Book Image

Flex 3 with Java

Book Image

Flex 3 with Java

Overview of this book

Flex 3 is a great technology for developing Rich Internet Applications for the Web as well as for the desktop. If you are a developer looking to design great-looking and sophisticated user interfaces that resemble desktop-based applications, and want to utilize an existing server technology such as Java to develop RIAs, this book is for you. Targeting developers who want to get started with Adobe Flex 3 programming, this simple and clear handbook introduces Flex technology quickly and straightforwardly. Utilizing your existing knowledge of Java, it gives you the insight and hands-on experience to program with Flex 3. This book provides comprehensive information on various aspects of Flex 3 and ActionScript 3.0. These include developing simple applications, handling events, creating custom components and events, using RPC services, integration with Java and BlazeDS, styling and formatting, and how to package and deploy Flex applications. You will start with downloading, installing and configuring Flex 3 SDK and Flex Builder 3 and learn basic concepts such as what MXML and ActionScript are, understanding UI components, controls, compilers, and more. Further you will develop simple applications and slowly advance into more depth where you will learn advanced concepts such as creating custom components, debugging, integrating with Java, using RPC services, styling, internationalizing, and deploying Flex applications, and more. One of the things you're really going to love about this book is that you will develop a full-blown e-commerce application using a combination of Flex 3, ActionScript 3.0, BlazeDS 3.2, and Java. At the end of the book you will have the knowledge and experience needed to develop Rich Internet Applications.
Table of Contents (18 chapters)
Flex 3 with Java
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewers
Preface
8
Communicating with Server-side Java

ActionScript 3.0 fundamentals


Originally, ActionScript was developed as a way for Flash developers to program interactivity in Flash applications. Since then, it has evolved from being a minor programming language to its current form as a sophisticated object-oriented programming language. However, before you start writing code, you need to understand some fundamental concepts of ActionScript 3.0.

As you progress through this book, you will see these concepts in action. However, having knowledge about OO programming would be an added benefit. If you have done any programming in Java or any other OOP language, then you will quickly pick up speed.

Variables

Variables are used to store temporary values during the execution of your application. To declare a variable in ActionScript 3.0, you must use the var keyword followed by the variable name. You can declare a variable with or without a value. Variables are declared and set with a statement, as shown here:

<variable_scope> var <variable_name...