MX

I just bought this book in an effort to get an overview of Flash. Unfortunately, by the time I got to chapter 2 I had already discovered that the author's instructions simply don't work - after following the directions, explicitly, and then redoing the exercise because I couldn't get the butterfly thing to work, it became quite apparent that no one bothered to proofread this first.

I'm now on chapter 4 and very close to giving up completely - while the book LOOKED promising, I'm now convinced that it is so filled with mistakes that it is nearly (if not completely) impossible to complete the excerises as written.

It is really a shame that someone didn't do a decent job editing/proofreading this book - even a once through would have shown that are there are numerous mistakes. This book is a big disappointment. Save your money and look elsewhere.

I bought this book because it claimed to walk you through the process of creating a full flash website. The way I usually learn is to just do it so it seemed great, especially for the price. Unfortunately, there are numerous typos, skipped steps, and missing files on the cd. The way I found it useful was by reading and getting the basics of flash site development. I used what I could from this book in conjunction with what I found on www.flashkit.com. Now I have everything I need to get my work done. Being a developer requires you have thinking skills, so anyone with a little experience with development should be able to figure it out. If you can't, maybe you should consider something other than flash development.

My P.e teacher has asked me to make him a flash website. So far I am extreamly advance at flash but I haven't used it for about 2 years. I would like to see how flash websites are made. I am in a advance grade for flash animations and I hope this book will help me to build an advance flash website.

A very poorly written book that ended up raising many more questions than answeirng them. I really question whether or not I was instructed in the correct way at all. Perhaps it was rushed, or perhaps the author just does not know the subject. From how it was handled, I am pretty sure the latter at least is true to some extent. I will have to find another book, I think.

Waste of time and money. Pretends like it's going to tell you how to set up a 3d graphics engine and does no such thing. There's a little matrix math at the end of chaper 4 pretending to be a 3d manipulator BUT THERE'S NO CORRESPONDING CODE ON THE CD! The OTHER chapters have their code on the CD, but not this one. It makes me wonder if this one little bit of seemingly honest 3d code ever actually even worked. The matrix equations on pages 142 and 143 are totally screwed up like a proofreader never even LOOKED at the thing. Whole rest of the book is a pointless rehash of how to use Flash, Swift, Plasma and stuff you could get out of the respective user's manuals.

I recently picked up this desperately needed niche book. I bought Plasma specifically because I wanted to create 3d for Flash MX and Director MX. Plasma is practically built for both of them, however, plasma's documentaion is weak and lacks intuitive examples for use with Flash MX. This book is EXACTLY what is needed in the marketplace on this subject right now.

I commend John Wiley & Sons for publishing this niche product and using an author who is obviously a veteran of the products. Matthew uses extensive case studies and examples detailing how to integrate 3d content in Flash MX. Swift 3d is covered as well (which I don't own so I skipped the chapter), but half the book covers Plasma to Flash MX integration. There is even a chapter dedicated to integrating Plasma 3d content and Director MX. Basically, this book should be packaged with Discreet's Plasma for anyone interested in integrating 3d content with Flash MX and Director MX.

This book is required for a class I am currently taking, and like most Course Technology books it's horrible. If you read the book cover to cover you might get something out of it, but if you forget how to do something forget it. Doing labs and studying for tests I find myself using the Macromedia help and other online sources rather than this book. It says its user level is "intermediate" but it has a lot of basic content. It looks pretty with all of the (expensive) colors and graphics, but the content is actually very lame.

Greetz Purdue students/grads!

**A tongue in cheek review by a severely disappointed graphic designer.**

Jiminy Cricket: "But Sherry, that's just repackaging Macromedia's information and then asking people to pay for something they already have."

Sherry: "Quiet, you! There's money to be made!" *stomp*

Seriously though, the author should have a guilty conscience for putting this book together.

Here are 3 guidelines that should be met before purchasing this book becomes a good idea:

1. You don't have the books that came with the programs.

2. Out of the millions of CD roms Macromedia made, you, the tortured soul that you are, inexplicably got the only ones missing the built-in help manuals and tutorials.

3. Rewarding lazy opportunists by wasting your hard-earned cash is one of your hobbies. (That's okay if it is, I'm not here to judge you.)

If you can read through the manuals and help documents that came with the programs, do the tutorials, maybe do a few Google searches if you get stuck, and simply experiment a little with the programs, you've got all the information that's in this book. The book is this same information regurgitated into a pretty package.

"All right Mr. Smartypants," you're saying to yourself "if you and your pants are so brilliant, why did you buy this book?"

Well, since you asked, I got suckered in by the whole "as well as the integration of all three applications" mentioned in the editorial review. I've got a pretty decent handle on the programs by themselves but I was looking for some good tips on streamlining my workflow when using these 3 programs in conjunction. And hey, the thing is 584 pages long. There's got to be some useful information in there, right?

I found that the integration chapter is probably the shortest chapter in the book. These are the main points of the integration chapter: (Brace yourself for these riveting insider tips!)

-You can insert Flash movies into pages you create with Fireworks and Dreamweaver.

-You can create images in Fireworks and Flash and insert them into Dreamweaver.

-Whatever images or movies you insert can be edited.

That's the kind of underwhelming stuff this book is chock-full of. I put it right back in the mail the same day I got it. If you have even a very basic understanding of the programs you will not learn anything beneficial from this book.

I have never used a better learning tool! This book is fabulous - the color illustrations and excercises are a huge help. You immediately get into the programs and create dynamic Web pages integrating Dreamweaver, Flash and Fireworks. I would recommend this book to ANYONE who wants to learn these programs.

This book was purchased along with other "I just bought a used car" items (plugs, belts, you know the routine) at the parts store. Because I'd had good experience with Haynes manuals before, it seemed like a Good Idea At The Time.

If I'd known then what I know now...

If Haynes was interested in releasing repair manuals for Miatae, they would've released two for the NA (1990 - 1997) series, because the 1990-93 was a 1.6L engine and the 1994-97 was 1.8L. There are enough differences between the engines to merit two different volumes, and Haynes doesn't do a great job of pointing out the differences between the two. The illustration about spark plug firing order, to name one example, is awkward enough to make you set your tools down and ponder before proceeding. Information in a repair manual should be succinct, not confusing.

If you want good reference material for your Miata (why else would you be reading this?), use the following resources BEFORE cracking open the Haynes:
- www . miata . net - specifically, the FAQ and garage sections.
- Mazda's shop manual for your specific year, available from many online vendors. This is invaluable and will pay for itself over time.
- Rod Grainger's "Enthusiast's Manual" by for your flavor, 1.6L or 1.8L, also available from many online vendors (including Amazon.com!).
- Your local Miata club, also found at www . miata . net

I'm not affiliated with any person, company, product, or web site I've mentioned in this review. I'm just one Miata enthusiast trying to help others.

I bought the book when i got a used Miata without owner's manual. I found it does not specify which fuse works what devices, and that's what I need. Oh well...

I bought a used '91 Mazda Miata. Didn't know anything about it. This manual has definitely help me to figure out where everything is and what to look for.

I purchased this book and Mazda Miata Mx 5 Enthusiast's Shop Manual. These two together give me about a 80% understanding of what is going on with my Miata.

The title implies its for advanced ASP developers or aimed at creating advanced applications / sites.

Sadly the book misses the mark and ends up being in 'no mans land' by sitting in a grey area which neither assists inexperienced developers or satifies and pushes more advanced coders.

Having varying authors to contribute sepereate chapters leaves the book with a lack of cohesion due to the differing writing styles. The content, and the way it is presented, leaves a lot to be desired.

To conclude the book promissed to be a sound addition to a developers library but ends up being a rather expensive coaster to put you coffee cup on while you're sweating over your code.

Avoid at all costs!

It was what I excpected.I think it's a fair trade, itr delivers as promised

The book provides many samples of code that is incorrect. You spend more time debugging the books code then the learning of the lesons themselves. I could see it's usefullness if you already know actionscripting, but isn't the purpose of this book to teach it.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking to take their Flash skills to the next level, that is grasping the fundamentals of Actionscript and how to formulate and execute code based solutions for interactive games. I came to this book using Flash MX only on a visual basis, adding basic interactivity only with Flash's preset commands. I can honestly say that now I have a firm grasp of the Actionscript basics (Variables, Conditions, Loops), and even tackled collision detection in the later sections. The text is clear and concise, and the accompanying CD compliments this, containing the completed projects for you to disect and see the code in action for yourself as you read the book. Used together with a Flash MX reference book, it is definitely possible to gain enough knowledge from this book to put together your own games, and as this was my original reason for buying it, would say that it was money well spent.

I have read over 200 technical manuals in my time, and I make sure to try and compliment authors when they have done good work. So, I must do the same when I face a book as bad as this thing is. This is total garbage that isn't worth even the miniscule asking price of 8 bucks!! 32 Pages....and you could tell this guy was seriously trying to fill up as many as he could with nothing more than what macromedia has on the subject.....which isn't much! I feel so robbed! The guy that wrote the previous review must have been the author, because this book is just junk. He should be ashamed of himself for trying to fill up 32 useless pages and try and sell it...when there is much more useful information online for free! Not even ONE of the examples worked! Not to mention that he doesn't keep any code in order....and none of the code is complete! If you are thinking about buying this....run away...this is a total con job!

The 32 page PDF provided some very nice foundation info for getting started with .Net remoting. However, the writer left out which .Net install would be most beneficial to work with (.Net remoting SDK version should be installed). Particularly when programming the Web Services example(received GetData function errors). Speaking of which, it contains an error in the DataSet command:

objCmd.Fill(Ds,"notusers")
SHOULD BE WRITTEN AS
objCmd.Fill(Ds,"Users")

Otherwise the CB Component won't populate.

The only other problem really was the incorrect pathing to the databases used in the example, it was as if he copied the code, pasted it and rushed the PDF out the door. He could've at least prompted the user to change the path to the database.

On the whole he covered basic implementation and a very important security setup with the bin directory which was helpful and useful for future implementations.

I would recommend this PDF to more intermediate users of .Net and Remoting(only because of the errors), but beginners will find invaluable information regarding the technologies and nice overview to get them started. I would repost this PDF with the errors fixed so that developers new to these technologies will not get frustrated by the examples.

I have only got to chapter three and have already found several errors which has made following the examples very frustrating. The book also refers to functions such as 'normal mode' which no longer exist in the latest version of the software.

the support files on the website also do not correspond to the files mentioned in the book. I would advise people not to buy this book.

I would recommend this book even though there are references to items that are no longer in the professional version of Flash MX. I found the more complicated games were very well commented inside the fla's. In summary this is a good book with some minor niggles.

This book jumps around critical material and content that requires the reader to open the completed lessons provided by the author to see what code/content is missing. The worst part of this is that unless you are an experienced programmer, you will not be able to understand what is happening. In fact, you will probably need to purchase another book to understand what is actually going on. These comments are directed primarily at the Flash-related lessons.

I am very disappointed in this book. It takes you from one step to another without clearly defining the correct input that needs to be made in each lesson to make the lessons perform correctly. A good example of the missing information is to compare the finished lesson with the final products made available by the author: in several lessons there is a huge gap. HUGE! I have been looking on Macromedia's Site for updates and/or clarifications, and can not find any. This book is a giant frustration and you will need to investigate the difference in code between the final product you create via the lessons and what is presented by author as the finished product. The good news is that you can see the finished works you are supposed to create in each lesson, as they are included on the CD. The bad news is that you will need another book to explain what the basis of the code you where not introduced to means.

Flash MX FreeHand 10: Advanced Training from the Source by computer expert Brad Kozak is a solid and "user friendly" reference and self-teaching tool for learning how to use the Flash MX and FreeHand 10 computer software drawing tools. Embracing a "learn by doing" approach to graphical design, individual chapters address a variety of practical projects ranging from animating a simple logo to designing a sophisticated multimedia website. An accompanying multi-platform CD-ROM includes basic tools for completing sample projects. Flash MX FreeHand 10 is very highly recommended for aspiring computer graphic artists with an interest in learning this handy and open-ended drawing software.

Pity I didn't read the reviews here before buying this book. You will not learn anything from this book unless you are already at the level where you can "create dynamic applications" with flash mx. So what's the point of the book?!

...you are a very experienced user in: dynamic Flash(!), serverside scriping, Access, webserver configurations, and moore.

The Introduction tells us that this is a book about Flash MX, and not about ASP.NET, Java, ColdFusion, or any other serverside language so the book dont cover how the serverside scripts where made. HEEELLOOO!! The title saids: Flash MX -Creating Dynamic Applications. What can you create of dynamic application with Flash MX if you dont know serverside scripting?

But, ok, lets look at the book from the point that it is a Flash and actionscripting book:

Again, in the Introduction, they tells us that they have made the code reusable as possible and that they have called this out by placing them in external .AS files. In chapter one, who should be the simpliest chapter, there are NO review of the code inside the two .as files included in the Flash file(Poll.fla). They only tells us what the #include "ServerData.as" part does, not what the loads of essential scripting inside this two .as files does. That is a big, big blunder from my point of view.

And this is just som examples of what you can expect trough this book, I haven't read the hole book yet, but I have study the book enough to tell you that this is true.

So, my conclusion is:

If you:

- are a experienced user of serverside scripting,

- and you know how to configure a webserver the hole way through,

- and you have a good knowlegde about XML,

- and you have done a lot of actionscripting

- and studied a lot of comment sourcecode,

...you can buy this book! But if you know all this, you dont need this book. You can figure it all out by yourself ;-/

PS. Sorry for my bad spelling, I'm not that good to write English.

Very nice actionscript coding techniques, BUT
Missing files, files named differently than the code that references them, installation files that don't work, scant information on how to setup the server-side stuff, and Actionscript that references labels that don't exist, etc...

The authors show great actionscripting techniques, but somebody in QA fell asleep on the job. If you buy this book, you might also consider buying a styrofoam brick.