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07/25/2008 05:00 AM
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Validating an Imported Excel File
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In a previous article, we covered using the POI library in ColdFusion to import native Excel files and process their worksheets and columns. This becomes very handy when you need to import data into an application that is provided via Excel. But before you go dumping data into a database and potentially messing something up, it is always wise to validate that the spreadsheet contains the columns and datatypes that you expect....
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07/25/2008 05:00 AM
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Dreamweaver for GoLive Users Part Six
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In Part Five of the Dreamweaver to GoLive series, we completed the Music site design in GoLive. Now it is time to translate your GoLive CSS skills into Dreamweaver CSS skills. The basic concepts do not change, but rather just the location of a few tools.
This tutorial includes both a starter and completed folder in its support files.
The Dreamweaver for GoLive Users Series:
Dreamweaver for GoLive Users: Part 1
Dreamweaver for GoLive Users: Part 2
Dreamweaver for GoLive Users: Part 3
Dreamweaver for GoLive Users: Part 4
Dreamweaver for GoLive Users: Part 5
Dreamweaver for GoLive Users: Part 6 ...
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07/24/2008 05:00 AM
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Formatting Dates in CFGrid
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You surely know by now that ColdFusion 8 includes built-in Ajax functionality wrapped up in easy to use tags. Part of this functionality comes in an update to the CFGrid tag. In prior versions, CFGrid allowed you to create a sortable and updatable grid in the form of a Java applet or a Flash component. CF8 adds the HTML format to CFGrid which renders an ajaxified HTML grid that is sortable and editable....
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07/24/2008 05:00 AM
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Making a Three Column Layout Using CSS: Part 1
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Tableless layouts are all the rage, but how are they created? Focusing on learning how to float divs, the first tutorial in this series will introduce you to the basic skills required to create your own 3-column layout. ...
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07/23/2008 05:00 AM
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CSS For Absolute Beginners - Part 1: Syntax and Type Selectors
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Welcome to the first in a series of CSS Absolute Beginners articles and tutorials. My aim throughout this series will be to introduce the complete CSS novice to the exciting world of CSS.
This will be achieved by starting with the very basics of the language and building from there. The aim will be to bring you to a good level of ability and provide the under-pinning knowledge to make well informed decisions as you begin to write your own style sheets....
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07/23/2008 05:00 AM
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Fireworks Hidden Gem - Paste Attributes
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There are a lot of features in Fireworks to improve your workflow, but one you might not know about has actually been around for a long time.
It's called Paste Attributes and it's a very versatile command, as you will see in this quick tutorial....
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07/22/2008 05:00 AM
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Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 4
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In one implementation of the QuickTime VR format, known as QTVR Object Movies, the user can click-and-drag an image to seemingly rotate it, as if spinning the real-life object on a lazy Susan. This simulated 3-D interactivity can improve multimedia curb appeal, and makes for a nifty way to showcase merchandise. But it doesn't stop there: the same basic principle can also bring click-and-drag responsiveness to short video sequences and even user input widgets, such as click-and-scrub input fields.
In Part 3, of this series, we loaded the rotation image sequence from external JPG files. Here in Part 4, we're going to step out of the box and give a stretch to the clicking-and-rotating (or clicking-and-scrubbing) concept. In doing so, we'll re-shuffle the code a bit, and refine it in preparation for building this concept into a custom class that can be used for a wide variety of applications.
The Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash Series:
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 1
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 2
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 3
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 4...
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07/22/2008 05:00 AM
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Drawing or Photograph?
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Have you ever wanted to turn a photograph only partially into a line drawing? While some effects I've seen turn the entire photograph into a line drawing, the effect I'm about to show you in Photoshop uses the Smart Blur filter in a special way and can turn any portion of the photo into a line drawing. It's a very quick effect and there are only a few steps, so let's begin....
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07/21/2008 05:00 AM
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Tracking the Popularity of Your Database Content
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If you have database content which you share, you may wish to track the number of times each record is requested or viewed. Be it an article, an image, a link or a video, counting the number of times that record has been accessed or requested will provide a measure of its popularity relative to the rest of the records in your database. You have likely seen this tracking in action in the form of the "Most Viewed" search option, such as those found on news sites or You Tube. You might choose to keep the tracking count to yourself for private statistical analysis or allow visitors to view the record counts.
...
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07/21/2008 05:00 AM
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Dreamweaver for GoLive Users: Part Five
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In Part Four of this series, we used GoLive to manipulate the various divisions of the page, and positioned them into a header with two columns underneath. This time around we'll complete the design in GoLive by formatting the maincontent div text and turning the sidebar links into clickable buttons.
This tutorial includes starter files as well as the completed layout.
The Dreamweaver for GoLive Users Series:
Dreamweaver for GoLive Users: Part 1
Dreamweaver for GoLive Users: Part 2
Dreamweaver for GoLive Users: Part 3
Dreamweaver for GoLive Users: Part 4
Dreamweaver for GoLive Users: Part 5
Dreamweaver for GoLive Users: Part 6 ...
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07/18/2008 05:00 AM
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Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7a: Creating an Oozing Image
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Click a Flash button and an image appears. Yawn. Booorring. Click a button and the image oozes out from behind the button. Now you have my attention. In this first part of the tutorial we prepare the assets in Fireworks CS3 so they can be converted to ooze in After Effects CS3.
The Playing With Bitmaps In Flash CS3 Series:
From Photo to Art and Back Again
A Page Transition Effect in Flash CS3
Interactive Blurs
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 4: Scaling on the Fly
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 5: Adding Textures
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 6: Batch Processing
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7a: Creating an Oozing Image
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7b: Creating an Oozing Image Coming Soon
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7c: Completing the Project In Flash Coming Soon...
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07/18/2008 05:00 AM
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Customizing a WordPress Blog - Part 1: Editing Header Images
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There's little doubt that the fine, free, open source blogging package available from WordPress has enjoyed astounding success. With downloads of well over 50 million, the PHP, MySQL, and Apache powered WordPress package is currently the world's most popular blogging package and is in use by literally millions of designers and developers (and do-it-yourselfers) around the world.
The goal of this series of articles is to show you how to take what is already an awesome package?including an almost limitless supply of free design themes?and customize the look and feel of a WordPress site to meet your goals. Through this series you'll be learning how to use some of the design tools from Adobe, such as Fireworks and Dreamweaver, as well as free open source browser plugins to modify the design of a WordPress installation.
In this first article of the series we'll take a look at some of the basics of using WordPress as well as how to modify the header image in a few available WordPress themes. In future articles we'll take a look at how to examine and modify the CSS that powers the layout and appearance of all WordPress blogs so you can create a truly one-of-a-kind design. Let's get started!
The Customizing a WordPress Blog Series:
Customizing a WordPress Blog - Part 1: Editing Header Images
Customizing a WordPress Blog - Part 2 Coming Soon...
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07/17/2008 05:00 AM
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ColdFusion 8 and AJAX Series - Part 4: CFWindow
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Continuing on our ColdFusion 8 and AJAX series we will take a look at CFWindow. So what are windows and why would I use them? Unlike pop-up windows you would create with the target attribute or javascript that can be blocked or not function at all depending on the user or there browser settings. CFWindow is a simple DHTML window for displaying information. Follow along as we explore the tag.
The ColdFusion 8 and AJAX Series:
ColdFusion 8 and AJAX Series - Part 1a: Layouts
ColdFusion 8 and AJAX Series - Part 1b: Layouts
ColdFusion 8 and AJAX Series - Part 2: Tabbed Layouts
ColdFusion 8 and AJAX Series - Part 3: Pods
ColdFusion 8 and AJAX Series - Part 4: CFWindow...
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07/17/2008 05:00 AM
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Building Web Sites With Drupal - Part 2: Installation
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There are as many ways to build a web site as there are customers out there. What that usually means is that, as developers, we end up recreating the wheel over and over again. In reality, though, 80% of the customers you come across could likely be serviced quite nicely with relatively minor modifications to a basic site structure that includes the most common functionality. That is the concept behind a Content Management System like Drupal.
Drupal is a framework for creating web applications. As such, it has a wealth of advanced abilities like forums, newsletters, and RSS syndication. But it is also well suited for the building of simpler websites that just need to update their content on a regular basis. If you build sites for clients, chances are there is a portion of your business that could be handled more quickly and more profitably using Drupal.
The Building Web Sites With Drupal Series:
Building Web Sites With Drupal - Part 1: Introduction
Building Web Sites With Drupal - Part 2: Installation...
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07/16/2008 05:00 AM
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Designing the Moment
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A good user experience is all about good moments. Each moment has the potential to increase a user?s confidence or destroy trust for a product or company, and each one is an important piece of the complete user experience.
In Designing the Moment, Robert Hoekman, Jr., author of the Amazon bestseller Designing the Obvious, presents over 30 stories of design solutions from real projects that show the evolution of each design as it was crafted and reveal the principles and concepts used to arrive at the solutions. Designing the Moment shows us how to look critically at design decisions to ensure that our users can walk away from our software feeling productive, respected, and smart, from the first impression to the last.
Robert Hoekman, Jr., is an interaction designer, writer, presenter, and user-experience evangelist, and the founder of Miskeeto (www.miskeeto.com), a product development and web design consultancy focused on socially conscious projects that improve the world.
He is the author of the Amazon bestseller Designing the Obvious (www.rhjr.net/dto) (New Riders), which focuses on seven guiding principles of great web-based software, and Designing the Moment (www.rhjr.net/dtm) (New Riders), a collection of stories from real projects that show how to put web design principles into action. Learn more about Robert through his blog at www.rhjr.net. ...
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07/16/2008 05:00 AM
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Five Simple Guidelines to Improve Your Coding
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One of the largest problems with web coding today is the lack of proper coding techniques and practices. The web is fairly unique in that most developers have come from various backgrounds and learned based by example and demand rather than through formal training, and so the lessons and best practices that traditional coders developed years ago (after many headaches!) are largely unknown by online coders. Today we're going to take a few minutes to run through some of the very simple but extremely important practices that will help to make your code much easier to work with both now and in the future....
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07/15/2008 05:00 AM
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Setting Up a Scheduled Task in ColdFusion
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ColdFusion has a mechanism in the ColdFusion admin to set up a scheduled task. These scheduled tasks are ColdFusion pages that you want to run on a schedule -- daily, weekly, hourly, every Monday at 1pm, or on any other schedule of your choosing. The task can be any ColdFusion page. This article will show how to set up a scheduled task through the ColdFusion administrator....
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07/15/2008 05:00 AM
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Building a Reservation System From Discovery to Deployment - Part 4
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In this part of the series, we will convert the Sterling Jumpstart to the template we want to use for the reservation project.
The Building a Reservation System Series:
Building a Reservation System From Discovery to Deployment - Part 1
Building a Reservation System From Discovery to Deployment - Part 2
Buildiing a Reservation System from Discovery to Deployment - Part 3
Building a Reservation System - From Discovery to Deployment - Part 4...
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07/14/2008 05:00 AM
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Creating a Postage/Date Stamp Mark in Adobe Illustrator
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In this tutorial you will create a Postage/Date stamp mark using various Illustrator tools, effects and techniques. This will bring together two previous tutorials, an Envelope and Postage Stamp.
 ...
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07/14/2008 05:00 AM
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Experimenting in Photoshop
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You seriously don't want to read this article. It's got no pictures, and has some touchy-feely stuff about Photoshop and how to use it. You won't get any shortcuts or actions, and there's not one word about HDR or painting with light.
What it's got is some very esoteric nonsense about experimenting with your favorite pixel pusher. You probably won't enjoy learning about how to make Photoshop an extension of your creativity, nor would you want any insights that will speed up your work.
Nope. I wouldn't bother, if I were you. I'm sure you'll do just fine following the crowds.
Heh......
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07/11/2008 05:00 AM
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CSS: All Browsers Can Be Created Equally
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Different browsers have slightly different default rendering. Removing the inconsistent default styling for elements in various browsers creates an equal starting point and allows you to explicitly set your own default settings that are equal in (almost) all browsers. This article will show you tricks on how to start a CSS file that not only works in all browsers, but also reduces CSS file size and headaches....
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07/11/2008 05:00 AM
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Dynamically Streaming a File in PHP
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There are many ways to create a file download from a web site, however, sometimes it is necessary to hide the physical path of the file. In PHP it is possible to dynamically stream the file to the end user, eliminating the chance that a user can download the file directly. This is often a requirement of an e-store that sells downloadable content, such as PDFs of books, music downloads, or software. This article will show one simple way to accomplish this....
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07/10/2008 05:00 AM
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Quick Shot - Validating Imported Dates in ColdFusion
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In previous articles, we have discussed the way that Microsoft stores dates in SQL Server and Excel and how that can be an advantage and a hindrance as you deal with your data. There is a method to the way that MS products store dates. It allows you to deal with time against an absolute reference rather than being concerned with its formatting (whether US, Euro, or other). But the way ColdFusion's validation functions treat dates can be tricky if you are trying to get some concrete assurance that you are processing valid information....
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07/10/2008 05:00 AM
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PHPMailer: Full Featured Email Transfer Class for PHP - Part 2
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PHP contains a mail function which sends script-generated email with very little configuration and ease. This built-in function, while easily accessible, provides only basic options for creating emails and requires a more manual effort to create advanced email features such html formatting and attachment encoding.
For many years, I have used PHPMailer which is an object-oriented PHP class that easily allows you to implement advanced email formatting. Features which can be readily tapped include: SMTP authentication, use of redundant SMTP servers, attachments, HTML formatting, multipart/alternative formatting for non-html email and various encoding methods. Due to its ease of use and broad feature base, I incorporate the PHPMailer class into all my scripts which send email.
My primary reason for using this class comes from the ability to send script-generated email through authenticated SMTP servers which dramatically reduce the risk of the email being trapped in spam filters. In my testing, mail sent directly from the server by the mail() is significantly more likely to be caught by ISP spam filters due to the fact that it resembles robotically generated spam. I also enjoy the relative ease of adding attachments, html formatting and using multipart/alternative text for email client preview.
In Part 1, I demonstrated how to install the PHPMailer class and use it to create simple email, while sending through an authenticated SMTP server. Use of this class requires some knowledge of working with server files and directories and some experience with PHP classes.
Here in Part 2, we will take it further and go over adding attachments and creating HTML emails.
The PHPMailer - Full Featured Email Transfer Class for PHP Series:
PHPMailer: Full Featured Email Transfer Class for PHP - Part 1
PHPMailer: Full Featured Email Transfer Class for PHP - Part 2...
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07/09/2008 05:00 AM
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Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 3
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In one implementation of the QuickTime VR format, known as QTVR Object Movies, the user can click-and-drag an image to seemingly rotate it, as if spinning the real-life object on a lazy Susan. This simulated 3-D interactivity can improve multimedia curb appeal, and makes for a nifty way to showcase merchandise. But it doesn't stop there: the same basic principle can also bring click-and-drag responsiveness to short video sequences and even user input widgets, such as click-and-scrub input fields.
In Part 2, of this series, we continued our exploration of the Flash version of a QTVR Object Movie that rotates an F-15A aircraft, adding a "grabber" icon and reversing the rotation direction. Here in Part 3, we'll load the image sequence from external files. In future articles, we'll consider alternate uses for the same programmatic concept and eventually build a custom class to wrap the functionality into a neatly portable bundle.
The Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash Series:
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 1
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 2
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 3
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 4...
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07/09/2008 05:00 AM
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Flash-Flex Integration, Part 7: Coding With Flash Components in Flex Builder
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Sometimes, when you're coding a Flex application, don't you just wish you could use a Flash animation, right there? And in Flash, don't you sometimes wish you could use that one class in Flex, or that one component, which would make your life so much easier? It is at such times that a developer encounters the limitations of their tools, be it in Flex or in Flash. This series aims to explore the possibilities inherent in an integrated Flash-Flex workflow, bridging the gap between the two technologies, enabling a greater range of development options.
In the last article, we looked at how to use Flex Builder as the ActionScript 3 editor for a Flash-compiled project. But as some of you may have discovered, there is something missing from that workflow: if you are using any Flash CS3 components, Flex Builder is unable to recognize those component classes, which negates one of the principle advantages of using Flex Builder, which is its code assist. In this article, we will take a look at how to get Flex Builder to recognize the Flash CS3 Component classes for editing ActionScript 3 files in Flash CS3 projects.
How do we get Flex Builder's code assist to recognize Flash CS3 Component classes?
The Flash-Flex Integration Series:
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 1: Workflows
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 2: Flex 2 Component Skinning
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 3: Flex Component Skinning with Scale-9
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 4: Skinning the Scale-9 Flex Component
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 5: Building the DragPanel Component
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 6: Editing Flash Code in Flex Builder
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 7: Coding With Flash Components in Flex Builder...
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07/08/2008 05:00 AM
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Fireworks CS4 Public Beta - Demo Current Document
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If you have been experimenting with the new Fireworks beta (and if you haven't, tsk, tsk) you might be noticing a theme by now. There is a huge variety of options for exporting out your designs!
The one we're going to look at today is Demo Current Document (DCD). DCD was available as a separate and free extension for Fireworks CS3, but now it's part of the Fireworks beta package and it too has had an update to its command panel....
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07/08/2008 05:00 AM
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Building Web Sites With Drupal - Part 1: Introduction
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There are as many ways to build a web site as there are customers out there. What that usually means is that, as developers, we end up recreating the wheel over and over again. In reality, though, 80% of the customers you come across could likely be serviced quite nicely with relatively minor modifications to a basic site structure that includes the most common functionality. That is the concept behind a Content Management System like Drupal.
Drupal is a framework for creating web applications. As such, it has a wealth of advanced abilities like forums, newsletters, and RSS syndication. But it is also well suited for the building of simpler websites that just need to update their content on a regular basis. If you build sites for clients, chances are there is a portion of your business that could be handled more quickly and more profitably using Drupal.
The Building Web Sites With Drupal Series:
Building Web Sites With Drupal - Part 1: Introduction
Building Web Sites With Drupal - Part 2: Installation...
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07/07/2008 05:00 AM
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Dreamweaver for GoLive Users Part Four
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It's been a while since the third installment in the Dreamweaver for GoLive users series, but I didn't forget you while I was writing about the Dreamweaver public beta or the latest CMX JumpStart! In parts four and five of this tutorial, we'll get to the really exciting stuff. We'll use Adobe GoLive to add the styles that will transform the pure markup from a series of divs that stack vertically down the page into a neatly contained fixed-width layout with side-by-side columns.
Then, in part six, you'll learn how to perform the same tasks in Dreamweaver.
This tutorial includes both starter and completed files folders.
The Dreamweaver for GoLive Users Series:
Dreamweaver for GoLive Users: Part 1
Dreamweaver for GoLive Users: Part 2
Dreamweaver for GoLive Users: Part 3
Dreamweaver for GoLive Users: Part 4
Dreamweaver for GoLive Users: Part 5
Dreamweaver for GoLive Users: Part 6 ...
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07/07/2008 05:00 AM
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Straighten Up!
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There used to be a time, not so long ago, when commercial photographers, such as myself, went out with large format cameras and large format film to photograph architecture for a client. A camera called a view camera was used to photograph this architecture because the camera itself had a number of adjustments on it which you could swing or tilt the film plane separately from the position of the lens and thus create vertically accurate perspectives of a building.
While this is still going on to some extent today, the tendency however is to use smaller format cameras, which inherently suffer from linear distortions. The cure for this linear distortion, one of which is vertical lines not appearing as vertical lines, is again Photoshop. There are a number of different ways to correct for vertical distortion and today I'd like to demonstrate the effectiveness of a fairly recent addition, in the Filter, Distort menu under Lens Correction. Let's begin....
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07/04/2008 05:59 PM
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When the Legend Won't Wrap - Revisited for Firefox 3
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Back in November, I wrote a blog post explaining a fix for the poor and varied rendering you will get with a wordy legend that forces its containing fieldset to be wider than you've specified. You can read more details in the previous post. In a nutshell, it involves placing a span within the legend. Since a span (and a legend) are inline, the span won't render the width until you change its display t......
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07/04/2008 05:00 AM
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Happy 4th of July!
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Have a Safe and Happy 4th of July!
Everyone at Community MX wishes to thank the brave men and women of the Armed Forces, and remember those who have lost their lives defending liberty.
To allow all of our partners to enjoy the holiday with their families, CMX will not be releasing content on Friday, July 4th. We will be back on Monday, July 7th, with two brand new pieces of content.
Enjoy your holiday! ...
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07/03/2008 05:00 AM
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Adding a JDBC Driver to ColdFusion
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ColdFusion ships with JDBC drivers for most of the major databases, however, all JDBC drivers are not created equal. There are good ones and bad ones, and some of the newer drivers will improve performance and stability. In addition, some of the drivers that ship with various versions of ColdFusion have known problems (MySQL comes to mind). Also, there are databases that are not listed in the standard ColdFusion install that you may want to connect to. This article will show the simple process for adding a new driver to the ColdFusion server....
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07/03/2008 05:00 AM
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ActionScript Basics - Part 4: Building a Custom Button Class For the Dynamic Menu
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Part 3, ActionScript Basics - Part 3: Building Dynamic Menus and Associative Arrays, of this series left off with a dynamically generated menu using data coming from an associative array. The menu was built using a MovieClip from the library that was coded to work like a button.
This tutorial will continue with the basics of creating a custom class. We will create a custom Button class using the MovieClip symbol and an external ,as class file. This will be a light overview of creating your own custom class just so you can get your hands a little bit dirty with custom class development.
The ActionScript Basics Series:
ActionScript Basics - Part 1: Arrays
ActionScript Basics - Part 2: Associative Arrays
ActionScript Basics - Part 3: Building Dynamic Menus and Associative Arrays
ActionScript Basics - Part 4: Building a Custom Button Class For the Dynamic Menu...
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07/02/2008 05:00 AM
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Adobe's Move to Online Services - Part 2: kuler, JamJar, and More
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In the last few months Adobe Systems has made some rather remarkable shifts in how they envision their products being used, and how they see the next generation of web and multi-media authors working together. In the first article of this series we explored the the new tools provided by the free Acrobat.com service and saw how Adobe has added the capability to edit documents online and share them with others, as well as conduct video-conferencing through a light version of Acrobat Connect. With these new online services you can collaborate, share, and even teleconference with your colleagues no matter where they are as Adobe moves beyond the desktop and into the world where the web is as much about working with others as it is just showing them things.
In this article we'll examine some of the other services that Adobe is offering?those that are built around the idea of sharing and working online with others as well as taking a quick peek at Adobe's new online service for editing images. And as usual there will be a bit of speculation about where Adobe might be taking these tools in the future. Some of these services are offered only as beta products and may never see the light of day in "production" mode. Others may find their way into existing products as feature-added services, or be launched as entirely new products all their own. What's fascinating about all of these is the move that we see as Adobe goes beyond the desktop and adds new online services that are more than just a means to be creative, but provide online applications that allow others to share and network in some pretty interesting ways.
The Adobe's Move to Online Services Series:
Adobe's Move to Online Services - Part 1: Acrobat.com
Adobe's Move to Online Services - Part 2: kuler, JamJar, and More
...
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07/02/2008 05:00 AM
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Project Management for Individuals - Part 2: Scheduling
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Where does the time go? I have no earthly idea where it goes, but if you want to know how you spent, you need to use a schedule. There is more to scheduling than simply trying to guess at and budget time. But that's where this article starts - guessing. It's what we do with those guesses that makes the difference.
If you find yourself wondering just how long it takes to complete a project, or if you need to get better control over your time expenditures, then this article is for you! Even if you don't, have a read, anyway. You may pick up a tip or two!
The Project Management for Individuals Series:
Project Management for Individuals - Part 1
Project Management for Individuals - Part 2: Scheduling...
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07/01/2008 05:00 AM
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Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 2
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In one implementation of the QuickTime VR format, known as QTVR Object Movies, the user can click-and-drag an image to seemingly rotate it, as if spinning the real-life object on a lazy Susan. This simulated 3-D interactivity can improve multimedia curb appeal, and makes for a nifty way to showcase merchandise. But it doesn't stop there: the same basic principle can also bring click-and-drag responsiveness to short video sequences and even user input widgets, such as click-and-scrub input fields.
In Part 1, of this series, we explored the Flash version of a QTVR Object Movie that rotates an F-15A aircraft. Here in Part 2, we'll look at how to compensate for the rotational direction of the image sequence and add a custom "grabber" cursor. In future articles, we'll work through loading the image sequence from external files and will consider alternate uses for the same programmatic concept.
The Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash Series:
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 1
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 2
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 3
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 4...
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07/01/2008 05:00 AM
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The jQuery UI Components - Part 1: Introduction
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The jQuery library goes a long way to help make AJAX-oriented applications easier to develop and deploy. One of the things that makes jQuery stand out from the other libraries available though is it's expandibility. The jQuery UI plugins, built on top of the original jQuery library, take that original ease of development and expand it to apply to interactive interface components, rather than just the underlying code that drives them.
In this series we're going to look at the various modules and components that make up the jQuery UI system to see how they can help to make building rich interfaces on top of our existing jQuery systems a piece of cake. Today, in the first part of the series we'll do a quick review of jQuery's organizational structure, talk about what plugins and UI modules are, and explore just how easy they are to implement....
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06/30/2008 05:00 AM
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Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 6: Batch Processing
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You only need one click to optimize images in the Flash Library? What's with that? Let's start with a hidden gem and move on from there.
The Playing With Bitmaps In Flash CS3 Series:
From Photo to Art and Back Again
A Page Transition Effect in Flash CS3
Interactive Blurs
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 4: Scaling on the Fly
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 5: Adding Textures
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 6: Batch Processing
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7a: Creating an Oozing Image
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7b: Creating an Oozing Image Coming Soon
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7c: Completing the Project In Flash Coming Soon...
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06/30/2008 05:00 AM
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SnagIt 9 - Introduction
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TechSmith has come out with another version of SnagIt and they have completely updated the interface, added new features and made it even better than before. In this article, I've gone over a few of the features of SnagIt, check it out!...
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06/27/2008 05:00 AM
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Illustrator Stamp
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Stamps have come a long way since we had to lick and stick- what an awful disgusting taste! Thankfully you can now just peel and stick. You can also go online and create your own postage stamp design for weddings, births etc. That's too easy, you don't get the added fun of creating the stamp from a blank artboard. In this tutorial, you will learn how to create the perforation and add an image with a clipping mask. (Not to be used instead of the real thing).
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06/27/2008 05:00 AM
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Switching to a Mac
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I recently switched to a MacBook Pro as my main laptop. My whole office is Microsoft based and all of the computers at work are Windows. I was concerned at first about how I would communicate and interface with our network and the software that we used and write. I have found over the past few weeks that alternatives are available for just about everything I need, often better and cheaper (or free!). And there are even answers for the few things I need that only run in Windows. I thought a list of what I have done might help those that are considering making such a move....
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06/27/2008 03:26 AM
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Designers AND Developers...
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So there's been a pretty decent sized debate going on through the webosphere. Designers should know how to code. Developers should know how to design (or shouldn't need to design). I considered weighing in on the 37 Signals blog -- but the comments were already closed. Call me slow (yes, I've been on the road, had a birthday, and had my mom visiting with her birthday. ;). You'd be right. Oh well.
I do have one thing to say. Well, I probably have more than one, but I'll start with that......
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06/26/2008 05:00 AM
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Reading Excel Files in ColdFusion
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ColdFusion has built in list functions that make it easy to handle comma separated lists that you can export from Excel. But sometimes you need to read an actual Excel binary file, which allows you to access additional information within the spreadsheet. Luckily ColdFusion has built in functionality that allows you to do that as well....
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06/26/2008 05:00 AM
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Using CF Tags from CFScript
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When working in ColdFusion, you have two basic ways of coding: ColdFusion tags and CFScript. Both are legitimate and both provide certain advantages. With ColdFusion tags, you have a full arsenal of functionality available. With CFScript, you have more basic script operations available, such as looping, setting variables, conditions, and other more mundane tasks. Frequently when writing scripts, however, you need some functionality that is only available to a ColdFusion tag. The more obvious solution is to close the tag, execute your tag, then re-open the tag to resume your coding. We'll talk about another way to approach this situation -- create functions that mimic CF tags. ...
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06/25/2008 05:00 AM
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Flash-Flex Integration - Part 6: Editing Flash Code in Flex Builder
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Sometimes, when you're coding a Flex application, don't you just wish you could use a Flash animation, right there? And in Flash, don't you sometimes wish you could use that one class in Flex, or that one component, which would make your life so much easier? It is at such times that a developer encounters the limitations of their tools, be it in Flex or in Flash. This series aims to explore the possibilities inherent in an integrated Flash-Flex workflow, bridging the gap between the two technologies, enabling a greater range of development options.
In this article, we will delve into Flash-Flex integration on a more intimate level, using both Flash and Flex in a completely integrated development workflow. Using David Stiller's Click-and-Paint tutorial as a basis for our enhanced application, we will convert a timeline-based Flash project into a class-based project, but using Flex Builder as the code editor. Essentially using the Flash IDE as the assets editor and SWF compiler, and Flex Builder as the ActionScript 3 editor (without using the Flex compiler).
In this article, you will learn how to set up a Flex project workspace to enable the editing of Flash IDE-compiled ActionScript 3 class files. In doing so, you will no doubt discover why Flex Builder is a much more powerful tool for ActionScript class editing than the Flash Actions panel. As one of my Flash colleagues is fond of saying, "Once you go Flex, you never go back." :) But this isn't about making converts to either Flash or Flex development. Whatever your specialty, this series is here to show you that with a little ingenuity, you can have your cake and eat it too.
Flash Actions panel or Flex Builder: for code editing, there is no contest.
The Flash-Flex Integration Series:
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 1: Workflows
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 2: Flex 2 Component Skinning
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 3: Flex Component Skinning with Scale-9
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 4: Skinning the Scale-9 Flex Component
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 5: Building the DragPanel Component
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 6: Editing Flash Code in Flex Builder
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 7: Coding With Flash Com...
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06/25/2008 05:00 AM
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PHPMailer: Full Featured Email Transfer Class for PHP - Part 1
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PHP contains a mail function which sends script-generated email with very little configuration and ease. This built-in function, while easily accessible, provides only basic options for creating emails and requires a more manual effort to create advanced email features such html formatting and attachment encoding.
For many years, I have used PHPMailer which is an object-oriented PHP class that easily allows you to implement advanced email formatting. Features which can be readily tapped include: SMTP authentication, use of redundant SMTP servers, attachments, HTML formatting, multipart/alternative formatting for non-html email and various encoding methods. Due to its ease of use and broad feature base, I incorporate the PHPMailer class into all my scripts which send email.
My primary reason for using this class comes from the ability to send script-generated email through authenticated SMTP servers which dramatically reduce the risk of the email being trapped in spam filters. In my testing, mail sent directly from the server by the mail() is significantly more likely to be caught by ISP spam filters due to the fact that it resembles robotically generated spam. I also enjoy the relative ease of adding attachments, html formatting and using multipart/alternative text for email client preview.
In this tutorial, I will demonstrate how to install the PHPMailer class and use it to create simple email, while sending through an authenticated SMTP server. Use of this class requires some knowledge of working with server files and directories and some experience with PHP classes.
In Part 2, we will take it further and go over adding attachments and creating HTML emails.
The PHPMailer - Full Featured Email Transfer Class for PHP Series:
PHPMailer: Full Featured Email Transfer Class for PHP - Part 1
PHPMailer: Full Featured Email Transfer Class for PHP - Part 2...
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06/24/2008 05:00 AM
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Using Kuler and Flickr to Create a Color Theme
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A while back I talked about a feature in Adobe kuler that lets you generate a color theme from an uploaded photograph. Well, the kuler development team has just added another new feature which ties in nicely with this. You can now surf flickr.com to find a photo you like, and generate your color theme from that image. In this article, we'll look at the process for doing this.
First, head over to Adobe kuler and sign in. If you have not yet created an Adobe ID, now's a good time. It's free and gives you access to many services on Adobe's site, such as acrobat.com, Adobe Exchange, user forums, software trials etc . . ....
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06/24/2008 05:00 AM
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Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 1
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In one implementation of the QuickTime VR format, known as QTVR Object Movies, the user can click-and-drag an image to seemingly rotate it, as if spinning the real-life object on a lazy Susan. This simulated 3D interactivity can improve multimedia curb appeal, and makes for a nifty way to showcase merchandise. But it doesn't stop there: the same basic principle can also bring click-and-drag responsiveness to short video sequences and even user input widgets, such as the click-and-scrub input fields of numerous Adobe dialog boxes
Adobe often uses click-and-drag input to update text fields
If you're a Flash developer and interested in click-and-drag functionality, you've come to the right tutorial series! Here in Part 1, we'll start by exploring the Flash version of a QTVR Object Movie that rotates an F-15A aircraft. In future articles, we'll work through a common "gotcha" in regard to direction reversal. We'll also load images from external files and explore alternate uses for the same programmatic concept.
The Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash Series:
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 1
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 2
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 3
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 4...
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06/23/2008 05:00 AM
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ActionScript Basics - Part 3: Building Dynamic Menus and Associative Arrays
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Dynamic menu and content creation that is generated by external or internal data is the next step in harnessing the power Associative Arrays. Part 2 of this series, ActionScript Basics - Part 2: Associative Arrays, looked at creating associative arrays to store multiple properties of information within elements of an array. This tutorial will covering using the data from an associative array to build a dynamic menu.
The ActionScript Basics Series:
ActionScript Basics - Part 1: Arrays
ActionScript Basics - Part 2: Associative Arrays
ActionScript Basics - Part 3: Building Dynamic Menus and Associative Arrays
ActionScript Basics - Part 4: Building a Custom Button Class For the Dynamic Menu...
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