AIR for Flash Developers

Rich internet applications become more popular and powerful every year, but they have been limited to what can be done from within a web browser. Adobe AIR allows web developers to leverage their Flash, Flex, HTML, and AJAX skills to create multi-platform desktop applications. In AIR for Flash Developers, David Tucker uses Flash CS3 Professional to create several AIR applications, exploring the workflow and features of the AIR extension and runtime along the way. He discusses how to integrate with an operating system; how to incorporate HTML and PDFs; how to use the local SQLite database for information; how to package, distribute, and update AIR applications; and much more. Example files accompany the course.

Note: This course will be most valuable to those who are familiar with ActionScript 3.0 and XML within Flash CS3 Professional.

Table of contents

Introduction

• Welcome 0:46 0.9 MB
• Using the example files 0:39 0.7 MB

1. Getting Started with AIR

• Introduction to AIR 1:16 3.0 MB
• Getting started with AIR 1:11 2.5 MB

2. Using the AIR Extension for Flash CS3

• Understanding the AIR application workflow 3:59 4.7 MB
• Modifying the Application and Installer settings 6:13 10.0 MB
• Signing your AIR application 3:06 5.2 MB
• Packaging your AIR application 3:09 5.9 MB

3. Using the Clipboard

1. Introducing the Clipboard 3:16 5.4 MB
2. Understanding the Clipboard 2:37 3.4 MB
3. Adding data to the Clipboard 9:40 13.8 MB
4. Getting data from the Clipboard 5:56 9.6 MB
5. Using deferred rendering 5:25 8.4 MB

4. Supporting Drag-and-Drop Functionality

• Understanding drag-and-drop operations 1:25 3.1 MB
• Supporting a drag operation 5:09 8.8 MB
• Accepting dropped data 6:25 13.3 MB

5. Using the File System

• Introducing file system support 3:16 4.5 MB
• Working asynchronously vs. synchronously 2:56 2.9 MB
• Browsing for files and directories 4:14 7.2 MB
• Listing the contents of a directory 7:41 11.5 MB
• Using the File class properties 4:44 9.0 MB
• Performing file system actions 10:12 20.1 MB
• Writing data to a file 8:25 16.4 MB
• Reading files 7:41 17.3 MB
• Using temporary files and directories 1:42 3.6 MB

6. Using HTML

• Introducing HTML in AIR 2:28 3.0 MB
• Using the HTMLLoader 8:35 13.8 MB
• Scrolling HTMLLoader content 12:21 27.8 MB
• Accessing HTML history 9:21 20.2 MB
• Using script bridging 4:28 9.8 MB

7. Handling PDFs

• Detecting PDF support 5:15 12.1 MB
• Loading a PDF file with HTMLLoader 7:31 17.5 MB
• Limitations of PDF support 1:08 1.4 MB

8. Using Native Windows

• Introducing native windows 4:24 4.9 MB
• Creating standard windows 11:15 19.7 MB
• Creating windows with custom chrome 11:18 19.2 MB
• Creating resizable windows 8:37 23.5 MB
• Creating full-screen windows 8:03 20.8 MB
• Setting a window to always be on top 4:50 11.1 MB

9. Managing Multiple Windows

• Showing and hiding windows 3:42 6.5 MB
• Changing window order 5:07 13.2 MB
• Listening to multiple windows 10:07 19.0 MB

10. Using Native Operating System Integration

• Introducing native operating system integration 3:06 3.5 MB
• Using application menus 11:31 16.6 MB
• Using window menus 4:28 11.7 MB
• Using context menus 3:24 8.6 MB
• Setting up context menus 2:39 5.2 MB
• Using system tray interaction 6:26 18.6 MB
• Using dock integration 4:15 11.8 MB
• Setting up event notifications 8:06 21.7 MB

11. Monitoring Network Connections

• Understanding the service monitor framework 1:50 2.3 MB
• Using the URL monitor 6:16 11.4 MB
• Using the service monitor 2:54 5.8 MB

12. Using the Local Database

• Using the Contacts application 5:43 11.0 MB
• Introducing the SQLite local database 2:54 3.7 MB
• Working asynchronously vs. synchronously 2:46 3.0 MB
• Creating a database 6:57 11.2 MB
• Creating tables 10:12 21.7 MB
• Creating SQL statements with parameters 13:51 26.0 MB
• Selecting data and retrieving results 10:07 23.0 MB

13. Using the EncryptedLocalStore Class

• Working with byte arrays 2:24 2.7 MB
• Inserting data 8:19 13.2 MB
• Retrieving data 5:29 8.1 MB

14. Invoking Your Application

• Using command-line arguments 6:18 11.4 MB
• Using AIR to open files 6:03 9.1 MB
• Custom file types 5:03 7.9 MB
• Launching an application at startup 1:34 2.5 MB

15. Updating AIR Applications

• Understanding the updater 7:02 11.7 MB
• Retrieving an update file 9:16 19.3 MB
• Performing an update 11:33 25.2 MB

16. Using Advanced Techniques

• Closing an application gracefully 5:25 8.9 MB
• Supporting multiple monitors 4:22 6.1 MB

17. Distributing AIR Applications

• Installing a local web server 2:27 3.8 MB
• Using a download link 4:35 6.8 MB
• Using the Seamless Install Badge 5:22 7.6 MB

Conclusion

• Goodbye