Overview

Flash Communicator Server MX is your complete guide to integrating rich media and real-time collaboration into your applications with Flash Communication Server MX! It includes 10 quick steps for getting started and covers ActionScripting, Flash Remoting, and other key implementation issues from a server-side perspective. It provides excellent tutorials for creating usable, media rich applications that allow real-time collaboration. There is much to learn in order to harness the true power of the Flash Communication Server MX. Macromedia's new server integrates support for streaming media, multi-way video, audio and text messaging, and real-time collaboration into a single solution. Flash Communication Server MX is an introduction to the technology, as well a guide to implementation of successful applications. Part I provides 10 quick steps to get you familiar with the server and how it works. Part II explores the important issues affecting appropriate integration of the Communication Server. Key concepts include understanding digital communication solutions, understanding objects, using server side ActionScripting, Flash Remoting, and security issues. A third section provides tutorials on how to create some popular applications for the server. Finally, a series of appendices supply reference material for Flash Communication Server MX users.

Full Product Details

Author:   Kevin Towes ,  Maxine Baca Zinn
Publisher:   Pearson Education (US)
Imprint:   New Riders Publishing
Dimensions:   Width: 17.80cm , Height: 2.50cm , Length: 22.80cm
Weight:   0.768kg
ISBN:  

9780735713338

ISBN 10:   0735713332
Pages:   504
Publication Date:   09 January 2003
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Out of Print
Availability:   Out of stock  

Table of Contents

(NOTE: Each chapter concludes with a Summary.) Foreword. Preface. I. 10 QUICK STEPS FOR GETTING STARTED. 1. STEP 1: Installation and Setup. Installation and Setup. The Personal Edition. The Professional Edition. Before You Install. Ports. Installation. Macromedia Flash MX Components. After the Server Installation. 2. STEP 2: Your Development Environment. The Server Files. Servers and Access. The Authoring Environment: Macromedia Flash MX. The Testing Environment. 3. STEP 3: Get Connected. Define Your Application on the Server. Build the User Interface in Macromedia Flash MX. Testing the Movie. What to Check if Your Application Is Not Working. 4. STEP 4: Simple Chat and Video Conferencing. The Chat and UserColor Communication UI Components. The AVPresence Communication UI Component. The SetBandwidth Communication UI Component. 5. STEP 5: Monitoring and Managing the Server. What Happens When You Run Your Flash Communication Server MX Application? ADMIN Component: Administration Console. Developer Component: Communication App Inspector. Developer Component: NetConnection Debugger. 6. STEP 6: ActionScript with NetConnection(). The ActionScript Editor-a Primer. The NetConnection() Object. NetConnection() Methods, Properties, and Events. 7. STEP 7: Streaming Video with NetStream(). Overview. Streaming Video and Bandwidth. The NetStream() Object, Methods, Properties, and Event. Playing Live Video. 8. STEP 8: Collaboration with SharedObject(). SharedObject Methods. SharedObject Property. SharedObject Events. How Does the Shared Cursor Work? Synchronization. Implementing SharedObjects. Data Management Using Slots. 9. STEP 9: Controller and Subscriber Applications. Controller Applications. Chapter Project Overview. Testing the Project. The Presentation File (simple_preso.swf). 10. STEP 10: Lobby Applications. Lobby Application Overview. Appendix Exercises Overview. II. IMPLEMENTING MACROMEDIA FLASH COMMUNICATION SERVER. 11. Server-Side ActionScript (SSAS). The main.asc File. Application Instances. Components and the ScriptLib Folder. Server-Side Objects. Debugging Techniques. 12. Client-Side (Flash) ActionScript. Macromedia Flash MX Communication Tools. The Communication ActionScript Objects. The Macromedia Flash Communication UI Components. Code Hinting. Debugging Techniques. 13. Accessing External Data. Macromedia Flash Remoting MX. NetServices in Macromedia Flash MX. NetServices on the Macromedia Flash Communication Server. Project: Using Remoting to Authenticate a User. 14. Server Administration. The Server Structure. The Server. The Adaptor. The Virtual Host. The Application. Creating Multiple Adaptors and Virtual Hosts. 15. Communication Application Architecture Strategies. What Does What When? Handling Connection Failures. Security. ActionScript Techniques. Server Management API. Additional Resources. III. TUTORIALS. 16. Build a Technical Support Application. Live Support Lobby Application. Live Support Session Application. 17. Making Faces: The Living Emoticon. The User Perspective. Putting Macromedia Flash MX in Developer Mode. The Interface. Macromedia Flash ActionScript (Frame 1). 18. Build Training and Education: The Virtual Classroom. Student User Case Study. Teacher User Case Study. The Interfaces. The Code. IV. APPENDIXES: QUICK REFERENCE GUIDES. Appendix A: Server-Side Objects Quick Reference. Application Object. Client Object. NetConnection Object. NetServices Object (Macromedia Flash Remoting MX). RecordSet Object. SharedObject Object. Stream Object. Appendix B: Macromedia Flash ActionScript Objects Quick Reference. Camera Object. Microphone Object. NetConnection Object. NetServices Object. NetStream Object. RecordSet Object. SharedObject Object. Video Object. Appendix C: Information Objects (Server and Client) Quick Reference. Appendix D: Macromedia Flash UI Component Objects Quick Reference. Common Methods. Lurker Mode. Macromedia Flash UI Component ActionScript Objects. Appendix E: Useful ActionScript Templates Quick Reference. Checklist for Creating a New Application. ActionScript Connect and Connect UI Components. Publish a Camera and Microphone. Subscribe to a Live or Recorded Stream. onStatus Catch-All Template (SSAS and Flash). onSync Template (SSAS and Flash). Connect and Create a Remote SharedObject (Flash). Connect and Create a Local SharedObject (Flash). Connect and Create a SharedObject (SSAS). Connect a Database with Macromedia Flash Remoting MX Using SSAS. Connect a Database with Macromedia Flash Remoting MX Using Flash ActionScript. Invoking a Server Function from Macromedia Flash. Invoking a Macromedia Flash Function from SSAS. Index

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Author Information

Kevin Towes is co-founder and CTO of Pangaea NewMedia in Toronto, Canada. He is a certified Macromedia ColdFusion Developer and has led his team at Pangaea to achieve much success with Macromedia products for many years. Kevin is an industry leader in the fields of Macromedia Flash, ColdFusion, and database integration. He is also a passionate speaker on softer topics of interactivity, development workflow, and integrating culture and technology. In 2002, he successfully organized the first-ever ColdFusion North Developers Conference. He also manages one of the largest ColdFusion developer user groups in the world. Kevin is a regular speaker at industry conferences, workshops, and schools throughout North America, including the annual Macromedia Developer Conference. He has co-authored feasibility studies for the Encyclopedia of Music in Canada and the Canadian Music Centre, attending to the digital migration of content to the Internet. He contributed to Inside Flash MX, a book published by New Riders, addressing the connection between Flash MX and application servers using Flash Remoting. Kevin is a regular contributor to the Macromedia Flash Communication Server, Flash, and ColdFusion Developer Centers. His articles and tutorials provide techniques integrating Macromedia products and other relevant technologies. Kevin has a solid teaching foundation, including six years as part-time instructor at Ryerson University lecturing on the integration of digital media and culture. He currently holds advisory board appointments for the Canadian Film Centre and Macromedia. He holds a BAA in Photographic Arts from Ryerson Polytechnic University. Kevin spends his free time as an avid rower, kayaker, and pilot.

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