18 March 2007

FLASH and JSON

JSON and Flash (ActionScript 2.0)

What is JSON ?

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data-interchange format. It is easy for humans to read and write. It is easy for machines to parse and generate. It is based on a subset of the JavaScript Programming Language, Standard ECMA-262 3rd Edition - December 1999. ActionScript also follows the same standard, like ECMA 262. JSON is a text format that is completely language independent but uses conventions that are familiar to programmers of the C-family of languages, including C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, Perl, Python, and many others. These properties make JSON an ideal data-interchange language.

JSON Connector :
The JSONConnector component provides your application with access to any external data source that returns or receives JSON objects through HTTP. The easiest way to connect with an external JSON data source and use the returned object your application is to specify a schema, the structure of the JSON object that identifies the data in the object to which you can bind. The component can also be used directly with ActionScript as the JSONConnector creates an ActionScript Object (or Array depending on the source object) in the results property.

The JSONConnector only works with objects that strictly match the JSON syntax (RFC 4627) which is explained at JSON.org.

For more information http://flash-toys.110mb.com/json/JSONConnector_help.php

Using JSON Connector.
There are may ways to use JSON connector.
You can download JSOn connector JSON Connector
its free.

10 March 2007

Actionscript Physics Engine - APE

APE (Actionscript Physics Engine) is an AS3 open source 2D physics engine for use in Flash and Flex. It’s continuation of the long dormant AS2 Flade project. APE is written and maintained by Alec Cove.


features

CircleParticles
- fixed or non-fixed
- variable mass, elasticity, and surface friction

RectangleParticles
- rotatable
- fixed or non-fixed
- variable mass, elasticity, and surface friction
- corner particles that can be attached to other particles with SpringConstraints

WheelParticles
- traction and angular velocity
- fixed or non-fixed
- variable mass, elasticity, and surface friction
- edge particles that can be attached to other particles with SpringConstraints

SpringConstraints
- stiffness
- collidable or non-collidible
- collidable constraints have variable width and scale

Licensing
- non restrictive LGPL

See APE site here.

06 March 2007

Total Training Flash Lite DVD


Total Training Flash Lite DVD Excerpts on Adobe.com

Adobe.com have posted some excerpts from my recently released training DVD - Total Training for Adobe Flash Lite 2.1 : Creating Mobile Applications.
You can find the tutorials in the Flash Lite Dev Centre.You can watch video samples from the "Handling Device Keypress Events" section, featuring topics like:

Adding ActionScript 2.0 to control soft keys
Creating a global key listener
Defining key functions
Changing visual content on key events

Enjoy!