Flash Remoting: The Definitive Guide
The Definitive Guide
1st Edition
Published on 28. October 2003
Book
Paperback/Softback
604 pages
978-0-596-00401-9 (ISBN)
Description
This guide aims to let developers easily integrate Macromedia Flash content with applications that are built using Macromedia ColdFusion MX, Microsoft .NET, Java, PHP, or SOAP-based Web services. The result is complex client/server applications that more closely resemble desktop applications than traditional Web pages. Gone is the click/wait/reload approach of HTML. Your Web application uses Flash as the front end while Flash Remoting handles the communication behind the scenes with the application server. The book aims to help you understand this breakthrough technology and use it to build your own Rich Internet Applications (RIAs). Build applications that connect to a database, file system, or other server-side technologies. It can be used to create: online stores that feature catalogs and shopping cart systems; sound and video clip libraries; banner ads with built-in shopping carts, click-through tracking, and site search capabilities; new controls that can be used in place of HTML; extensions to Flash, Dreamweaver and Fireworks; and front-ends to databases for administrators.
The book begins with Flash Remoting basics: setup, installation and an introduction to its underlying concepts. Next, you'll explore the Flash's User Interface components as they relate to Flash Remoting. Then, you'll gain insights into Flash Remoting internals and the Remoting API. It also contains examples that you will be able to run on your own system. The next section focuses on the server-side environment that you'll use for your applications. Individual chapters cover Flash Remoting with ColdFusion, Server-Side ActionScript, Java, ASP.NET, and PHP. The last section covers more advanced Flash Remoting techniques, such as calling Web services from Flash Remoting, extending objects and UI controls, best practices, and debugging. Plus there is a detailed chapter demonstrating a real-world application. The book concludes with a Flash Remoting API reference. .
The book begins with Flash Remoting basics: setup, installation and an introduction to its underlying concepts. Next, you'll explore the Flash's User Interface components as they relate to Flash Remoting. Then, you'll gain insights into Flash Remoting internals and the Remoting API. It also contains examples that you will be able to run on your own system. The next section focuses on the server-side environment that you'll use for your applications. Individual chapters cover Flash Remoting with ColdFusion, Server-Side ActionScript, Java, ASP.NET, and PHP. The last section covers more advanced Flash Remoting techniques, such as calling Web services from Flash Remoting, extending objects and UI controls, best practices, and debugging. Plus there is a detailed chapter demonstrating a real-world application. The book concludes with a Flash Remoting API reference. .
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Additional editions
E-Book
09/2003
O'Reilly
€33.99
Available for download
E-Book
09/2003
O'Reilly
€26.49
Available for download
Content
Preface Part I. Remoting Fundamentals 1. Introduction to Flash Remoting What Is Flash Remoting? How Does Flash Remoting Work? Benefits Flash Remoting Requirements Supported Platforms Hello World Workflow Example Architecture for Flash Remoting Applications 2. Installing, Configuring, and Using Flash Remoting Installing Flash Remoting Naming Your Services The Authoring Environment Sequence of Events in Flash Making a Remote Call 3. Client/Server Interaction, UI Components, and RecordSets User Interface Components Flash UI Components Set 2 and Flash Charting Controls Macromedia's DRK Text Objects Building Forms in Flash MX The RecordSet Class DataGlue 4. Flash Remoting Internals The NetConnection Class Using NetServices Creating Responder Functions RecordSet Object The Timeline Catching Errors Registering Objects Part II. The Server-Side Languages 5. Flash Remoting and ColdFusion MX Introduction to ColdFusion MX How ColdFusion Fits into Flash Applications Service Name Mappings ColdFusion Pages Versus ColdFusion Components Loading Query Data Incrementally ColdFusion Security: Authenticating Users Updating Data on the Server 6. Server-Side ActionScript What Is Server-Side ActionScript? The CF Object When to Use Server-Side ActionScript Datatype Conversions Handling Errors with try/catch Extending Server-Side ActionScript with Java 7. Flash Remoting and Java The Flash Remoting Gateway Supported Platforms Setting Up Flash Remoting for J2EE Service Types Datatype Conversions Service Lookup Invoking Service Methods Architecture and Design Referencing the Request and Session Saving and Sharing State Databinding Security OpenAMF 8. Flash Remoting and .NET Overview of .NET Connecting to .NET Datatype Conversions Database Access with ADO.NET State Management Error Handling in Flash Remoting with .NET 9. Flash Remoting and PHP Introduction to PHP Installing AMFPHP Datatype Conversions Using AMFPHP with Web Services Using AMFPHP with PHP Classes Working with a Database Part III. Advanced Flash Remoting 10. Calling Web Services from Flash Remoting What Is a Web Service? Why Use Flash Remoting? Web Services from a ColdFusion Server Web Services from an ASP.NET Server Wrapping J2EE and JRun Web Services Web Services from PHP BabelFish Web Service Datatype Conversions Creating a Flash MX Web Service Extension 11. Extending Objects and UI Controls Principles Behind UI Components DataProviderClass and DataGlue Enhancing a Standard Control Enhancing the RecordSet Class for Interactivity Adding Validation to a TextField 12. Flash Remoting Best Practices Separation of Tasks Separation of Functionality Server-Proofing the Application Component Use Clean API Loops and Repeated Operations OOP or Not OOP ColdFusion RecordSets Implementing Caching What to Walk Away With 13. Testing and Debugging Debugging Flash Remoting Applications Trapping Errors The Flash ActionScript Debugger NetConnection Debugger NetDebug.as Trace Debugging Testing Server-Side Code Using a TCP Trace Utility Debugging SQL Code 14. Real-World Application General Considerations Requirements Specifications The Modules Flash Remoting Code Testing and Debugging Completed Application Future Expansion 15. Flash Remoting API Part IV. Appendixes A. ActionScript Datatype Conversion B. Books and Online Resources C. Specification and Implementation for a Real-World Application Index