flash data integration: Hello.

And thanks for taking time to read this query.

I'm new to integrating Flash with databases and I'm looking for a solid
grounding whilst progressing to more advanced stuff and pushing myself a little.

I work with a colleague who's very skilled in SQL databases and PHP, and I
would love to be able to incorporate his skills with mine (until now mainly
front end and design work). So I'm looking to learn the basics I imagine,
sending a query string, reacting to query response, handling errors and
timeouts, also handling XML feeds.

I really want to do this, but I want to do it right. Is there a book anyone
would recommend that would go anywhere near fulfilling these notions?

Any feedback much appreciated,
Meeesta.

Not sure about books which can easily be researched at Amazon.com and the
like.

Flash documentation has a lot of good material that should not be
overlooked:

Data Integration (Flash Professional Only):
http://livedocs.macromedia.com/flash/8/main/00000756.html
Data Integration (Flash Examples):
http://livedocs.macromedia.com/flash/8/main/00001095.html
Data Integration > Flash and PHP integration:
http://livedocs.macromedia.com/flash/8/main/00001099.html

Two good places that have great template examples are the
LoadVars.sendAndLoad and the XML.sendAndLoad methods depending on how you
want to send and receive data.

LoadVars.sendAndLoad:
http://livedocs.macromedia.com/flash/8/main/00002336.html
XML.sendAndLoad: http://livedocs.macromedia.com/flash/8/main/00002879.html

If you are using sockets then look at XMLSocket.
http://livedocs.macromedia.com/flash/8/main/00002906.html

If you want to use all Flash Components for your app you can but you do not
need to look at either WebServiceConnector and XMLConnector so you can bind
the components directly.
WebServiceConnector :
http://livedocs.macromedia.com/flash/8/main/00004274.html
XMLConnector: http://livedocs.macromedia.com/flash/8/main/00004306.html

Flash side is really not very difficult for data communications. The server
side, data analysis and structure will provide more challenges depending on
your tasks.

--
Lon Hosford
www.lonhosford.com
Flash, Actionscript and Flash Media Server examples:
http://flashexamples.hosfordusa.com
May many happy bits flow your way!
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