The eLearning Center for Gatlin Education Services

This series introduces the student to the ActionScript programming language and its capabilities, covering basic programming concepts such as objects, actions, arrays, and variables.

Getting Started
Time: 5.0 hour(s)
Summary:
This course introduces users to the ActionScript programming language and explains how Flash MX uses ActionScript to control objects within Flash MX files. This course explains how to create and publish an ActionScript movie, how to add actions to a movie file, and discusses common ActionScript commands, arguments, properties, and syntax.
Objectives:
* Identify ActionScript elements.
* Use Actions in Flash MX movies.
* Create an ActionScript.
* Use the Actions panel.
* Use parameter text boxes.
* Add Actions to a script.
Topics:
* Introducing ActionScript
* ActionScript Elements
* ActionScript Component Books
* Creating an ActionScript
* Working with an ActionScript
* Testing and Debugging an ActionScript
* Exploring the Actions Panel
* Assigning an Action to a Keyframe
* Controlling Actions
* Using Options and Context Menus
* Tracking and Preferences
* Expert Mode, Code Hints, and Version Compatibility
* Understanding ActionScript Terminology
* Syntax, Keywords, and Context
* Dissecting a Typical ActionScript

Directing and Managing Movies
Time: 4.0 hour(s)
Summary:
This course explains how to use ActionScript to manage the flow of a Flash MX movie file by advancing and stopping a movie at a particular frame or scene, and by creating loops.
Objectives:
* Advance a movie to an particular frame or scene.
* Stop a movie.
* Use the getURL action.
* Use the loadMovie action.
* Use the unloadMovie action.
* Create loops.
Topics:
* Using the stop Action
* Using the goto and play Actions
* Creating an Interactive Animation
* Programming and Testing an Animation
* Using the getURL Action
* Creating Individual Movies
* Loading and Unloading Movies
* Working with Scenes
* Creating a while Loop
* Creating a for Loop
* Testing for Preloader Needs
* Building a Preloader

Using Variables, Properties, and Functions
Time: 7.0 hour(s)
Summary:
This course explains how to create variables in ActionScript that collect and display data. This course explains how to use ActionScript to create and store data in an array and to retrieve and display data from an array. The course also explains how to create objects, set and change the properties of an object, and to use functions to perform tasks within a Flash MX movie clip.
Objectives:
* Discuss and use variables.
* Differentiate between string data and numeric data.
* Create arrays and combine them with variables.
* Create and set objects and object properties.
* Create and use functions.
Topics:
* Understanding Data Types
* Understanding String and Numeric Data
* Creating Variables
* Working with Strings
* Working with Numbers and Boolean Values
* Creating Arrays
* Working with Arrays
* Creating Movie Clips
* Setting an Object''s Properties
* Moving Objects
* Rotating and Scaling Objects
* Changing Opacity and Hiding Objects
* Getting an Object's Properties
* Creating Functions
* Using Functions

Creating Objects and Interactive Elements
Time: 4.0 hour(s)
Summary:
This course explains how to create and modify ActionScript objects that retrieve time and date information, transform colors, and control sounds within a Flash MX movie clip. This course also explains how to use ActionScript to program a movie clip, load a movie into a movie clip, and to create a user-defined component within a movie clip.
Objectives:
* Create and modify ActionScript Date, Color, and Sound objects.
* Discuss targets and paths.
* Create a movie clip and load a movie into it.
* Use an action with a movie clip.
* Create and use user-defined components.
Topics:
* Creating Objects
* Working with Date Objects
* Creating a Clock
* Working with Color Objects
* Creating a Sound Object
* Using Sound Methods
* Understanding Targets and Paths
* Producing a Movie Clip
* Creating and Loading Target Movie Clips
* Using the onClipEvent and with Actions
* Creating a User-Defined Component

Working with Text, Buttons, and Menus
Time: 5.0 hour(s)
Summary:
This course explains how to use ActionScript to create and manipulate dynamic text within a Flash MX movie. This course also explains how to use ActionScript to create interactive buttons, drag-and-drop objects, and interactive menus.
Objectives:
* Create dynamic text, input text, and rich formatted text.
* Load external data.
* Create and program a button.
* Create drag-and-drop objects.
* Create an invisible button.
* Create a customizable menu.
Topics:
* Working with Dynamic Text
* Loading and Creating Text Data
* Working with Input Text
* Creating Hyperlinked Text
* Scrolling Text
* Building a Button
* Programming a Button
* Creating an Invisible Button
* Creating Drag-and-Drop Objects
* Using the startDrag and stopDrag Actions
* Assembling a Customizable Menu
* Programming Menu Buttons

Statements, Expressions, and Testing
Time: 4.0 hour(s)
Summary:
This course explains how to use ActionScript to create conditional statements that evaluate parameters within a Flash FX movie. This course explains how to use ActionScript to create and evaluate logical operators, string expressions, and mathematical expressions. The course also explains how to use the Key object to execute actions.
Objectives:
* Create conditional statements.
* Use logical operators.
* Compare expressions.
* Use and animate the Key object.
* Set breakpoints to stop a movie at a line of ActionScript.
* Use the Movie Explorer to organize Flash movie objects.
Topics:
* Creating Conditional Statements
* Working with Conditional Statements
* Working with Logical Operators
* Creating String and Mathematical Expressions
* Creating Incremental and Decremental Expressions
* Using the Key Object
* Scripting a Guess Number Game
* Testing Movies
* Using the trace Action
* Debugging in Authoring Mode
* Watching a Variable
* Working with Breakpoints
* Using the Movie Explorer

Adding Advanced Features
Time: 4.0 hour(s)
Summary:
This course explains how to use ActionScript to create advanced interactive elements such as animated buttons, multi-state rollover buttons, custom cursors, scrolling text blocks, and On When Pressed buttons. This course explains how to use ActionScript to create an e-commerce shopping cart and a response form. This course also explains how to use ActionScript to program interactive movie clips, test for object collision, and animate a mask layer.
Objectives:
* Create animated and multi-state rollover buttons.
* Create a custom cursor and scrolling text.
* Create an e-commerce shopping cart and response form.
* Create an interactive movie clip.
* Detect collisions in Flash.
* Build an animated mask.
Topics:
* Creating Animated Buttons
* Creating a Multi-State Rollover Button
* Creating a Custom Cursor
* Building an On When Pressed Button
* Building a Scrolling Text Block
* Building an E-Commerce Shopping Cart
* Constructing a Cartoon Face
* Collision Detection in Flash
* Creating an Animated Mask

Finishing Touches
Time: 3.0 hour(s)
Summary:
This course explains how to use ActionScript to incorporate complex multimedia elements in Flash MX movies such as a jukebox, a stereo sound controller, pop-up menus, and mouse chasers. This course explains how to combine arrays, variables, graphics, and conditional statements to create an interactive quiz game. This course also explains how to organize ActionScript files that allow the user to find coding problems more easily.
Objectives:
* Create a jukebox and sound controller.
* Script a pop-up menu and mouse chaser.
* Use arrays, variables, dynamic text, and programmed buttons to create an interactive game.
* Discuss using comments on Keyframes.
* Discuss using the trace action.
* Discuss using the call action.
Topics:
* Building a Flash Jukebox
* Building a Stereo Sound Controller
* Programming a Pop-Up Menu
* Creating a Mouse Chaser
* Creating an ActionScript Quiz
* Ten Tips for Trouble-Free ActionScript
* Export and Import ActionScript
* Ten Internet Resources for ActionScript