ActionScript 3 How To and Tips

In this section we provide short examples, each illustrating how to accomplish a specific task in ActionScript 3 and Flash. The collection is just starting. Check back often for new postings.

Newest How-Tos and Tips

• Behavior of a Loaded SWF File versus Behavior of a MovieClip  You load an external SWF file at runtime using Loader.load method. You extract the file via Loader.content, cast it to MovieClip, and store in a MovieClip variable. You add a listener to mouse clicks to your loaded MovieClip only to discover that it does not respond to clicks. Isn't Loader.content in the case of loading an SWF file a MovieClip? We discuss the issue and give examples.
   

Manipulating Display Objects, Events, Dynamic Drawing

• Drawing Display Objects into Bitmaps with BitmapData.draw Method 
   
• AS3 graphics.drawPath versus moveTo, lineTo Methods - Preserving Transparency
   
• AS3 Flash: How To Randomly Choose Any Number of Elements from an Array
   
• Two Ways to Tint Objects in AS3 Flash
   
• Magnifying Glass Effect on a MovieClip with AS3 Flash
   
• Custom Classes for Playing Cards in ActionScript 3
   
• AS3 Tip: How to Easily Create Outlined Text in ActionScript 3
   
• How To Zoom In on a Point in an Image and Pan in AS3 Flash
   
• How to Rotate a Display Object About an Arbitrary Point in AS3 Flash
   
• How to Add Easing to Your Dragging without Tweens in AS3 Flash
   
• Smooth Transition Between Colors with AS3 Flash Color Class
   
• A Button Like a Clock Button That Speeds Up When Held Down
   
• How to Set Perspective Projection of AS3 Interactive Objects without Losing Interactivity
   
• Tricks for Drawing and Filling Partial Circles in ActionScript 3
   
• AS3 MOUSE_OVER versus ROLL_OVER, MOUSE_UP, MOUSE_LEAVE and Other Events
   
• Screen Updates, Code Execution and How To Display 'Please wait' on Mouse Click
   
• Programmatic Gradient Fills and Effects in AS3 and Flash
   
• Assigned versus True Values of Alpha Property in AS3 - How to Deal with Discrepancies
   
• Rotating Text in AS3 and Flash CS4 without Embedding Fonts and without Blur
   
• Rotating and Changing Alpha of Dynamic Text in Flash  
   
• Remarkably Realistic Compass Effect in AS3 and Flash
   
• How to Create a 3D Image Reflection in AS3 and Flash CS4
   
• How to Create a Simple Image Reflection in AS3
   
• How To Create a Simple Mask in ActionScript 3
   
• How to Create a Gradient Mask in ActionScript 3
   
• AS3 Tip: Mouse.cursor - A New Property in Flash Player 10
   
• How To Create a Custom Mouse Cursor in AS3
   

Flash Components

• How to Use Slider and NumericStepper Flash AS3 Components
   
• How to Use the AS3 Flash DataGrid Component
   
• How to Control Programmatically the Flash AS3 Slider Component
   

Utilities: Timer, Tween, etc.

• Why Do Tweens Stop Unexpectedly? - AS3 Flash Tutorial
   
• Controlling Multiple Tweens, Preventing Erratic Behavior of Interrupted Tweens
   
• A Simple Game Spinner Using The Tween Class in AS3 and Flash
   
• Use and Performance of the Timer Class in AS3 and Flash - a Simple Example
   

Loading External Assets

• Flash CS5 Tip: Embedding Runtime Shared Library for TLF Text into SWF File
   
• How to Load an External XML File and Process its Content in AS3 and Flash
   
• How to Load and Interact with an External SWF File in AS3 and Flash
   
• How To Load an Image at Runtime in AS3 and Display Load Progress
   
• How to Load a Sequence of Images at Runtime in AS3
   

Testing Performance

• Testing Frame Rate of a Flash Movie, Huge Differences Between Browsers
   
• Simple Code to Test Memory Consumption and Frame Rate of a Flash Movie
   

Flash Authoring Environment

• How to Link Library Items to AS3 in Flash CS4 and CS3 for Runtime Use
   
• How To Check Your Flash Movie's Performance with Simulate Download
   

Miscellaneous

• How To Find the AS3 Classes that Must be Imported in a Custom AS3 Class