Course Outline

Unit 1: Introducing the Course

• About the Course
• About the Author
• About the Editors
• Installation Instructions
• Course Overview
• Course Objectives
• Prerequisites
• Course Format
• Why Flash
• Walkthrough 1-1: Reviewing the finished application
• Unit Summary

Unit 2: ActionScript 3 Fundamentals

• Unit Objectives and Topics
• Getting started with coding
• ActionScript Basics
• Walkthrough 2-1: Declaring and Using Variables
• Operators and Expressions
• Walkthrough 2-1: Converting Data Types and Operators
• Using Functions
• Walkthrough 2-2: Using Functions and Methods
• Unit Summary
• Unit Review

Unit 3: Manipulating Symbols with ActionScript

• Unit Objectives and Topics
• Introducing Symbols
• Walkthrough 3-1: Using a MovieClip and Button’s Properties
• Working with MovieClip Methods
• Walkthrough 3-2: Using Methods within a MovieClip
• Working with TextFields
• Walkthrough 3-3: Using TextField Properties
• Dynamically Adding Symbols to Stage
• Walkthrough 3-1: Adding Symbols to the Stage at Run-Time
• Loading External Content Dynamically
• Walkthrough 3-2: Loading External Images
• Unit Summary
• Unit Review
• Lab 3: Making a Space Rock

Unit 4: Object Oriented Programming

• Unit Objectives and Topics
• Introducing Object Oriented Programming
• Walkthrough 4-1: Creating a Custom Class
• Declaring Class Properties
• Walkthrough 4-2: Adding Properties to a Class
• Declaring Methods
• Walkthrough 4-3: Adding Methods to a Class
• Creating Visual Classes through Inheritance
• Walkthrough 4-4: Creating a Visual Class
• Making the Stage a Class
• Walkthrough 4-5: Making the Stage a Custom Class and Dynamically Adding Instances
• Unit Summary
• Unit Review
• Lab 4: Create an Asteroid Class and a Collectable Class

Unit 5: ActionScript 3 Events

• Unit Objectives and Topics
• ActionScript Events
• Walkthrough 5-1: Handling Events
• ActionScript Event Types
• Walkthrough 5-2: Using the MouseEvent
• Walkthrough 5-3: Using the Keyboard and enterFrame Events
• Dispatching a Custom Event
• Walkthrough 5-4: Dispatching a Custom Crash Event
• Working with Timers
• Unit Summary
• Unit Review
• Lab 5: Working with TimerEvent and enterFrame Events

Unit 6: Loops and Conditional Logic

• Unit Objectives and Topics
• Using Conditional Statements
• Walkthrough 6-1: Controlling the SpaceShip
• Determining When Objects Collide
• Walkthrough 6-2: Handling Ship Collisions
• Types of Loops
• Walkthrough 6-3: Adding Asteroids to the Screen
• Unit Summary
• Unit Review
• Lab 6: Keeping Your Asteroids and Collectables on the Stage and collecting items

Unit 7: Exploring the ActionScript Class Library

• Unit Objectives and Topics
• Using ActionScript Class Library
• Using the Sound Class
• Embedding Sound Files
• Referencing External Sound Files
• Walkthrough 7-1: Adding Sound Effects
• Programmatically Formatting Text
• Walkthrough 7-2: Formatting the Player Score TextField
• Getting a Date with ActionScript
• Walkthrough 7-3: Determine your Current Age
• Using Arrays
• Understanding Associative Arrays
• Static Method and Properties
• Walkthrough 7-4: Using the Math class for Maneuvering and Creating Random Asteroids
• Unit Summary
• Unit Review
• Lab 7: Adding Sound, Random Velocity and Random Locations to the Collectable Class

Unit 8: Animating with ActionScript

• Unit Objectives and Topics
• Using ActionScript Class Library
• Using the Sound Class
• Embedding Sound Files
• Referencing External Sound Files
• Walkthrough 7-1: Adding Sound Effects
• Programmatically Formatting Text
• Walkthrough 7-2: Formatting the Player Score TextField
• Getting a Date with ActionScript
• Walkthrough 7-3: Determine your Current Age
• Using Arrays
• Understanding Associative Arrays
• Static Method and Properties
• Walkthrough 7-4: Using the Math class for Maneuvering and Creating Random Asteroids
• Unit Summary
• Unit Review
• Lab 7: Adding Sound, Random Velocity and Random Locations to the Collectable Class

Unit 9: Animating with ActionScript

• Unit Objectives and Topics
• Using the Enter Frame Event
• Walkthrough 9-1: Copy and Paste Tweens
• Using the Tween Class
• Walkthrough 9-2: Tweening the Warp Animation
• Unit Summary
• Unit Review