Manning Early
Access Program
Flex 4 in Action
EARLY ACCESS EDITION

Tariq Ahmed, Dan Orlando, John C. Bland II, and Joel Hooks

MEAP Began: June 2009
Softbound print: June 2010 (est.) | 600 pages
ISBN: 9781935182429
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Table of Contents, MEAP Chapters & Resources

Table of Contents         Resources 
Part I: Application Basics
 1. Intro to Flex - FREE
 2 Getting Started - AVAILABLE
 3 Working with ActionScript - AVAILABLE
 4 Layout and containers - AVAILABLE
 5 Displaying forms and capturing user input - AVAILABLE
 6 Validating user input - AVAILABLE
 7 Formatting data - AVAILABLE
 8 DataGrids, Lists, and Trees
 9 List customization

Part II: Application flow and structure i
10 Events
11 Application navigation
12 Introduction to pop-ups
13 View states
14 Working with data services
15 Working with XML i
16 Objects and classes - AVAILABLE
17 Custom components
18 Advanced reusability in Flex

Part III: The finishing touches
19 Customizing the experience
20 Working with effects
21 Drag-and-drop
22 Charting
23 Debugging and testing
24 Wrapping up a project 		 

DESCRIPTION

Using Flex, you can create high-quality, effective, and interactive Rich Internet Applications (RIAs) quickly and easily. Flex removes the complexity barrier from RIA development by offering sophisticated tools and a straightforward programming language so you can focus on what you want to do instead of how to do it. And the new features added in Flex 4 give you an even wider range of options!

Flex 4 in Action is an easy-to-follow, hands-on Flex tutorial that goes beyond feature coverage and helps you put Flex to work in real day-to-day tasks. You'll quickly master the Flex API and learn to apply the techniques that make your Flex applications stand out from the crowd.

The expert authors of Flex 4 in Action have one goal-to help you get down to business with Flex. Fast. Flex 4 in Action filters out the noise and dives into the core topics you need every day. Using numerous easy-to-understand examples, Flex 4 in Action gives you a strong foundation that you can build on as the complexity of your projects increases.

And you'll get full coverage of these great Flex 4 upgrades:

WHAT'S INSIDE

This book requires understanding of HTML and basic web design but no previous experience with Flex.

About the Authors

Tariq Ahmed is an accomplished web application pioneer with over 15 years of experience introducing next generation web technologies to companies such as Bell Canada and REUTERS. He was first to introduce eBay to Adobe Flex, and saw it proliferate to other teams. As an Adobe Flex Community Expert, Tariq evangelizes the technology and supports the community, particularly through his Community Flex (CFLEX.Net) site. He is currently the Manager of Product Development at Amcom Technology, managing a team of RIA Engineers and Business Intelligence Analysts.

Daniel Orlando is a recognized RIA Architect, specializing in enterprise class Flex and AIR applications. Dan is often called on as a resource for information on topics involving bleeding edge technology platforms for radio interviews and print publications, which include: PHP Architect magazine, Flex and Flash Developer Magazine, Amazon Web Services Developer Connection, Adobe Developer Connection, IBM developerWorks, PHPBuilder.com, and many others.

John C. Bland II is founder of Katapult Media Inc. which focuses on software and web development using technologies such as ColdFusion, the Flash Platform, PHP, Java, the .NET Platform, and Objective-C (iPhone, Mac OSX, etc). Through Katapult, he works diligently on custom software and web products for small and large clients throughout the world. As a 2009 Adobe Community Expert, John continues put back into the community which helped mold him into the developer he is today. John blogs regularly on his Geek Life blog: www.johncblandii.com.

Joel Hooks is a Flash Platform developer with experience in Actionscript 3, Flex, and Python. Joel spent the first 13 years of his professional career as a 3d animator and graphic designer working on computer based training applications from that perspective. His interest in programming goes as far back as "TELL TURTLE" and he has always been interested in the technological challenges related to developing software. With the introduction of Actionscript 3, Joel finally found a platform that allows him to architect useful tools while fully leveraging his experience as a visual artist. Joel is passionate about technology and enjoys exploring the landscape of frameworks, libraries, and tools that make his work constantly fun and challenging.

Praise for Flex 3 in Action

“It’s a book you would not only want to read cover to cover but also keep it on your desk as reference material for your day to day development needs. I highly recommend anyone interested in Adobe Flex to read this book.”
—Abdul Qabiz

“The book does a good job of covering some of the history behind traditional web development and where Rich Internet Applications are headed.”
—Sami Hoda, Architect/Manager, Software Engineer, eCivis Inc.

WHAT REVIEWERS ARE SAYING

“[This] book actually really kept me interested, and made me try all the examples to see how it really works...Great book!”
—Niaz Jalal

About the Early Access Version

This Early Access version of Flex 4 in Action enables you to receive new chapters as they are being written. You can also interact with the authors to ask questions, provide feedback and errata, and help shape the final manuscript on the Author Online

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