Actionscript classes (school) in NYC
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- CyBrain
I did a filter search, but predictably didn't get anything.
As much as QBNians have helped me this week, I could use a seminar, class, or some kind of in person education in the ways of AS3. I don't need any training in Flash tweens/animation, GUI stuff, just the code that right now seems like the Devil's Bible.
Up till now, I've been hitting the usual online sources Kirupa, actionscript.org, Adobe, gotoAndLearn and I went through Lynda's tutorials and read O'Reilly's Colin Moock book Essential Actionscript 3.
When, I get down to the work, it's still overwhelming. I'm not sure where to put variable and functions, how to target movie clips is a major chore and I can't get used to going down a rabbit hole of abstract understanding just to perform a simple chore.
Thanks in advance.
- vlakken0
You work on the timeline or use classes?
- CyBrain0
I'll put it this way. I'm working on my first site now, using classes. It's a little trickier this way, but I like having separate places rather than scrolling through a long frame script. I also needed to some static variables in a class because I struggle with targeting issues.
- Mojo0
I could do with a similar resource. Though I've been loving going all-code :) TweenLite tween library is fantastic.
- Just starting using it yesterday. Looks good so far although I had quite a hassle installing it: http://www.qbn.com/t…CyBrain
- installing? drop in a folder and import it. There is no installing :)
Mojo
- fyoucher10
I feel ya man. It's a big move to switch from procedural to OOP. Maybe your best bet would be to actually hire a personal teacher. Maybe try Craigslist and see if there is a ASer who can help get you over the hill you're on now. You're in NYC, there's got to be folks out there. Might be expensive but also might be worth the individual attention and focus.
- Or, even put an ad out for a personal teacher....fyoucher1
- jonturi0
not sure if they do AS3 or if they offer comprehensively detailed instruction but they do offer 1 on 1 classes...
http://www.nobledesktop.com/inde…
- vlakken0
I stick with doing things in the timeline as mcuh as possible due to the fact that i have a visual reference.
The main benifit of having things on the timeline is that objects already have reference to the root and stage etc.
- CyBrain0
I agree about needing the visual reference. I start out by placing all my assets on the stage and designing that way, Then I guide out that layer and put a linkage on the library item. That way, there's less fighting with AS3 which seems to want you coding everything.
- vlakken0
I dont use linkages at all.
If its a smallish site you only have a couple of people working on it then I find you can do it all on the timeline.
The problem is when you have 10 developers working on a project at once.
- CyBrain0
You might run into problems if you have any loaded movies that need cross-scripting (the loaded movie needs to refer to something in the main movie). In that case, without a document class in the same folder you would have to publish a .swc file for the loaded movie.
I have no such experience, but I read about that in O'Reilly's Essentials Actionscript 3
- vlakken0
I just give loaded movies a pointer to an object that contains all the functions vars it needs.
Cos the main movie gives the pointer they are decoupled.
You can even use root as it is now unique to each movie by default.
I dont even write a document class as the ide does this
- juskin0
hey Cybrain did you get everything working yesterday? sorry I wasnt able to open the files and a take a further look, there expensive but try the lost actionscript weekend movies, they go nice and easy into full fledged AS3 object oriented programming...
http://oreilly.com/catalog/97805…now here something to consider when learning this stuff, most AS3 learning material kinda expects you to already know, or atleast understand basic operations and functionality within the actionscript language, like how to lets say loop thru an XML document, find out how many nodes there are, create movieclips for each, and place them on the stage 20 pixels apart. That kinda stuff transcends actionscript 1-3. I know people who still code in AS2 and create some very complex stuff, so it sounds like you need to go over all of the features of actionscript which I feel alot os AS3 stuff doesnt touch upon. I have recently bought a few cheap AS2 books on amazon that show real world examples, then I try to figure out how to port them over to AS3.
- Yeah, I have all my buttons working so far and have them triggering Tweenlite too. Thanks.CyBrain
- acescence0
i think beyond the specifics, it's just a different way of thinking. the one thing that made AS3 all make sense was learning Python.
- cuke4260
hey i built out a simple set of classes and sent them to you last night, did you not receive them? if you rebuilt those files from scratch 10 times most all of your questions will be answered. if you have specific questions, ie static variables, then feel free to ask them.
- I got those. They look great. I'm holding on to those for reference.CyBrain
- rosem0
Get a book that focuses on OOP and Design Patterns. The hardest part of programming is the planning/design that goes into it before you even write one line of code.
- SteveJobs0
"I'm not sure where to put variable and functions"
not sure if i understand your confusion here, but you put them in your classes.
also, not sure what you mean by how to target movie clips.
finally, i think you are letting all the OO jargon and practices overwhelm you. i think once you've worked with as3 long enough, most of this stuff (encapsulation, abstraction, inheritance, polymorphism, composition) will not just come naturally, you'll actually find yourself needing it.
- clearThoughts0
Yeah get into OOP and MVC. It's not really about the language itself.
- Milan0
learn how to ride and draw ponies, AS3 will make a lot more sense after. plus it looks hot on your resume!
- CyBrain0
I saw two week old ponies once. Their fur was very soft. They came up to my friends and me and let us pet them. It was much more pleasant than debugging.