ActionScript for Flash MX: The Definitive Guide, Second Edition

1. ActionScript Fundamentals

   1. Chapter 1 A Gentle Introductionfor Nonprogrammers

      1. Some Basic Phrases
      2. Further ActionScript Concepts
      3. Building a Multiple-Choice Quiz
      4. Onward!

   2. Chapter 2 Variables

      1. Creating Variables (Declaration)
      2. Assigning Values to Variables
      3. Changing and Retrieving Variable Values
      4. Types of Values
      5. Variable Scope
      6. Loading External Variables
      7. Some Applied Examples
      8. Onward!

   3. Chapter 3 Data and Datatypes

      1. Data Versus Information
      2. Retaining Meaning with Datatypes
      3. Creating and Categorizing Data
      4. Datatype Conversion
      5. Primitive Data Versus Composite Data
      6. Copying, Comparing, and Passing Data
      7. Onward!

   4. Chapter 4 Primitive Datatypes

      1. The Number Type
      2. Integers and Floating-Point Numbers
      3. Numeric Literals
      4. Working with Numbers
      5. The String Type
      6. Working with Strings
      7. The Boolean Type
      8. Undefined
      9. Null
      10. Onward!

   5. Chapter 5 Operators

      1. General Features of Operators
      2. The Assignment Operator
      3. Arithmetic Operators
      4. The Equality and Inequality Operators
      5. The Strict Equality and Inequality Operators
      6. The Comparison Operators
      7. The Flash 4 String Operators
      8. The Logical Operators
      9. The Grouping Operator
      10. The Comma Operator
      11. The void Operator
      12. Other Operators
      13. Onward!

   6. Chapter 6 Statements

      1. Types of Statements
      2. Statement Syntax
      3. The ActionScript Statements
      4. Statements Versus Actions
      5. Onward!

   7. Chapter 7 Conditionals

      1. The if Statement
      2. The else Statement
      3. The else if Statement
      4. The switch Statement
      5. Compact Conditional Syntax
      6. Onward!

   8. Chapter 8 Loop Statements

      1. The while Loop
      2. Loop Terminology
      3. The do-while Loop
      4. The for Loop
      5. The for-in Loop
      6. Stopping a Loop Prematurely
      7. Timeline and Clip Event Loops
      8. An Alternative to Timeline Loops:setInterval( )
      9. Onward!

   9. Chapter 9 Functions

      1. Creating Functions
      2. Running Functions
      3. Passing Information to Functions
      4. Exiting and Returning Values from Functions
      5. Function Literals
      6. Function Availability and Life Span
      7. Function Scope
      8. Function Parameters Revisited
      9. Recursive Functions
      10. Nested Functions
      11. Built-in Functions
      12. Functions as Objects
      13. Centralizing Code
      14. The Multiple-Choice Quiz Revisited
      15. Onward!

   10. Chapter 10 Events and Event Handling

       1. Synchronous Code Execution
       2. Event-Based Asynchronous Code Execution
       3. Types of Events
       4. Event Handling
       5. Event Handler Properties
       6. Listener Events
       7. Flash 5's on( ) and onClipEvent( ) Handlers
       8. Event Handler Lifespan
       9. Event Handler Scope
       10. Values of the this Keyword
       11. Flash 5-style onClipEvent( ) Order of Execution
       12. Copying Movie Clip Event Handlers
       13. Refreshing the Screen with updateAfterEvent( )
       14. Code Reusability
       15. Dynamic Movie Clip Event Handlers
       16. Event Handlers Applied
       17. Onward!

   11. Chapter 11 Arrays

       1. What Is an Array?
       2. The Anatomy of an Array
       3. Creating Arrays
       4. Referencing Array Elements
       5. Determining the Size of an Array
       6. Named Array Elements
       7. Adding Elements to an Array
       8. Removing Elements from an Array
       9. General Array-Manipulation Tools
       10. Arrays as Objects
       11. Multidimensional Arrays
       12. The Multiple-Choice Quiz, Take 3
       13. Onward!

   12. Chapter 12 Objects and Classes

       1. The Anatomy of an Object
       2. Instantiating Objects
       3. Object Properties
       4. Object Methods
       5. Classes and Object-Oriented Programming
       6. Using Standalone Object Instances as Associative Arrays
       7. The Almighty Prototype Chain
       8. Built-in ActionScript Classes and Objects
       9. OOP Quick Reference
       10. Further Topics
       11. Simulating Namespaces
       12. The Multiple-Choice Quiz, OOP Style
       13. Onward!

   13. Chapter 13 Movie Clips

       1. The "Objectness" of Movie Clips
       2. Types of Movie Clips
       3. Creating Movie Clips
       4. Movie and Instance Stacking Order
       5. Referring to Instances and Main Movies
       6. Removing Clip Instances and Main Movies
       7. Method Versus Global Function Overlap Issues
       8. Drawing in a Movie Clip at Runtime
       9. Using Movie Clips as Buttons
       10. Input Focus and Movie Clips
       11. Building a Clock with Clips
       12. Onward!

   14. Chapter 14 Movie Clip Subclasses and Components

       1. Creating the Library Symbol
       2. Creating and Invoking the Subclass Constructor
       3. Assigning the MovieClip Superclass
       4. Packaging Subclass Code and Library Symbols Together
       5. Making Movie Clip Components
       6. MovieClip Sub-Subclasses
       7. Summary
       8. Onward!

   15. Chapter 15 Lexical Structure

       1. Whitespace
       2. Statement Terminators (Semicolons)
       3. Comments
       4. Reserved Words
       5. Identifiers
       6. Case Sensitivity
       7. Onward!

   16. Chapter 16 ActionScript Authoring Environment

       1. The Actions Panel
       2. Adding Scripts to Frames
       3. Adding Scripts to Buttons
       4. Adding Scripts to Movie Clips
       5. Where's All the Code?
       6. Productivity
       7. Externalizing ActionScript Code
       8. Defining Components
       9. Onward!

   17. Chapter 17 Building a Flash Form

       1. The Flash Form Data Cycle
       2. Creating a Flash Fill-in Form
       3. Onward!

2. Language Reference

   1. Chapter 18 ActionScript Language Reference

      1. Global Functions
      2. Global Properties
      3. Built-in Classes and Objects
      4. Entry Headings
      5. Alphabetical Language Reference
      6. Accessibility Object
      7. Accessibility.isActive( ) Method
      8. Accessibility.sendEvent( ) Method
      9. Arguments Object
      10. arguments.callee Property
      11. arguments.caller Property
      12. arguments.length Property
      13. Array Class
      14. Array.concat( ) Method
      15. Array.join( ) Method
      16. Array.length Property
      17. Array.pop( ) Method
      18. Array.push( ) Method
      19. Array.reverse( ) Method
      20. Array.shift( ) Method
      21. Array.slice( ) Method
      22. Array.sort( ) Method
      23. Array.sortOn( ) Method
      24. Array.splice( ) Method
      25. Array.toString( ) Method
      26. Array.unshift( ) Method
      27. Boolean( ) Global Function
      28. Boolean Class
      29. Boolean.toString( ) Method
      30. Boolean.valueOf( ) Method
      31. Button Class
      32. Button._alpha Property
      33. Button.enabled Property
      34. Button._focusrect Property
      35. Button.getDepth( ) Method
      36. Button._height Property
      37. Button keyPress Event Handler
      38. Button._name Property
      39. Button.onDragOut( ) Event Handler
      40. Button.onDragOver( ) Event Handler
      41. Button.onKillFocus( ) Event Handler
      42. Button.onPress( ) Event Handler
      43. Button.onRelease( ) Event Handler
      44. Button.onReleaseOutside( ) Event Handler
      45. Button.onRollOut( ) Event Handler
      46. Button.onRollOver( ) Event Handler
      47. Button.onSetFocus( ) Event Handler
      48. Button._parent Property
      49. Button._rotation Property
      50. Button.tabEnabled Property
      51. Button.tabIndex Property
      52. Button._target Property
      53. Button.trackAsMenu Property
      54. Button._url Property
      55. Button.useHandCursor Property
      56. Button._visible Property
      57. Button._width Property
      58. Button._x Property
      59. Button._xmouse Property
      60. Button._xscale Property
      61. Button._y Property
      62. Button._ymouse Property
      63. Button._yscale Property
      64. call( ) Global Function
      65. Capabilities Object
      66. capabilities.hasAccessibility Property
      67. capabilities.hasAudio Property
      68. capabilities.hasAudioEncoder Property
      69. capabilities.hasMP3 Property
      70. capabilities.hasVideoEncoder Property
      71. capabilities.input Property
      72. capabilities.isDebugger Property
      73. capabilities.language Property
      74. capabilities.manufacturer Property
      75. capabilities.os Property
      76. capabilities.pixelAspectRatio Property
      77. capabilities.screenColor Property
      78. capabilities.screenDPI Property
      79. capabilities.screenResolutionX Property
      80. capabilities.screenResolutionY Property
      81. capabilities.serverString Property
      82. capabilities.version Property
      83. clearInterval( ) Global Function
      84. Color Class
      85. Color.getRGB( ) Method
      86. Color.getTransform( ) Method
      87. Color.setRGB( ) Method
      88. Color.setTransform( ) Method
      89. Date( ) Global Function
      90. Date Class
      91. Date.getDate( ) Method
      92. Date.getDay( ) Method
      93. Date.getFullYear( ) Method
      94. Date.getHours( ) Method
      95. Date.getMilliseconds( ) Method
      96. Date.getMinutes( ) Method
      97. Date.getMonth( ) Method
      98. Date.getSeconds( ) Method
      99. Date.getTime( ) Method
      100. Date.getTimezoneOffset( ) Method
      101. Date.getUTCDate( ) Method
      102. Date.getUTCDay( ) Method
      103. Date.getUTCFullYear( ) Method
      104. Date.getUTCHours( ) Method
      105. Date.getUTCMilliseconds( ) Method
      106. Date.getUTCMinutes( ) Method
      107. Date.getUTCMonth( ) Method
      108. Date.getUTCSeconds( ) Method
      109. Date.getYear( ) Method
      110. Date.setDate( ) Method
      111. Date.setFullYear( ) Method
      112. Date.setHours( ) Method
      113. Date.setMilliseconds( ) Method
      114. Date.setMinutes( ) Method
      115. Date.setMonth( ) Method
      116. Date.setSeconds( ) Method
      117. Date.setTime( ) Method
      118. Date.setUTCDate( ) Method
      119. Date.setUTCFullYear( ) Method
      120. Date.setUTCHours( ) Method
      121. Date.setUTCMilliseconds( ) Method
      122. Date.setUTCMinutes( ) Method
      123. Date.setUTCMonth( ) Method
      124. Date.setUTCSeconds( ) Method
      125. Date.setYear( ) Method
      126. Date.toString( ) Method
      127. Date.UTC( ) Class Method
      128. Date.valueOf( ) Method
      129. delete Operator
      130. duplicateMovieClip( ) Global Function
      131. #endinitclip Pragma
      132. escape( ) Global Function
      133. eval( ) Global Function
      134. _focusrect Global Property
      135. fscommand( ) Global Function
      136. Function Class
      137. Function.apply( ) Method
      138. Function.call( ) Method
      139. Function.prototype Property
      140. Function.toString( ) Method
      141. getProperty( ) Global Function
      142. getTimer( ) Global Function
      143. getURL( ) Global Function
      144. getVersion( ) Global Function
      145. _global Object
      146. gotoAndPlay( ) Global Function
      147. gotoAndStop( ) Global Function
      148. _highquality Global Property
      149. #include Directive
      150. Infinity Global Property
      151. -Infinity Global Property
      152. #initclip Pragma
      153. instanceof Operator
      154. int( ) Global Function
      155. isFinite( ) Global Function
      156. isNaN( ) Global Function
      157. Key Object
      158. Key.addListener( ) Method
      159. Key.getAscii( ) Method
      160. Key.getCode( ) Method
      161. Key.isDown( ) Method
      162. Key.isToggled( ) Method
      163. Key.onKeyDown( ) Listener Event
      164. Key.onKeyUp( ) Listener Event
      165. Key.removeListener( ) Method
      166. _leveln Global Property
      167. loadMovie( ) Global Function
      168. loadMovieNum( ) Global Function
      169. loadVariables( ) Global Function
      170. loadVariablesNum( ) Global Function
      171. LoadVars Class
      172. LoadVars.contentType Property
      173. LoadVars.decode( ) Method
      174. LoadVars.getBytesLoaded( ) Method
      175. LoadVars.getBytesTotal( ) Method
      176. LoadVars.load( ) Method
      177. LoadVars.loaded Property
      178. LoadVars.onData( ) Event Handler
      179. LoadVars.onLoad( ) Event Handler
      180. LoadVars.send( ) Method
      181. LoadVars.sendAndLoad( ) Method
      182. LoadVars.toString( ) Method
      183. LocalConnection Class
      184. LocalConnection.allowDomain( ) Event Handler
      185. LocalConnection.close( ) Method
      186. LocalConnection.connect( ) Method
      187. LocalConnection.domain( ) Method
      188. LocalConnection.onStatus( ) Event Handler
      189. LocalConnection.send( ) Method
      190. Math Object
      191. Math.abs( ) Method
      192. Math.acos( ) Method
      193. Math.asin( ) Method
      194. Math.atan( ) Method
      195. Math.atan2( ) Method
      196. Math.ceil( ) Method
      197. Math.cos( ) Method
      198. Math.E Property
      199. Math.exp( ) Method
      200. Math.floor( ) Method
      201. Math.LN10 Property
      202. Math.LN2 Property
      203. Math.log( ) Method
      204. Math.LOG10E Property
      205. Math.LOG2E Property
      206. Math.max( ) Method
      207. Math.min( ) Method
      208. Math.PI Property
      209. Math.pow( ) Method
      210. Math.random( ) Method
      211. Math.round( ) Method
      212. Math.sin( ) Method
      213. Math.sqrt( ) Method
      214. Math.SQRT1_2 Property
      215. Math.SQRT2 Property
      216. Math.tan( ) Method
      217. maxscroll Property
      218. Mouse Object
      219. Mouse.addListener( ) Method
      220. Mouse.hide( ) Method
      221. Mouse.onMouseDown( ) Listener Event
      222. Mouse.onMouseMove( ) Listener Event
      223. Mouse.onMouseUp( ) Listener Event
      224. Mouse.show( ) Method
      225. Mouse.removeListener( ) Method
      226. MovieClip Class
      227. MovieClip._alpha Property
      228. MovieClip.attachMovie( ) Method
      229. MovieClip.beginFill( ) Method
      230. MovieClip.beginGradientFill( ) Method
      231. MovieClip.clear( ) Method
      232. MovieClip.createEmptyMovieClip( ) Method
      233. MovieClip.createTextField( ) Method
      234. MovieClip._currentframe Property
      235. MovieClip.curveTo( ) Method
      236. MovieClip._droptarget Property
      237. MovieClip.duplicateMovieClip( ) Method
      238. MovieClip.enabled Property
      239. MovieClip.endFill( ) Method
      240. MovieClip.focusEnabled Property
      241. MovieClip._focusrect Property
      242. MovieClip._framesloaded Property
      243. MovieClip.getBounds( ) Method
      244. MovieClip.getBytesLoaded( ) Method
      245. MovieClip.getBytesTotal( ) Method
      246. MovieClip.getDepth( ) Method
      247. MovieClip.getURL( ) Method
      248. MovieClip.globalToLocal( ) Method
      249. MovieClip.gotoAndPlay( ) Method
      250. MovieClip.gotoAndStop( ) Method
      251. MovieClip._height Property
      252. MovieClip.hitArea Property
      253. MovieClip.hitTest( ) Method
      254. MovieClip.lineStyle( ) Method
      255. MovieClip.lineTo( ) Method
      256. MovieClip.loadMovie( ) Method
      257. MovieClip.loadVariables( ) Method
      258. MovieClip.localToGlobal( ) Method
      259. MovieClip.moveTo( ) Method
      260. MovieClip._name Property
      261. MovieClip.nextFrame( ) Method
      262. MovieClip.onData ( ) Event Handler
      263. MovieClip.onDragOut( ) Event Handler
      264. MovieClip.onDragOver( ) Event Handler
      265. MovieClip.onEnterFrame ( ) Event Handler
      266. MovieClip.onKeyDown ( ) Event Handler
      267. MovieClip.onKeyUp ( ) Event Handler
      268. MovieClip.onKillFocus ( ) Event Handler
      269. MovieClip.onLoad ( ) Event Handler
      270. MovieClip.onMouseDown( ) Event Handler
      271. MovieClip.onMouseMove( ) Event Handler
      272. MovieClip.onMouseUp( ) Event Handler
      273. MovieClip.onPress( ) Event Handler
      274. MovieClip.onRelease( ) Event Handler
      275. MovieClip.onReleaseOutside( ) Event Handler
      276. MovieClip.onRollOut( ) Event Handler
      277. MovieClip.onRollOver( ) Event Handler
      278. MovieClip.onSetFocus( ) Event Handler
      279. MovieClip.onUnload( ) Event Handler
      280. MovieClip._parent Property
      281. MovieClip.play( ) Method
      282. MovieClip.prevFrame( ) Method
      283. MovieClip.removeMovieClip( ) Method
      284. MovieClip._rotation Property
      285. MovieClip.setMask( ) Method
      286. MovieClip.startDrag( ) Method
      287. MovieClip.stop( ) Method
      288. MovieClip.stopDrag( ) Method
      289. MovieClip.swapDepths( ) Method
      290. MovieClip.tabChildren Property
      291. MovieClip.tabEnabled Property
      292. MovieClip.tabIndex Property
      293. MovieClip._target Property
      294. MovieClip._totalframes Property
      295. MovieClip.trackAsMenu Property
      296. MovieClip.unloadMovie( ) Method
      297. MovieClip._url Property
      298. MovieClip.useHandCursor Property
      299. MovieClip.valueOf( ) Method
      300. MovieClip._visible Property
      301. MovieClip._width Property
      302. MovieClip._x Property
      303. MovieClip._xmouse Property
      304. MovieClip._xscale Property
      305. MovieClip._y Property
      306. MovieClip._ymouse Property
      307. MovieClip._yscale Property
      308. NaN Global Property
      309. new Operator
      310. newline Constant
      311. nextFrame( ) Global Function
      312. nextScene( ) Global Function
      313. Number( ) Global Function
      314. Number Class
      315. Number.MAX_VALUE Property
      316. Number.MIN_VALUE Property
      317. Number.NaN Property
      318. Number.NEGATIVE_INFINITY Property
      319. Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY Property
      320. Number.toString( ) Method
      321. Object Class
      322. Object.addProperty Method
      323. Object.constructor Property
      324. Object.hasOwnProperty( ) Method
      325. Object.__proto__ Property
      326. Object.registerClass( ) Class Method
      327. Object.toString( ) Method
      328. Object.unwatch( ) Method
      329. Object.valueOf( ) Method
      330. Object.watch( ) Method
      331. parseFloat( ) Global Function
      332. parseInt( ) Global Function
      333. play( ) Global Function
      334. prevFrame( ) Global Function
      335. prevScene( ) Global Function
      336. print( ) Global Function
      337. printAsBitmap( ) Global Function
      338. printAsBitmapNum( ) Global Function
      339. printNum( ) Global Function
      340. _quality Global Property
      341. random( ) Global Function
      342. removeMovieClip( ) Global Function
      343. _root Global Property
      344. scroll Property
      345. Selection Object
      346. Selection.addListener( ) Method
      347. Selection.getBeginIndex( ) Method
      348. Selection.getCaretIndex( ) Method
      349. Selection.getEndIndex( ) Method
      350. Selection.getFocus( ) Method
      351. Selection.onSetFocus( ) Listener Event
      352. Selection.removeListener( ) Method
      353. Selection.setFocus( ) Method
      354. Selection.setSelection( ) Method
      355. setInterval( ) Global Function
      356. setProperty( ) Global Function
      357. SharedObject Object
      358. SharedObject.data Property
      359. SharedObject.flush( ) Method
      360. SharedObject.getLocal( ) Method
      361. SharedObject.getSize( ) Method
      362. SharedObject.onStatus( ) Event Handler
      363. Sound Class
      364. Sound.attachSound( ) Method
      365. Sound.duration Property
      366. Sound.getBytesLoaded( ) Method
      367. Sound.getBytesTotal( ) Method
      368. Sound.getPan( ) Method
      369. Sound.getTransform( ) Method
      370. Sound.getVolume( ) Method
      371. Sound.id3 Property
      372. Sound.loadSound( ) Method
      373. Sound.onLoad( ) Event Handler
      374. Sound.onSoundComplete( ) Event Handler
      375. Sound.position Property
      376. Sound.setPan( ) Method
      377. Sound.setTransform( ) Method
      378. Sound.setVolume( ) Method
      379. Sound.start( ) Method
      380. Sound.stop( ) Method
      381. _soundbuftime Global Property
      382. Stage Object
      383. Stage.addListener( ) Method
      384. Stage.align Property
      385. Stage.height Property
      386. Stage.onResize( ) Listener Event
      387. Stage.removeListener( ) Method
      388. Stage.scaleMode Property
      389. Stage.showMenu Property
      390. Stage.width Property
      391. startDrag( ) Global Function
      392. stop( ) Global Function
      393. stopAllSounds( ) Global Function
      394. stopDrag( ) Global Function
      395. #strict Pragma
      396. String( ) Global Function
      397. String Class
      398. String.charAt( ) Method
      399. String.charCodeAt( ) Method
      400. String.concat( ) Method
      401. String.fromCharCode( ) Class Method
      402. String.indexOf( ) Method
      403. String.lastIndexOf( ) Method
      404. String.length Property
      405. String.slice( ) Method
      406. String.split( ) Method
      407. String.substr( ) Method
      408. String.substring( ) Method
      409. String.toLowerCase( ) Method
      410. String.toUpperCase( ) Method
      411. super "Operator"
      412. System Object
      413. System.capabilities Property
      414. System.security.allowDomain( ) Method
      415. System.showSettings( ) Method
      416. System.useCodepage Property
      417. targetPath( ) Global Function
      418. tellTarget( ) Global Function
      419. TextField Class
      420. TextField.addListener( ) Method
      421. TextField._alpha Property
      422. TextField.autoSize Property
      423. TextField.background Property
      424. TextField.backgroundColor Property
      425. TextField.border Property
      426. TextField.borderColor Property
      427. TextField.bottomScroll Property
      428. TextField.condenseWhite Property
      429. TextField.embedFonts Property
      430. TextField.getDepth( ) Method
      431. TextField.getFontList( ) Class Method
      432. TextField.getNewTextFormat( ) Method
      433. TextField.getTextFormat( ) Method
      434. TextField._height Property
      435. TextField.hscroll Property
      436. TextField.html Property
      437. TextField.htmlText Property
      438. TextField.length Property
      439. TextField.maxChars Property
      440. TextField.maxhscroll Property
      441. TextField.maxscroll Property
      442. TextField.multiline Property
      443. TextField._name Property
      444. TextField.onChanged( ) Event Handler and Listener Event
      445. TextField.onKillFocus( ) Event Handler
      446. TextField.onScroller( ) Event Handler and Listener Event
      447. TextField.onSetFocus( ) Event Handler
      448. TextField._parent Property
      449. TextField.password Property
      450. TextField.removeListener( ) Method
      451. TextField.removeTextField( ) Method
      452. TextField.replaceSel( ) Method
      453. TextField.restrict Property
      454. TextField._rotation Property
      455. TextField.scroll Property
      456. TextField.selectable Property
      457. TextField.setNewTextFormat( ) Method
      458. TextField.setTextFormat( ) Method
      459. TextField.tabEnabled Property
      460. TextField.tabIndex Property
      461. TextField._target Property
      462. TextField.text Property
      463. TextField.textColor Property
      464. TextField.textHeight Property
      465. TextField.textWidth Property
      466. TextField.type Property
      467. TextField._url Property
      468. TextField.variable Property
      469. TextField._visible Property
      470. TextField._width Property
      471. TextField.wordWrap Property
      472. TextField._x Property
      473. TextField._xmouse Property
      474. TextField._xscale Property
      475. TextField._y Property
      476. TextField._ymouse Property
      477. TextField._yscale Property
      478. TextFormat Class
      479. TextFormat.align Property
      480. TextFormat.blockIndent Property
      481. TextFormat.bold Property
      482. TextFormat.bullet Property
      483. TextFormat.color Property
      484. TextFormat.font Property
      485. TextFormat.getTextExtent( ) Method
      486. TextFormat.indent Property
      487. TextFormat.italic Property
      488. TextFormat.leading Property
      489. TextFormat.leftMargin Property
      490. TextFormat.rightMargin Property
      491. TextFormat.size Property
      492. TextFormat.tabStops Property
      493. TextFormat.target Property
      494. TextFormat.underline Property
      495. TextFormat.url Property
      496. toggleHighQuality( ) Global Function
      497. trace( ) Global Function
      498. typeof Operator
      499. unescape( ) Global Function
      500. unloadMovie( ) Global Function
      501. unloadMovieNum( ) Global Function
      502. updateAfterEvent( ) Global Function
      503. $version "Global" Property
      504. XML Class
      505. XML.appendChild( ) Method
      506. XML.attributes Property
      507. XML.childNodes Property
      508. XML.cloneNode( ) Method
      509. XML.contentType Property
      510. XML.createElement( ) Method
      511. XML.createTextNode( ) Method
      512. XML.docTypeDecl Property
      513. XML.firstChild Property
      514. XML.getBytesLoaded( ) Method
      515. XML.getBytesTotal( ) Method
      516. XML.hasChildNodes( ) Method
      517. XML.ignoreWhite Property
      518. XML.insertBefore( ) Method
      519. XML.lastChild Property
      520. XML.load( ) Method
      521. XML.loaded Property
      522. XML.nextSibling Property
      523. XML.nodeName Property
      524. XML.nodeType Property
      525. XML.nodeValue Property
      526. XML.onData( ) Event Handler
      527. XML.onLoad( ) Event Handler
      528. XML.parentNode Property
      529. XML.parseXML( ) Method
      530. XML.previousSibling Property
      531. XML.removeNode( ) Method
      532. XML.send( ) Method
      533. XML.sendAndLoad( ) Method
      534. XML.status Property
      535. XML.toString( ) Method
      536. XML.xmlDecl Property
      537. XMLnode Class
      538. XMLSocket Class
      539. XMLSocket.close( ) Method
      540. XMLSocket.connect( ) Method
      541. XMLSocket.onClose( ) Event Handler
      542. XMLSocket.onConnect( ) Event Handler
      543. XMLSocket.onData( ) Event Handler
      544. XMLSocket.onXML( ) Event Handler
      545. XMLSocket.send( ) Method

3. Appendixes

   1. Appendix A Resources

      1. ActionScript Books
      2. ActionScript and Programming Web Sites
      3. ECMA-262 Resources
      4. Object-Oriented Programming
      5. SWF File Format
      6. Character Encoding and Unicode

   2. Appendix B Latin 1 Character Repertoire and Keycodes

   3. Appendix C Backward Compatibility and Player Build Updates

      1. Best Practices in Flash 6 ActionScript
      2. Player Build Updates
      3. Flash 4 Versus Flash 5 (and Later)

   4. Appendix D Differences from ECMA-262 and JavaScript

   5. Appendix E HTML Support in Text Fields

      1. HTML Tag Support in Text Fields
      2. Entity Support
      3. Quoting Attribute Values
      4. Unrecognized Tags and Attributes
      5. Using HTML for Input and Output
      6. Executing JavaScript from HTML Links
      7. Calling ActionScript Functions from HTML Links

   6. Appendix F Support for GET and POST

      1. Browser-Based Support for GET and POST
      2. Standalone Player Support for GET and POST

   7. Appendix G Flash UI Component Summary

   8. Appendix H Embedding a Flash Movie in a Web Page

      1. Attributes of the <OBJECT> Tag
      2. Attributes of the <EMBED> Tag
      3. Common Attributes of the <OBJECT> and <EMBED> Tags
      4. Runtime Access Affecting HTML Attributes

1. Colophon

Our look is the result of reader comments, our own experimentation, and feedback from distribution channels. Distinctive covers complement our distinctive approach to technical topics, breathing personality and life into potentially dry subjects. The animal on the cover of ActionScript for Flash MX: The Definitive Guide, Second Edition, is a siren, a particular type of salamander found in North American freshwater habitats. Salamanders are amphibians with tails; they diverged from other amphibian species (including frogs) early in amphibian evolution. All salamanders have smooth skin that is kept moist by secretions from numerous glands. When their environment becomes too dry, too hot, or too cold, the cold-blooded salamanders burrow into mud, and their body functions slow down.

Sirens develop cocoons to shelter themselves until conditions improve. Sirens are considered very primitive salamanders, as they are aquatic (live permanently in water), lack hind legs, have reduced front legs, gills, and other larval features into maturity, and their offspring are fertilized externally in the water. They are active at night, coming out and swimming much like eels do, using their dorsal fin in side-to-side motion to propel them forward. As they do so, they feed by gulping at insects and larvae. They expel plant matter through their gills.

Like all amphibians, sirens are an important part of a balanced ecosystem. They are small predators who in turn are preyed upon by fish and birds. Their glandular skin and fragile systems put sirens in the unfortunate position of being early pollution indicators in their freshwater habitats. Siren intermedia, an unusual siren subspecies that inhabits a large North American range and is known for its ability to produce vocal clicks and shrills, has nearly disappeared from Michigan, perhaps due to the presence of Rotenone, a chemical tool used to manage fisheries. Brian Sawyer was the production editor and copyeditor for ActionScript for Flash MX: The Definitive Guide, Second Edition. Linley Dolby, Jeff Holcomb, and Claire Cloutier provided quality control. Genevieve D'Entremont, Judy Hoer, and Andrew Savikas provided production support. Julie Hawks wrote the index.

Ellie Volckhausen designed the cover of this book, based on a series design by Edie Freedman. The cover image is a 19th-century engraving from the Dover Pictorial Archive. Emma Colby produced the cover layout with QuarkXPress 4.1 using Adobe's ITC Garamond font.

David Futato designed the interior layout. This book was converted to FrameMaker 5.5.6 by Joe Wizda with a format conversion tool created by Erik Ray, Jason McIntosh, Neil Walls, and Mike Sierra that uses Perl and XML technologies. The text font is Linotype Birka; the heading font is Adobe Myriad Condensed; and the code font is LucasFont's TheSans Mono Condensed. The illustrations that appear in the book were produced by Robert Romano and Jessamyn Read using Macromedia FreeHand 9 and Adobe Photoshop 6. The tip and warning icons were drawn by Christopher Bing. This colophon was written by Sarah Jane Shangraw and Brian Sawyer.