Course outline
Introducing the course
Controlling visual objects with ActionScript
Using the Actions and Help panels
Declaring variables and their data types
Using the trace function
Using code hinting
Assigning instance names and using them to assign runtime property values
Using the with operator
Introducing core properties of visual built-in classes: MovieClip, Button, and TextField
Controlling Button and MovieClip position and visual state
Controlling TextField content
Introducing core properties of non-visual built-in classes: Math
Using mathematical operators
Understanding data type conversion
Using and Writing Functions
Working with Flash Player global functions
Converting values returned from functions and assigning them for display
Writing user defined functions
Returning, or not returning, data from a function
Understanding variable scope
Adding code within a MovieClip symbol's own timeline, Introducing the this operator
Understanding object methods
Introducing core methods of visual built-in classes: MovieClip and TextField
Controlling the MovieClip playhead within its timeline, Loading external MovieClip content
Understanding cross-domain security issues
Exporting and attaching MovieClip symbol instances at runtime
Writing and using user defined functions to create visual content
Understanding depth
Dynamically referring to instance names and property names at runtime
Using Text, Dates, Math, and Paths
Controlling TextField formatting through code
Creating and formatting TextFields at runtime
Using Date objects
Working with String concatenation
Generating random numbers and integers using the Math class
* Understanding relative path names
* Controlling nested MovieClip objects

Understanding and handling events
Understanding event driven programming
Working with event handler syntax
Moving from symbol-based to timeline-based event handling
Introducing core events of visual built-in classes: Button, MovieClip, and TextField
Controlling the playhead within an event handler
Understanding the this keyword inside an event handler
Creating rollover effects
Responding to TextField focus events
Calling a single function from multiple event handlers
Referring to a parent object from within an event handler

Managing Colour, Sound and Data with Built-In Classes
Understanding complex (aggregate) variables
Working with Arrays
Working with generic Objects
Transforming MovieClip objects using Transform and ColourTransform objects
Generating random colour transformations

Using Sound objects
Creating audio feedback with event-driven sounds linked from the Library

Making Decisions and Repeating Yourself
Understanding looped code
Using loops and arrays to attach, name, and control MovieClip objects
Using loops to create, name, and control TextFields to display data object values
Understanding conditional code execution
Surveying the comparison and logical operators
Using if/else comparison to toggle MovieClip visual states

Animating with ActionScript
Dragging and dropping a MovieClip object
Testing for collision between MovieClip objects
Initializing attached MovieClip objects
Using the onEnterFrame event handler
Controlling visual change rate
Testing and responding to position at runtime

Venue

Date: 04 August 2008 to 27 August 2008
Location: 60 Sir Lowry Road, Cape Town

Contact: Beverley
Company name: Friends of Design Academy of Digital Arts
Telephone number: 0214610971
Email address beverley@friendsofdesign.net