XML in Flash

Product Description

XML in Flash is an excellent introduction to creating state-of-the-art Flash applications with XML. XML is quickly becoming the most popular way to store and manage data. Flash’s XML Socket makes it possible to network Flash front-ends to an application server. This allows developers to use a Flash interface for applications such as message boards, real-time chats, surveys, news feeds, and games.

XML in Flash begins by illustrating the basics of XML and the Flash XML Object. In Part I, Flash is used as a teaching aid as you learn the basics of Flash/XML integration. Part II covers how Flash works with middleware languages, such as PHP and ASP, as well as performance and optimization. You will also create a Flash message board with a database. Part III delves into the advantages of XMLSocket. Hands-on projects include creating a stock market ticker to receive XML data from servers. Finally, the appendixes include invaluable reference information on XML, XMLNode objects, and XMLSocket objects, as well as Frequently Asked Questions.

The example applications also illustrate the key concepts necessary for understanding the Flash/XML relationship. You will be able to use the applications on the accompanying Web site regardless of whether or not you spend the time to read and learn about their inner workings.

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Macromedia Flex: Expanding on Flash to Provide Rich Client Capabilities ZapNote

Product Description
Companies originally moved to adopt standards-based technologies like those underlying the Web and the Internet as a way to achieve distributed computing functionality at a very low total cost of ownership. However, such companies had to forego many of the user interface and productivity advantages that other distributed computing methods, such as traditional client/server applications, gave them. This fundamental drawback to thin clients like Web browsers let to an emerging class of vendor that offers rich client solutions that provide the optimal combination of rich, low-cost interaction through standards-based distributed computing.

Macromedia was one of the early pioneers in rich user interaction across the Internet. In 1997, they made a splash in the market with their Flash product, and as of the date of this report, over 90% of Web browsers and 500 million users are equipped with the Macromedia Flash player. Continuing this legacy, Macromedia has introduced its Flex product that leverages Flash to provide rich client capabilities over standards-based, loosely coupled distributed computing infrastructures.

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Flash and XML: A Developer’s Guide

Product Description
Tutorial brings you up to speed on both technologies with clear and concise explanations. Presents a number of important Web technologies, including PHP, MySQL, and sockets. Softcover.

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Laszlo Systems: Rich Client Capabilities Based on Macromedia Flash ZapNote

Product Description
In the past, companies had to forego many of the user interface and productivity advantages that other distributed computing methods, such as traditional client/server applications, used to give them. Companies looking to implement rich client technologies across a heterogeneous IT infrastructure will be most interested in a new breed of solution focused specifically on providing rich user interaction across standards-based, loosely coupled distributed computing environments. This solution set is the class of rich client-focused technologies.

Laszlo Systems has produced its own server-side offering called the Laszlo Presentation Server and XML-based development language called LZX to that provides rich client interaction and consumption of Web Services through the delivery of interactive Macromedia Flash SWF files to end-user clients.

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Flash XML StudioLab

Product Description
XML is everywhere at the moment. It provides a versatile, cross-platform way of describing data. It is the way in which the information of the future will be stored. However, by itself, XML looks dull. It needs dressing up in diamonds and pearls to bring it to life. And how?

Flash is a visual feast, providing a fantastic way of interacting with web sites. It’s the optimum format for presentation over the web. XML is the best way of storing the data that drives the Internet, for delivering a main feature and not just a sideshow. Mix them together and they create dynamite results.Amazon.com Review
An intriguing part of the Flash scripting language is the XML object, and Flash XML StudioLab shows how to use it to build powerful dynamic Web applications. To enjoy this book you need to know Flash, but the XML aspect is explained from scratch. In fact, the first four chapters offer a general introduction to XML, which is useful or irritating depending on how well you know the subject already. Chapter 5 gets into the real story, introducing ActionScript’s XML object. The following chapter gives an example, using XML to manage a set of tarot cards. The same example is continued in the subsequent chapters, showing how to search and examine the XML data, and how to upload and download XML content. Next comes an event-handling example. The scene changes for a look at a Flash chat client using XML along with Perl on the server, and then comes a chapter on integrating an online database using PHP, MySQL, Flash, and XML. The final chapter shows how to draw on XML news feeds in Flash. Two appendices offer a general look at advanced XML, including DTDs, Schemas, and XSL, and a short Perl primer to help with Web server programming.

A book on Flash and XML is a great idea, and this title will undoubtedly get you started and inspire some creative thinking. It is spoiled by an uneven style and the space given to general XML background that can easily be found elsewhere. Even so, it’s a good read for Flash developers who want to use dynamic XML content in their Web designs. –Tim Anderson, Amazon.co.uk

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