1．Introducing Flex 1
Understanding Flex Application Technologies 1
Using Flex Elements 6
Working with Data Services(Loading Data at Runtime) 8
The Differences Between Traditional and Flex Web Applications 9
Understanding How Flex Applications Work 10
Understanding Flex and Flash Authoring 11
What's New in Flex 3 12
2．Building Applications with the Flex Framework 15
Using Flex Tool Sets 15
Creating Projects 17
Building Applications 21
Deploying Applications 33
3．MXML 35
Understanding MXML Syntax and Structure 35
Making MXML Interactive 43
4．ActionScript 47
Using ActionScript 48
MXML and ActionScript Correlations 52
Understanding ActionScript Syntax 54
Variables and Properties 57
Inheritance 69
Interfaces 70
Handling Events 71
Error Handling 73
Using XML 76
Reflection 80
5．Framework Fundamentals 83
Understanding How Flex Applications Are Structured 84
Loading and Initializing Flex Applications 86
Understanding the Component Life Cycles 89
Loading One Flex Application into Another Flex Application 90
Differentiating Between Flash Player and the Flex Framework 92
Caching the Framework 93
Understanding Application Domains 94
Localization 97
6．Managing Layout 107
Flex Layout Overview 107
Making Fluid Interfaces 129
Putting It All Together 130
7．Working with UI Components 135
Understanding UI Components 136
Buttons 143
Value Selectors 144
Text Components 145
List-Based Controls 147
Pop-Up Controls 163
Navigators 166
Control Bars 170
8．Customizing Application Appearance 173
Using Styles 174
Skinning Components 192
Customizing the Preloader 202
Themes 207
Runtime CSS 209
9．Application Components 215
The Importance of Application Components 215
MXML Component Basics 218
Component Styles 227
10．Framework Utilities and Advanced Component Concepts 233
Tool Tips 233
Pop Ups 240
Cursor Management 247
Drag-and-Drop 249
Customizing List-Based Controls 256
Focus Management and Keyboard Control 267
11．Working with Media 275
Overview 275
Adding Media 278
Working with the Different Media Types 284
12．Managing State 299
Creating States 299
Applying States 300
Defining States Based on Existing States 302
Adding and Removing Components 304
Setting Properties 306
Setting Styles 307
Setting Event Handlers 308
Using ActionScript to Define States 309
Managing Object Creation Policies(Preloading Objects) 319
Handling State Events 322
Understanding State Life Cycles 322
When to Use States 328
13．Using Effects and Transitions 329
Using Effects 329
Creating Custom Effects 346
Using Transitions 353
Creating Custom Transitions 358
14．Working with Data 361
Using Data Models 361
Data Binding 374
Enabling Data Binding for Custom Classes 383
Data Binding Examples 387
Building Data Binding Proxies 391
15．Validating and Formatting Data 395
Validating User Input 395
Formatting Data 415
16．Client Data Communication 423
Local Connections 424
Persistent Data 429
Communicating with the Host Application 441
17．RemoteData Communication 447
Understanding Strategies for Data Communication 448
Working with Request/Response Data Communication 450
Web Services 462
Real-Time/Socket Connection 473
File Upload/Download 474
18．Application Debugging 477
The Flash Debug Player 477
Using FDB 481
Debugging with Flex Builder 482
Remote Debugging 486
Logging Using trace() Within an Application 487
The Logging Framework 490
Debugging Remote Data 493
19．Building Custom Components 497
Component Framework Overview 497
Component Life Cycle 499
Component Implementation 502
Adding Custom Properties and Events 510
Adding Styling Support 513
20．Embedding Flex Applications in a Web Browser 517
Embedding a Flex Application in HTML 517
Integrating with Browser Buttons and Deep Linking 528
Flash Player Security 540
Using Runtime Shared Libraries 542
21．Building AIR Applications 551
Understanding AIR 551
Building AIR Applications 552
Working with AIR Features 555
Distributing AIR Applications 577
22．Building a Flex Application 583
Introducing the Sample Application 583
Utilizing Best Practices 588
Using Blueprints and Microarchitectures 593
Abstracting Common Patterns 594
Index 607