with Flash</desc></job></web><print><job id="test_id_feature" month="14" year="2003"><desc>A flyer</desc></job></print></portfolio>';
//
//portfolio = new XMLObject().build(xmlString);
new XMLKit().load("test.xml", "portfolio", testXML);
//
//testXML();
//
function testXML() {
trace("XMLNode.makeXMLSA EXAMPLES
");
trace("direct access on values:");
trace(" portfolio.web.job.href._value = "+portfolio.web.job.href._value);
trace(" portfolio.web.job[0].href._value = "+portfolio.web.job[0].href._value);
trace(" portfolio.web.job[1].href._value = "+portfolio.web.job[1].href._value);
trace("
now in a loop over jobs in web:");
for (var c = 0; c<portfolio.web.job.length; c++) {
trace(" portfolio.web.job["+c+"].href._value = "+portfolio.web.job[c].href._value);
}
trace("
direct access on attriubtes:");
trace(" portfolio.web.job.year = "+portfolio.web.job.year);
}

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Any Recomendations For A Learn Flash Book ?
Ive came across Sams Teach Yourself Macromedia Flash MX 2004 in 24 Hours and Sams Teach Yourself Flash Actionscript in 24 Hours for 30quid from Amazon ( http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...820469-5630849 )

Can anyone recommend these to start learning ? Im getting quite advanced on flash itself, but Id like to learn actionscript to the max

Is this the best book to get for learning actionscript? if not, can anyone recommend a better one?

cheers

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Flash Audio Player Recomendations
I'm looking for a recommendation for an audio player for my site where i want to give visitors the ability to listen to samples of music tunes. i bought one and tested it it before buying it seemed to work fine then after i started to use it i found out that dial up users were hearing only little bits and pieces of the smaples. The place i bought it from would not refund me because i tested it and bought it, even though they did not say it would not work for dial up users. So I am looking for a flash audio player that is simple for the users to use. I do not need the ability to show and list multiple songs in a play list just a button for them to click on to hear one sample. Then this will be repeated for different samples with only having to change the name of the MP3. I need either a recomendation or a quote to make one.
View what i have now at www.bluegrassmountain.com/missy/music.php click on the cd sample

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Image Fade Slideshow Recomendations
Can anyone recommend an easy to use slideshow program. All I want to do is show about 5 different images and have them fade from one to another in a loop. that’s it. No play, stop, start buttons of any nature.

I know how to do this in Flash, but I was looking for something a bit easier to create and change every now and again if I needed to.

Much appreciated,
Houston

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