Macromedia Flash MX for Dummies

Book Description

The fun and easy way to jazz up a Web site!

Hands-on tips for creating buttons, animations, actions and more

Make Web sites come alive with movement, sound, and interactivity no animation experience required!

With Macromedia Flash, you can transform an ordinary Web site into an interactive showplace that'll make visitors say "wow." But how do you get the hang of all those tools and techniques? Don't worry! With this friendly reference, you'll be drawing pictures, building buttons, creating animations, adding sound, setting up actions, and more in a flash!

All this on the bonus CD-ROM

Macromedia Dreamweaver, Fireworks, and FreeHand trial versions
Author-created graphic shapes, designs, and images to incorporate into your own Macromedia Flash movies
Plus Adobe Photoshop tryout version and SWiSH demo

System requirements: PC running Windows 9x/2000/Me/XP, Windows NT 4 or later; Power Macintosh running System 8.6 or later. See the CD Appendix for details and complete system requirements

Get smart! @www.dummies.com

Find listings of all our books
Create your own personalized book with Hungry Minds a la Carte
Sign up for daily eTips and www.dummiesdaily.com

Customer Reviews:

Poorly edited, but a few useful tidbits.......2004-02-11

The first few chapters got me up to speed on how to get around Flash and make simple animations, etc. However the last half of the book was too cursory and provided very little information on how to publish your Flash documents on the web. Additionally, many areas in this book are not up-to-date for Flash MX and instead actually refer to the Flash 5 version. My final recommendation is look for another intro Flash MX book because this one does a half-ass job, even for a Dummy for like me.

Understand the Big Picture Fast and Easy.......2003-11-24

I'm a designer with very little understanding about websites. I needed to wrap my brain around this huge, complicated program fast and this book does it. Even though I'm taking a class in web design, no one is having an easy time trying to follow along with in class demos and actionscripting. There are no books that can make FLASH MX easy without some prior understanding. But for anyone who is a bit resistant, as I was, this book makes it so much easier. No, not everything is in this book... but I didn't want everything. That's why learning Flash is hard, there's so much! This book get's your head wrapped around the fundamentals and the big picture - now I'm more comfortable knowing I actually understand the basics and the big picture, so that I can move up to the next level. That's my pace, as well as many, many others who would rather not pull out their hair. Again, this isn't really for people who don't know anything at all about Flash. It's really for those of us struggling to "get it" and use it. I wanted a quick reference where I could look up for the 10th time how to do some of the basics. It gives me that quickly and in delightfully non-tech talk. It's easier. It's less stress. It gets you going. For those of you that don't know anything at all about Flash, I highly recommend tutorials so that you can see the program in action.

Don't be a Dummy.......2003-06-25

Flash MX for Dummies is inexpensive, especially for a book complete with a CD. However, the book is over 90% fluff and very little substance, basically covering even less than the built in tutorials that come with Macromedia Flash MX to begin with. There is almost no hands-on training, using instead refrences to materials on the CD. The reader is assured that even a 'Dummy' can create fantastic eye candy for their website, yet there is no problem solving for when you try something and it just doesn't work. Also, certain blatant errors within the text, such as telling you to copy CD library files to the macromedia/flash 5/Libraries folder become a grim reminder that this is 'Macromedia Flash 5 for Dummies' with a few edited paragraphs here and there. I found myself reading through 50 pages to find a paragraph's worth of useful information. There IS useful information here, just not a lot. A much better choice for a 'beginner' book is Sam's Teach Yourself Macromedia Flash MX in 24 Hours.

One Happy Dummy.......2002-12-05

When Flash MX was released, I wanted to get myself up to speed as quickly as possible on how to use all the new features of this new version of Flash. The first book I bought-and the one I still refer to the most often-is Gurdy Leete and Ellen Finkelstein's "Flash MX for Dummies."

Flash is said to have a steep learning curve, and the pursuit of learning a little Flash to liven up one's website has been known to cause more than one otherwise sane and intelligent individual to pull out her hair in fits of frustration and despair. When I was first learning Flash, I purchased and studied a wide variety of thick (and expensive) tombs on the subject, and yet, in spite of hours of agonizing over code and techniques that I never could get to actually work, I finally discovered the clear writing of Gurdy Leete and Ellen Finkelstein. Within a week after purchasing and reading my first "Flash for Dummies" book, I created my very first movie in Flash, and I was thrilled with the end result.

"Flash MX for Dummies" contains just the right amount of clear, concise information, along with step-by-step instructions that will walk you through the creation of your first Flash movie. As you read through the book, you will feel that you have a pair of friendly and competent mentors at your side. The authors have a way of making even the most difficult concepts accessible. Their tone is warm and friendly, yet never condescending.

In addition to providing thorough coverage of the basics of learning Flash, the book also introduces a number of intermediate concepts such as using masks, importing sound and video into your Flash movie, and making use of templates. The chapter named "Getting Interactive" provides the reader with clear and easy instructions for accomplishing such advanced tasks as using the SetMask method to make a movie clip into a mask and dynamically loading music from the web. I also appreciated the section entitled, "Frequently Asked Questions" which provided crystal clear, step-by-step instructions for doing some fun things like creating a custom cursor and making "drag-and-drop" objects.

If all of this isn't enough, the book also comes with an accompanying CD that is packed with resources, including a library of vector graphics you can use in your movies, Flash movies that you can open in Flash and dissect in order to further your understanding of Flash, and even a whole library of sounds you can practice with, courtesy of SoundRangers.

Not only does this book provide you with top-notch instruction for learning Flash, but you won't have to pay an arm and a leg for it. The price of the book is less than half the price of many other books on the same subject.

The book is perfect for those just starting out in learning Flash. At the same time, it provides more experienced Flashers with a wealth of information, resources, and new ideas. I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in furthering her understanding of Flash. Buy the book. Then you, too, can be one happy dummy. : )

Macromedia Flash MX 2004 for Dummies
Average customer rating:

Usually Dummies books are good, but this one....

OK, but feels like a copy/paste from old book/flash version.

Fabulous for those starting out

Perfect introduction and reference for Flash

An Excellent Resource for Newbies

Macromedia Flash MX 2004 for Dummies
Ellen Finkelstein , and Gurdy Leete
Manufacturer: For Dummies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

For Dummies: Applications | Introductory Guides | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
Flash | Web Design | Web Development | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
General | Graphic Design | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Computer Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
All Amazon Upgrade | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books
Computers & Internet | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books
For Dummies | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Dreamweaver MX 2004 for Dummies

Macromedia Flash MX 2004 Bible

Building Flash Web Sites For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))

Sams Teach Yourself Macromedia Flash MX 2004 in 24 Hours

Macromedia Flash MX ActionScript for Dummies

ASIN: 076454358X

Book Description

Macromedia Flash MX 2004 For Dummies guides beginning animators through the basics of creating their first Flash animations. Authors Ellen Finkelstein and Gurdy Leete, both experienced Flash professionals and trainers, help users create basic figures, add text and layers, incorporate user actions, edit and add sound, and publish the final results. Macromedia Flash MX 2004 For Dummies comes with a CD that includes all the examples used in the book, sample animations from other Flash users, and a trial version of the product itself.

Customer Reviews:

Usually Dummies books are good, but this one...........2004-08-07

A horrible book to introduce you to Flash and a waste of money. At the end, I really didn't understand how the program worked - only how certain tasks are done. There's a lot of fluffy chapters. A much better book is Rosanna Yeung's Flash MX 2004 Hands-On Training.

I bought this Dummies book based on the quality of other Dummies books I have, but this one was a real disappointment.

OK, but feels like a copy/paste from old book/flash version........2004-04-20

This book is pretty good but has some flaws.

1. Although I haven't read the previous Dummies book for Flash MX (non-2004) by these authors, I get the feeling that the book inherits much of its content from it. Some of the features mentioned in the book just don't seem to exist in my copy of Flash MX 2004 Pro, like the common sound library. I purchased & downloaded my copy of Flash from Macromedia, so perhaps I didn't get the sounds because of that. Next time, I'll definitely get the CD...

2. The examples from the CD are old and most of them give the warning to save in Flash MX 2004 when you close them, that is, they are from previous versions of Flash. The first example even uses an image file that I had to load & export using a graphics program to correct the transparency of the image. That said, the examples are not horrible, but most are contributions from others and not designed/developed by the authors.

3. There are some worthless chapters and appendixes like some of the top 10 chapters and how to install Flash appendix. Considering how sites come & go on the Internet I'm surprised space was used to list the authors top 10 favorite Flash sites. It's only a couple of pages, but might fit better on the authors web site where updates can be more current.

Overall, about 90% of the book will be relevant but there may be other books that are more focused on the MX 2004 version of Flash. If you don't know anything about Flash, you'll come away knowing how to do a lot of the basic stuff after reading this book.

Fabulous for those starting out.......2003-12-22

Before reading this book, I had never used Flash and had only created websites by writting my own HTML. After reading the first few chapters, I was able to create my first movie! This book is definitley for beginners like me and is a great book to get you up and running. I would certainly recommend it for those starting out.

Perfect introduction and reference for Flash.......2003-12-06

Finkelstein and Leete have written the perfect introduction and reference for Flash.

I recently started using Flash because one of my clients' legacy websites had a couple of Flash animations that needed to be updated. I stumbled around with Macromedia's documentation and a couple of online websites, but somehow Flash kept doing things I didn't expect.

Finally, I found this book and read it cover to cover. "Oh, of course!" I kept saying as I read. "There's a neat technique for layering. That's how to reduce the file size. That's how to make it run faster. That's how to get the sound to synchronize with the motion." On and on. Macromedia should just ship this book with their software. Plus the book comes with a CD-ROM packed with useful stuff.

My client is thrilled with my new versions of his Flash animations.

I want to especially commend the authors on Chapters 12 and 13, "Putting it all together" and "Publishing your Flash files." This is where I found that information that showed me how to put out a clean professional final product.

I've gotten so into Flash that I rewrote a complete interactive game in Flash. It used to be in Java, was 500,000 bytes (not to mention the 2Mb Java library), and only seemed to run correctly on a handful of machines. In Flash, the whole thing is under 100,000 bytes and runs EVERYWHERE no problem.

I couldn't have done that rewrite without this book.

When you're done reading this book, I also recommend "50 Fast Flash MX Techniques" by the same authors, to take your animations to "WOW!"

An Excellent Resource for Newbies.......2003-11-30

I am writing to thank you and Gurdy Leete for your wonderful book. I am creating an animated, web-enabled presentation for our non-profit association and consider myself an expert in PowerPoint. Many of my PowerPoint presentations include audio/video which plays through several slides. I have learned through my Microsoft research that when converted to HTML many of the wonderful effects and transitions in PowerPoint do not work. Thus I made an investment in Flash.

I spent about 15 hours working with my new software via the help menus. I was so frustrated by this past Friday that I went in search of help. Thankfully I found your book. It is Sunday and I have created a one scene, four frame small example with a movie clip on the first slide, compliments of the included CD. It will run slide by slide or you can select automate with the button. I am so pleased.

I am sure in your world this is a small accomplishment, but I just wanted to let you know that your book covers the simple to the complex in a clear and orderly manner. Being able to complete the animated logo by page 28 provided much needed positive reinforcement for me.

Again, thank you for the excellent training manual. I am sure it will serve as my major point of reference for a long time to come.

Macromedia Flash MX ActionScript for Dummies

Average customer rating:

I agree...useless
Very thorough index & easy to use Table of Contents.
Useless

Macromedia Flash MX ActionScript for Dummies
Doug Sahlin
Manufacturer: For Dummies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Design | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

All Amazon Upgrade | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

Arts & Photography | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

Computers & Internet | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

Entertainment | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

For Dummies | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Macromedia Flash MX 2004 for Dummies
Macromedia Flash MX for Dummies
Sams Teach Yourself Flash MX ActionScript in 24 Hours
Flash MX ActionScript: The Designer's Edge
Macromedia Flash MX ActionScript for Fun and Games (With CD-ROM)

ASIN: 076451637X

Book Description

What the book covers: Flash ActionScript 'X' For Dummies covers the essentials of creating interactive, animated content using the scripting language associated with Flash.
Updated coverage of the new version: This fully updated edition covers all the changes to the scripting interface and language that come with Flash 'X'.
Series features: Features to-the-point explanations and step-by-step instructions that have made Dummies the choice for readers around the globe.

ABOUT THE CD-ROM
The CD includes author-created material including all examples used in the book as well as a fully functional Flash ActionScript application. The disc also contains programs to augment ActionScript including trials of Macromedia Fireworks, Dreamweaver, and Freehand as well as sample lessons.

Customer Reviews:

I agree...useless.......2007-04-20

if you don't believe try doing the exercise on page 316, you won't get past step 4. It's like they left out a few steps to the exercise.

Very thorough index & easy to use Table of Contents........2005-07-19

A previous reviewer stated that this book is 'useless'. To prove her point she said the following regarding one of this books instructions: "For example, an instruction would say: Click Actions>>Movie Control and then double-click "goto". Sounds simple, except there is no Actions>>Movie Control>>goto. I don't understand how an entire book could be published with so much improper information."

That woman just trashed this book. It just doesn't seem fair to me. I don't know about you but to me it seems plain mean and stupid. Like she's blaming the book for her own shortcomings. Maybe she is and maybe she isn't but in reading a technical book (even one for dummies) some common sense and critical thinking on the readers part must be assumed.

Do you know how to use an index? I do. And consequently I know where the Actions panel is. It's conveniently located with all the other panels under the "Window" menu. If you don't believe me just look it up for yourself. In this books 19-page index. Where it's listed 16 times. Or a quick look at the Table of Contents tells me that on page 32 I'll find information on "Navigating the Actions Panel" and "Opening an Actions book".

Now I know what you're thinking. That's rocket science there and I must be some kind of genius. Well, it's not rocket science and, sorry to say, I'm no genius. It's just a little common sense and a willingness to take responsibility for my part of the learning process.

In case you're wondering, I don't know the author. I wish I did. I was just looking for a good beginner's ActionScript book and came across this one. In deciding on whether or not to buy a book I'll look at the Table of Contents and the Index. Maybe you do too. I guess that's why Amazon lists them. They both seem pretty thorough to me in this book.

Useless.......2005-06-17

ActionScript is the key to doing cool stuff with Flash, but the key this book provides doesn't fit the lock. For example, an instruction would say: Click Actions>>Movie Control and then double-click 'goto'. Sounds simple, except there is no Actions>>Movie Control>>goto. I don't understand how an entire book could be published with so much improper information.

Average customer rating:

Macromedia Flash Mx 2004 for Dummies
Ellen Finkelstein
Manufacturer: NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000N7INGS

Book Description

Compiled by one of the greatest folksingers of the English-speaking world. An outstanding collection of 70 songs, complete with words, music, historical notes, and appropriate guitar chords. Documentary illustrations and a glossary of Scottish idioms included.

Border Ballads: A Selection (Fyfield Books)

Average customer rating:

Border Ballads: A Selection (Fyfield Books)

Manufacturer: Carcanet Press Ltd.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This collection of poems rooted in the wild and beautiful lands that lie between England and Scotland describes a traditionally lawless area whose inhabitants owed allegiance first to kin and laird and then to the authorities in London or Edinburgh. Recording a violent, clannish world of fierce hatreds and passionate loyalties, the ballads tell vivid tales of raids, feuds and betrayals, romances and acts of revenge.

Average customer rating:

Folk Songs and Ballads of Scotland
Ewan MacColl
Manufacturer: Oak Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GZAMR0

Average customer rating:

The Gypsy Laddie:
The Gypsie Laddy.
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: School & Library Binding
ASIN: 0689206941

Motif Index of the Child Corpus: The English and Scottish Popular Ballad

Average customer rating:

Motif Index of the Child Corpus: The English and Scottish Popular Ballad
Natascha Wurzbach , and Simone M. Salz
Manufacturer: Walter de Gruyter
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Scottish | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Average customer rating:

Ord's Bothy Songs & Ballads
Alexander Fenton , and John Ord
Manufacturer: Hyperion Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Peter Buchan, and other papers on Scottish and English ballads and songs

Average customer rating:

Peter Buchan, and other papers on Scottish and English ballads and songs
William Walker
Manufacturer: Norwood Editions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Scotland | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0883057654

Scotland in Song: Music for Everyone No. 8: A Compilation of the Greatest in Scottish Folk Songs and Ballads From the Highlands, the Lowlands, and the Herbrides

Average customer rating:

Scotland in Song: Music for Everyone No. 8: A Compilation of the Greatest in Scottish Folk Songs and Ballads From the Highlands, the Lowlands, and the Herbrides

Manufacturer: Remick Music Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 084686875X

Scottish Songs and Ballads (Chambers Mini Guides)

Average customer rating:

Scottish Songs and Ballads (Chambers Mini Guides)
Nancy Marshall
Manufacturer: Chambers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Average customer rating:

Songs and Ballads of Dundee
Nigel Gatherer
Manufacturer: John Donald Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0859765385

Complete Book of Chess Strategy: Grandmaster Techniques from A to Z
Average customer rating:

Excelent

Beginner's delight, club player's fright

More of a reference book than a deep strategy book

A good reference book.

Very useful for beginners

Complete Book of Chess Strategy: Grandmaster Techniques from A to Z
Jeremy Silman
Manufacturer: Siles Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Chess | Board Games | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Reference | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Sports | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Look Inside Sports Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

How to Reassess Your Chess: The Complete Chess-Mastery Course(Exp. 3rd Edition)

The Amateur's Mind: Turning Chess Misconceptions into Chess Mastery

The Reassess Your Chess Workbook

Silman's Complete Endgame Course: From Beginner To Master

Pawn Structure Chess

ASIN: 1890085014

Customer Reviews:

Excelent.......2007-03-20

This book is ease to read and understand you dont even need a chessboard to read it.

Excelent book

Beginner's delight, club player's fright.......2006-11-26

Every review you see on this book will read the same: TONS of topics, LITTLE explanation. That is the intent of the book. Now the only question is whether or not this approach to chess authorship is appropriate.

The book is divided into four different sections: opening, middlegame, endgame, and "practical matters" (encompassing psychology, tournament play, and all the stuff that doesn't need a diagram). At the end of each section is a little quiz on the material covered previously, generally true/false. Sounds easy, and it is pretty easy.

The section on the openings gives a smorgasbord of most every conceivable opening. It covers everything from the heavily theorized openings like the Ruy Lopez and Sicilian to the less-known openings, like the Polish (1.d4 b5) and the Albin Counter Gambit. It is never in-depth on these openings (one to three pages tops) but it gives you a real vague, general summary. What use it that? Well, if you're looking to pick out a reperotoire, like many beginning players, you're in luck. You can find an opening that caters to almost any player, check the main line and see if you like it. Even a higher-rated player could use that if they wanted a new opening or two.

The middlegame section covers motifs like "blockade", "open files", and "superior minor pieces". Things that every chess player has ingrained in them. If you've never heard the terms before, they will be useful. If you know all the terms, they can still be a great refresher course for you. How many times do we read a book on the King's Indian or the Ruy, replete with blockade ideas, yet don't always remember the little intracacies? Often enough to warrant a review.

The endgame section is weak, as it would have to be (you can't really have a treatise on the many endgames included in the space provided) and doesn't really do anything for the book. The section on practical matters is pretty cool, though, and can be inspiring for someone who wants to get a routine in order for tournaments (or answer questions about things like the staredown).

Like the title of this review suggests, the club player likely will not gain rating points from this book. A lot of people won't, even beginners. However, the book plays a VERY important role in augmenting other knowledge, making networks of association, and just being an all-around good review book. It's a fun read for the bathtub, airplane, or between rounds. If you're a beginner: go for it.

So to answer the question posed at the top: if you're over 1600 and doing a little chessic soul-searching: put it in the cart. Otherwise, perhaps you would be better served by another title.

More of a reference book than a deep strategy book.......2006-09-18

If you looking for a lot of strategies defined and briefly covered then this is the perfect book. If you are looking for a book on detailed strategies, opening traps or tactics on a deep level then this is not the right book. It simply doesn't get into anything very deeply (though it covers a lot of different strategies briefly). For what it is (more of reference book) this is a good book (you just need to understand what it is!).

A good reference book........2006-06-25

This book is the best one of the market in its field, although I question the accuracy of the openings section, obviously lots of options are missed out on (I noticed the Portugese variation of the Scandinavian was a big hole) and it would be too difficult to cover such options. I would've preferred if he got rid of the openings section altogether and put a bit more information on the helpful middlegame and endgame sections. Nevertheless, the book is a helpful addition to any player's library who is rated under FIDE 2000.

Very useful for beginners.......2006-06-25

In spite of its grandiose title, Silman's book is written for beginners, and for more experienced players who want a review of the basics. It's divided into three parts - guess what - openings, middle game, and endgame. The Middle Game and End Game sections are very good, and cover important and interesting beginning-to-middle-strength player topics like basic checkmates (Morphy's Mate), pawn structure, and knights vs. bishops. The Openings section is less successful, because he just shows the first few moves and doesn't get into the really critical variations.

Silman is a great teacher, and I wish that I had read this book when I was just starting out in chess. If you are just starting out I would recommend it very highly. It will give beginning players a very solid foundation. More advanced (1500 or so) players might want to check out "The Amateur's Mind," by the same author, that covers the same ground but more in depth.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books