[q][i]Originally posted by: [b][b]Newsgroup User[/b][/b][/i]
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beginners-intermediate users.

The Training from the Source ActionScript books are good. Another book
that you might like to consider is "Foundation ActionScript for Flash 8"
(friends of ED). Disclaimer: I was one of the authors, so am biased.
However, it's the fourth edition of a book originally written by Sham
Bhangal, which has proved very popular over the years. It takes you from
zero knowledge to a high intermediate level. More information on my
website (http://foundationphp.com/flash8_as/).

--
David Powers
Adobe Community Expert
Author, "Foundation PHP for Dreamweaver 8" (friends of ED)
http://foundationphp.com/
[/q]


Thanks for the posts.

David, it's interesting to hear you are an author in the Foundation
Actionscript books. I am actually currently using the MX 2004 version of that
same book. I was progressing quite well through it until I got to the Hangman
example and became derailed. I do not understand parts of the code in that
example.. wish there was more exlanation. Even using the book I can't get it
put together and make it work properly. I guess I feel like the book left me in
the dust. I was hoping to find something more remediary and then return to it.

Thanks again guys.

I used "PHP 5 for Flash" by David Powers. It actually teaches you how to use
PHP, Flash, and MySQL all at once. I had no prior knowledge of any of these
when I started using it, and I still followed it. It's a great book.

Heh, I just noticed that he posted.

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Sadly, the MX 2004 edition of that book was seriously flawed. It is full
of misprints and coding mistakes. Quite why it happened, I don't know,
because Sham Bhangal is a good author, and extremely knowledgeable. The
book was published shortly after the original owners of friends of ED
went bankrupt and the new editorial team hadn't really settled in. Since
then, the editorial quality has improved greatly.

The Flash 8 version corrects all the mistakes, and adds about 20% new
material. After your experience, you probably don't want to splash out
on a new edition of a book that's given you problems. However, do post
any questions that you have got about the MX 2004 version and the
Hangman game in the friends of ED forum. Either I or someone else will
try to come to your rescue.

--
David Powers
Adobe Community Expert
Author, "Foundation PHP for Dreamweaver 8" (friends of ED)

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Yes, I drop in here from time to time, although I spend more time in the
Dreamweaver forums. Glad you found the book helpful.

--
David Powers
Adobe Community Expert
Author, "Foundation PHP for Dreamweaver 8" (friends of ED)

David,

I want to take back the negative things I said about Sham Bhangal's Foundation
ActionScript for MX 2004. Although it is full of code errors that had me
pulling my hair out, it really is an interesting and informative book. I
decided to skip over the Hangman example (which I still don't like), but I've
learned a ton from the rest of the book. Sham's a great writer and teacher.

I also just ordered your PHP for Flash 5 book today to assist me with a new
project. I've heard good things and I'm looking forward to tackling it.

Well I purchased "Flash 8 Bible" The beginning was a bit slow. It was really
geared for someone who has almost never seen flash. I've been "Flashing" for
about 3-4 months so it was a review for me. About half way through it got MUCH
better. This book is very detailed and very useful. I have heard that
"Actionscript 2.0 Bible" isn't as good, but I have not read that one.

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Yes, the code errors were a major disaster. It was bad enough for me and
Kris Besley when we updated Sham's text for the Flash 8 version, but
they must have been a real headache for anyone new to ActionScript. I
don't know how so many crept into the book, but I know from my own books
that keeping track of changes in code throughout several hundred pages
is very difficult. But you're right; Sham is a great writer and teacher.
I have learned a lot from him myself.

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Thanks very much. I hope you're not too disappointed with Chapter 7 -
it's a database adaptation of Sham's Hangman game. :)

Sham was my technical reviewer on that book, and he helped greatly
improve the quality of the ActionScript.

--
David Powers
Adobe Community Expert
Author, "Foundation PHP for Dreamweaver 8" (friends of ED)

I am a beginner like you with about 5-6 months worth of experience. The flash
actionscript bible was of very little help to me, although it comes recommended
by many people. I, too, had no coding experience. You can get excellent
training videos right now from learnflash.com, especially the actionscript 2.0
series. I think it is on sale today and tomorrow. A little expensive, but
they are fantastic, as you can see exactly what they are doing, with a detailed
explanation as to why.

I've also found macromedia flash advanced a relatively good buy, with lots of
examples where you can tweak them to your liking.

The lynda HOT training books are good, a bit over-recommended, but good for
the basics. The Beyond the Basics is okay, but focuses on an accumulative
project where it is difficult to jump in at any chapter. You have to do the
book from start to finish.

good websites are:

gotoandlearn.com
learnflash.com
keyframer.com

and for inspiration:

thefwa.com

cheers,

let me know how it all works out

Hey Mr. Peanut,

Thanks for your response. I have had a similar experience to yours learning
Flash.

I started with the Flash MX 2004 Bible.. found it far too dry and lengthy, and
switched to the HOT series.

Finished books 1 and 2, I found both to be excellent, although I agree you
have to work straight through book 2. Big concepts are well-covered though,
like movieClipLoader and LoadVars.

The book that really got me over the hump though was Sham Banghal's Foundation
Actionscript. I got thrown by a few coding errors early in the book, but I got
back into it and learned a ton from his writing style and examples. I would
highly recommend it.

I just started reading PHP 5 for Flash yesterday.. so far it's excellent as
well. I also have Essential ActionScript by Moock, but the dryness of that one
led me to put it down for a while. I have a feeling I'll be back to it though.

Thanks for the post, and for the links. I've heard of gotoandlearn.com, but
not the others. I shall check them out. :-)

Cheers!

I will definitely check out Sham Benghal's book, and perhaps the PHP 5 for Flash. I'm always looking out for good sources.

P

The simulacrum is true, and I am the real deal.

P,

Definitely check out Sham's book.. but get the Flash 8 version (see above
posts for explanation). I haven't read enough of the PHP book to give it a high
recommendation yet, but I'm about 80 pages into it and so far it's been a great
read and has made perfect sense.

Let me know if you come across any more good reads in your studies.

Excellent simulacrum reference btw.

Get the Flash 8 Actionscript Bible - you can find it on Amazon for half price.

This book has helped me greatly - I look something up and it works.

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It made perfect sense to me, too, but then I wrote it. ;-p

Glad you're enjoying the book so far, and hope the rest of it lives up
to your expectations. If you run into any problems, post them in the
friends of ED forum. It's easier for me to spot them there.

--
David Powers
Adobe Community Expert
Author, "Foundation PHP for Dreamweaver 8" (friends of ED)

Just another good resource I found:

communitymx.com

This site has loads of specific tutorials, some for free, others for sale at 4
bucks a pop. Great free tutorials on using AfterEffects with flv video. One
of the most comprehensive sites I've seen, and not so well known, I think.
They're on to something with selling these tutes individually. Hopefully
Lynda.com and others will catch on as well.

P