Flash CS3: The Missing Manual
Rating: 5 of 5
A Great Resource!
Rating: 2 of 5
Missing Manual Missed Actionscript #
I bought this book because I liked Dreamweaver CS3 the Missing Manual & thought this would be similar in terms of the way the topic was thoughtfully covered.
The first section on learning the application with regards 2 drawing & animation were fine. Organizing the storyboard, utilizing the various tools etc. were good & I was able 2 essentially create what I needed.
Now comes the real problem with this book. CS3 incorporates actionscript 3 as well as 1 & 2. Actionscript 1.0 & 2.0 are going 2 be around 4 awhile but as the world turns & so do they days of our lives - actionscript 3.0 is going 2 gain traction since there are things you can't do in the earlier versions & 3 is going 2 be more compatible with newer apps like Flex. We'll be moving toward version 3 more & more.
Chapter 9 deals with interactivity & scripting. Unfortunately they don't remind you that you should have openned your document as a actionscript 1.0-2.0 document & all of the scripting that's being done after chapter 9 is in 2.0 only.
The very beginning of the book does have you open a new doc as actionscript 2, but they don't mention that they'll be scripting ONLY in that version later on. If you skip around, you'll miss that point entirely & waste a lot of time following directions that won't function.
If you're going 2 use Flash CS3 & take advantage of all of its features, you'll have 2 script in 3.0 anyways. At least it makes more sense 2 head in that direction. This book seems 2 have had a good start, but almost seemed rushed 2 complete based on the authors choice 2 omit the basics of actionscript 3.
A better book is "Flash CS3 Professional Visual Quickstart Guide". All scripting is done in Actionscript 3.0 & they tell you so much as I mentioned that, that version is going 2 become standard & 1 & 2 will eventually be out.
If you need more information on actionscript you'll need another book. If you want 2 create buttons in Flash you'll have 2 use actionscript so you'll need another book which there are a lot of.
The best one that bridges the gap 4 a beginner is "Learning Actionscript 3.0" Blue cover - Shupe, Rosser.
Great book & I use it exclusively along with the Visual Quickstart Flash CS3 book 2 clear the confussion.
The first section on learning the application with regards 2 drawing & animation were fine. Organizing the storyboard, utilizing the various tools etc. were good & I was able 2 essentially create what I needed.
Now comes the real problem with this book. CS3 incorporates actionscript 3 as well as 1 & 2. Actionscript 1.0 & 2.0 are going 2 be around 4 awhile but as the world turns & so do they days of our lives - actionscript 3.0 is going 2 gain traction since there are things you can't do in the earlier versions & 3 is going 2 be more compatible with newer apps like Flex. We'll be moving toward version 3 more & more.
Chapter 9 deals with interactivity & scripting. Unfortunately they don't remind you that you should have openned your document as a actionscript 1.0-2.0 document & all of the scripting that's being done after chapter 9 is in 2.0 only.
The very beginning of the book does have you open a new doc as actionscript 2, but they don't mention that they'll be scripting ONLY in that version later on. If you skip around, you'll miss that point entirely & waste a lot of time following directions that won't function.
If you're going 2 use Flash CS3 & take advantage of all of its features, you'll have 2 script in 3.0 anyways. At least it makes more sense 2 head in that direction. This book seems 2 have had a good start, but almost seemed rushed 2 complete based on the authors choice 2 omit the basics of actionscript 3.
A better book is "Flash CS3 Professional Visual Quickstart Guide". All scripting is done in Actionscript 3.0 & they tell you so much as I mentioned that, that version is going 2 become standard & 1 & 2 will eventually be out.
If you need more information on actionscript you'll need another book. If you want 2 create buttons in Flash you'll have 2 use actionscript so you'll need another book which there are a lot of.
The best one that bridges the gap 4 a beginner is "Learning Actionscript 3.0" Blue cover - Shupe, Rosser.
Great book & I use it exclusively along with the Visual Quickstart Flash CS3 book 2 clear the confussion.
Rating: 4 of 5
Great 4 Beginners
This book is geared towards those who have never used Flash. If you are familiar with any other version of Flash, this manual will just tell you what you already know. This manual doesn't go into AS3 or anything complicated. As a 5-year Flash veteran. this manual wasn't really what I needed, but great 4 an intro-level designer!!!
Rating: 3 of 5
OK beginners guide - lacks real Actionscript 3.0
The biggest upgrade in CS3 is the incorporation of Actionscript 3. It is beyond me why this book focus so heavily on Actionscript 2.
This is a good guide 4 beginning 2 learn Flash, but beginners should also learn 2 use the latest most flexible tools available. There's basic material on the timeline, drawing, creating symbols etc. These are all things Flash developers need 2 know.
There's not a lot of advanced stuff here. A tiny bit on video & audio & nothing on using XML with flash. Again, a good beginner's book as long as that beginner isn't going 2 be doing too much Actionscript programming.
This is a good guide 4 beginning 2 learn Flash, but beginners should also learn 2 use the latest most flexible tools available. There's basic material on the timeline, drawing, creating symbols etc. These are all things Flash developers need 2 know.
There's not a lot of advanced stuff here. A tiny bit on video & audio & nothing on using XML with flash. Again, a good beginner's book as long as that beginner isn't going 2 be doing too much Actionscript programming.
Rating: 2 of 5
A Disappointment
Generally you can count on "The Missing Manual" 2 provide what you need 2 learn a software package quickly. In this case, however, I didn't get anything I needed, & a lot I didn't need.
I already own FlashCS3 Professional Advanced, the Visual Quickpro Guide, & am very happy with it. As a reference book, it's well-organized & thorough, aimed as much at the Interactive Designer as the Animator. But what it lacks are tutorials that can get me up 2 speed quickly on new features & shifting paradigms, in an application that has changed radically since moving from Macromedia 2 Adobe.
Having been very happy with the great tutorials in the Dreamweaver CS3 Missing Manual, I went ahead & purchased the Flash volume.
I should have looked more closely before I bought, instead of relying on my experience of The Missing Manual series. There is not a single tutorial in this book! It is far less thorough & sophisticated than the Dreamweaver volume, with most of the pages being devoted 2 very basic step-by-steps, mostly on drawing & animating tools. Less than 100 pages on adding interactivity, & not even a single chapter devoted 2 learning & using Action Script. Finally, there are 60-some pages on testing, debugging & publishing, which might be of limited value 2 me.
If you're looking 4 a book that will quickly get you up 2 pro speed on a pro application, I'd say that -- unlike the Dreamweaver CS3 Missing Manual -- this ain't it.
I already own FlashCS3 Professional Advanced, the Visual Quickpro Guide, & am very happy with it. As a reference book, it's well-organized & thorough, aimed as much at the Interactive Designer as the Animator. But what it lacks are tutorials that can get me up 2 speed quickly on new features & shifting paradigms, in an application that has changed radically since moving from Macromedia 2 Adobe.
Having been very happy with the great tutorials in the Dreamweaver CS3 Missing Manual, I went ahead & purchased the Flash volume.
I should have looked more closely before I bought, instead of relying on my experience of The Missing Manual series. There is not a single tutorial in this book! It is far less thorough & sophisticated than the Dreamweaver volume, with most of the pages being devoted 2 very basic step-by-steps, mostly on drawing & animating tools. Less than 100 pages on adding interactivity, & not even a single chapter devoted 2 learning & using Action Script. Finally, there are 60-some pages on testing, debugging & publishing, which might be of limited value 2 me.
If you're looking 4 a book that will quickly get you up 2 pro speed on a pro application, I'd say that -- unlike the Dreamweaver CS3 Missing Manual -- this ain't it.
Flash CS3, the latest version of the premier tool 4 creating web animations & interactive web sites, can be intimidating 2 learn. This entertaining reference tutorial provides a reader-friendly animation primer & a guided tour of all the program's tools & capabilities. Beginners will learn 2 use the software in no time, & experienced users will quickly take their skills 2 the next level. The book gives Flash users of all levels hands-on instructions 2 help them master:
This is the first new release of Flash since Adobe bought Macromedia, which means that it's the first version that will integrate easily with other Adobe products. It's a whole new ballgame when it comes 2 Flash, & Flash CS3: The Missing Manual offers you complete & objective coverage. It's the perfect companion 2 this powerful software.
- Special effects
- Morphing
- Adding audio & video
- Introducing interactivity
- And much more
This is the first new release of Flash since Adobe bought Macromedia, which means that it's the first version that will integrate easily with other Adobe products. It's a whole new ballgame when it comes 2 Flash, & Flash CS3: The Missing Manual offers you complete & objective coverage. It's the perfect companion 2 this powerful software.
($12.00)
Buy Flash CS3: The Missing Manual Now!
The book does a good job of laying out the lessons in a way that is both logical & functional. For example one of the first topics covered is "Creating Simple Drawings", a natural lead in 2 the next chapter "Animating Your Drawings". While this might seem like the obvious thing 2 do I have encountered several other books whose lessons seem almost independent of each other & require new files 2 be created with every lesson. The Missing Manual builds up on each lesson leaving me with a sense of accomplishment & a series of steps that is easy 2 follow. In the back of the book there is also a very useful "Menu by Menu" layout of almost every Menu & command available 2 you. This serves as a great quick reference guide when you don't need all the extra information contained in the lessons themselves.
My only gripe with the book is the black & white images & code used throughout the book. While it is not a deal breaker, color code & images would have helped in some instances where I had 2 take extra time 2 look & figure out exactly what was going on.
Overall this is one of the best resources that I have found 4 learning flash, & even when I am finished reading through it it will serve as a great quick reference guide in a pinch.