To steel myself to learn FlashComm, I went through the Macromedia Documentation for both client and server side communication ActionScript and I counted the objects. There's only about 9 client and server objects! Some, like LocalConnection are just for, well, local connections and really don't need FlashComm. On the server side there are only 5 objects; so there's not THAT much to it.

The trick, it turns out is using the client side and the server side together. This is where this book is a gem. Every single application in the book shows how this is done, and some of the applications just use the client side--very effectively, too. In showing how to use the server and client side together, the authors place the two sides in juxtaposition and arrows show how the two sides connect. This is the first time I saw that connection.

I had to use a lot of sticky labels to bookmark where key elements are. I have a decent ActionScript background, but not extensive, and while certainly not for beginners, you don't need to be a genius either. FlashComm is very doable, and this books makes it that way.

This book has the best materials on shared objects and Flash Communication Server on the market. I am more partial to this book than would normally be the case because it had exactly what I needed in one of its parts. A friend had told me that Flash Comm could be used to make remote presentations, and that was exactly what I needed. Our presenters use PowerPoint all the time in presentations, and if they could make a PP type of presentation over the Web, they could reach a much larger segment of their client population with a lot less travel and taking less time.

One of the book's apps is designed for univeristy professors making remote presentations. It includes both a text and JPEG slide show, and while it's not exactly like PP, it's what I was looking for. It was designed to be easy to update for professors who needed to add text and graphics, and so we did not have to change that feature for the presenters. However, it was set up for one or two cameras, and we only needed one, and the university (complete with logo) design had to be changed as well. However, otherwise, we had an out-of-the-box app that we were able to get up and running for our own purposes almost immediately.

Having said that, the book has got a lot more on shared objects than meets the eye, or at least than is in the Index. Two parts of the book (a total of 10 chapters) have applications with shared objects, but the Index only lists two pages in Part II, and so while this is a 5-star book, the Index (at least on shared objects) should cost it a star or two. The examples and explanations of how to use shared objects in themselves is worth the cost of this book. Most of the material is on client-side remote shared objects, and there's some stuff on server-side shared objects as well. For our purposes, though, we only ended up using client-side remote shared objects.

The other materials in the book seem fine (and a lot better indexed!), and the graphics are very professional, but to be honest, my focus was on understanding shared objects, and so I won't comment on the other stuff. You need to know ActionScript, but otherwise, it's not rocket science.

So when you get this book, you have to engage in a bit of treasure hunting to find all of the mateirals on shared objects, but they're all there and nicely explained.

This is the sweetest book around on flash comm server.Lots of good code and good apps. Not for beginners, but its not impossible either. I downloaded the apps and each one told a different story about flash comm. It was like the apps each had part of flash com and so by going through all the apps in the book, I got just about everything flash comm has to offer except http tunneling and some of the smaller stuff.

If you get this book, keep don't throw away your MM flash com docs. I used this book with the MM docs, and using them together really helped fill in the missing gaps in the docs, and the book shows how the different terms in the docs are used together. Likewise, having the docs around lets you better understand the code in the book. The code is explained for the most part, but lots of places your going to find that the MM docs really help out.

Here's a list of what I got out of it:
1. flash comm client and server actionscript
2. recording/playing FLV files--client and server
3. shared objects. (SOs rock!)
4. a/v chat rooms
5. display client ip addresses
6. reading client and server stats
7. playing mp3 files
8. coordinating client and server scripts

The apps got the best graphics I've ever seen in a computer book like this. Also, I learned a lot about regular actionscript and using UI components. The book has nothing on flash comm components though.

The best part of this book is that I was able to make my own apps. I started with the books apps and then changed them around until I got what I wanted. If you want a good book on flash com and you are not a beginner, I can recommend this one.

Bill Sanders does it again. I still can't decide which I object to more, the puritanical world view that fails to even aproximate reality or, the statistics and storys that Bill obviously makes up as he goes along. Of course then there are also quotes like "When the world tells you thats a stoplight...You say it's a go light". His tales of rebellion that include parting his hair in the middle and not the side, and wearing a blue shirt rather than the standard white, shocked me with thier boldness. To tell the truth this book has made me a connisour of propaganda of this type and in this category Tough Turf ranks number one. I recomend the book to all those who enjoy the absurd comedy of the religious right and of course collectors of misinformation. In these areas it excells. Keep up the good work Bill. It takes a certain type of man to be president of the "Bill Sanders Speeches and Seminars Group"

I bought this book figuring it would teach me a few design tricks, but I did not hold out much hope for more then that. I had bought a couple other FX and Design books and that is about all they were good for. Man, was I surprised!!

This book is PACKED full of subtle but incredibly important lessons about the in's and out's of Flash, especially the in's and out's of ActionScripting.

I have been trying to learn ActionScripting for a few months. I used to be a bookkeeper but have a disability now that prevents me from sitting so I am pretty much housebound. Every mishap has it's silver lining and advanced ActionScripting is mine. The first time I looked at a script from 'Flash Math Creativity' it made me drool. I had never dreamed there could be such a thing as scripting mixed with web design mixed with math mixed with so many other parts of the brain.

I took a Javascript class a few years ago and loved it so I suppose it is not surprising I love ActionScript but I could not get my head around the basics. I am surrounded by books on ActionScripting and Javascript and HTML/DHTML, etc, Some really good ones too. It wasn't until I read the first ten pages of this book that I started understanding. I actually learned how to use databases with Flash using Arrays! In the first ten pages!

If there is that much to learn in the first ten pages, can you imagine how much there is in the rest of the book? Well, it is a lot. If you are a beginner, if you are intermediate, if you are an advanced user, if you use Flash 5 or if you use Flash MX, GET THIS BOOK!

Phew, I can't believe I got so emotional over a book. Good luck with your future and happy scripting,
Leslie

I have read several books on Web design and also read Macromedia's Flash tutorials online. However, I found this book by Bill Sanders to be the most wonderful of all, because it guides me step by step through the essential commands. I found I understand how to do tweening so much better, understand the minute but essential details on creating a motion guide for a layer, and the explanation and project (example) on masking makes me understand the various layers to get special "spot-light" beam effect.

I feel I need to write this review because this book has helped me so much. I wish to congratulate Bill Sanders and the editorial team for a great job done! Thank you.

I like the way this book moves through Flash. The author speaks with a quite authority and spells out what I needed to know to get Flash 5 working for me. I'm a designer; so I don't need an art lesson, and I didn't get one. Instead I learned how to use all the tools in Flash to do my kind of art and design. This is not a baby level book--plenty of those are around. It's not a "guru" talking down to me either. This guy seems to know what designers want to get out of Flash 5, and he gives it to them. I really appreciated the chapters on animation concepts. It nicely ties in traditional animation with Flash and provides several good clear examples but all of the pieces there. I finally(!) found a good clear explanation of how to move an object along a path. Also, as a nice touch for anyone in design, the author provides a color palette for all of the projects giving the RGB values to plug in. This helped me learn how to use both the details of the color tools in Flash 5. (The color section in the middle of the book helps in seeing how to create your own color palette using the Mixer and Swatches panel.)

Another area that gave me fits with Flash 4 was masking. It's not that difficult with Flash, but the author walked me through it in a way that I finally got it. It's full of those kinds of "oh now I get it" insights. The sound chapter not only shows how to bring in differnt types of sound, but where to get sound and how to coordinate sound with animated movement. I really liked the sound chapter and the "music video" example and the explanation of how to stop and start sound in Flash.

The chapter on movie editing and navigation was ok and a good review of navigation in Flash was there, but it was just a little simple. But the ActionScript chapter is the best I've ever seen. I started to learn ActionScript in Flash 4, but I'm glad I didn't. Flash 5 ActionScript is lot different and IMHO is a lot easier to learn--especially the path system. (I like the dot syntax way better than the slash syntax.) Also, the author shows how to move MCs without using Tell Target. He used the dot syntax.

I don't use QuickTime so I more or less skipped that chapter, but the last chapter was the best I've seen on using Generator 2 and external files. I wish the book had more on the different types of Generator 2 objects, but I can create pie charts like a pro (if you want a pie chart). Using external files with loadVariablesNum() and loadVariables() is very interesting, and I learned how to do it, but I need to learn a lot more about it. It gets pretty advanced in the last chapter, but it was clear enough so that I didn't feel lost.

It's a nice book to have around. The index is fine and both loadVariables() and loadVariablesNum() are indexed --I think that other reviewer got his books confused-- and so it's great for looking up different techniques. So if you want a book to see how to develop professional quality (or just really good amateur quality) Flash 5 movies, I think you'll like this a lot. I know I did.

I thought that this was a great book and I like Sander's approach to the topic. The last few chapters I enjoyed the most as you learn how to integrate JavaScript with back end code and also Flash, showing how JavaScript integrates with larger projects.

The downside is that I will probably have to read it again to really undestand parts of the book. The pace is kind of odd, one minute it is dragging and the next your head is spinning.

Overall I think this is one of the better books covering JavaScript. I would like to see another one that goes into more depth on ways of integrating backend and front end code.

What's really nice about this book is how everything builds upon previous chapters. The book walks you through each aspect of Javascript with a combination of code and dialogue that keeps you both engaged and actively learning. I have in fact just completed a course that built upon the foundations of HTML and Javascript and I felt after reading this book certain concepts I did not understand from the class, now make much more sense. Sanders does in this book what he does best and that is educate. Some may feel that this is similar to course notes but to be real honest, this book is about one thing, and that is gaining a true understanding of programming language Javascript. A real treat comes in the third part of the book that incorporates Javascript with other backend programming languages such as ASP and PHP. Many times as a web designer you are caught in situations that requires a form being verified, data being sent to a database, etc etc, and this book demonstrates the ease of incorporating Javascript with backend languages. If you want to really learn Javascript for practical use then this is the book to get!

Excellent book for now-a-days,it covers all kind of language with JavaScript.The book starts with basics of Javascript that is jump start,dealing with data, variables, operators, expressions, functions.And chapter by chapter it deeps into more and more detail, like Javascript OOP and DOM, Frames, Event Handlers, Forms, DHTML, Cookie. And finally it deals with other languages like PHP,ASP,CGI,Perl,XML,Flash and Applet.
Book is nicely organized, easy to read and understand, colorfull code and body, and has lots of examples.
I will sure recommend this book for web master, developer, designer.

Being an ardent fan of the TV series, "Bill Nye the Science Guy", I was delighted to buy the book "Consider the Following". It covers many, but not all, the topics dealt with in the TV series. Each chapter begins by first posing a thought provoking question, which is then followed by an easily understood explanation of the topic, and lots of easy-to-do experiments. Bill Nye and Ian Saunders, the contributing author, understand their reading audience, and the language used and explanations given are appropriate to the age-level (also to the young at heart!). They give the phonetic pronunciation of new, potentially difficult, Scientific words, so that the words become fun to say, instead of being a hurdle. In its soft cover, the book has the feel of a magazine, and is packed full of useful information for anyone wishing to augment their viewing of his Educational videos, although it is not necessary to have seen the Videos to benefit from reading this book. As a teacher, I have found it useful to have all the experiments written out, using common items found in the kitchen of my home. There is a good index and glossary at the back of the book. The tone of the book is one you would expect from Bill Nye - fun, but full of good teaching. The only criticism that I have is that the illustrations are a bit disappointing. They are clear, but mediocre. I would also liked to have seen a chapter at the beginning of the book, devoted wholly to the explaination of electrons, molecules, and atoms, as although these terms are mentioned (and explained) several times in subsequent chapters, it would have been good to see them consolidated into a chapter of their own. I am glad I have the book, and I enjoyed reading it. I will find it a useful resource tool in planning my future Primary Science Lessons, in Physics, Chemistry, Life and Earth Science.

For all the teens who feel bad because there tall dont feel that way.Its okay to be tall.Tall is beautiful!Im 5'7 and I love it!

I thought that Bill was right on in pretty much all of the stories. I love to use this as my devotional in the mornings before I go to school. Bill is a great motivator and a good friend and this book shows that.

Teens want and need their parents in their life even though they may not act like they do. What I liked about this book is that the author encourages you to talk and listen to your teenager about what is going on in his/her life. The book is easy to read and understand. Some of the chapters that I enjoyed reading are: Keep Talking to Them; Be An Example; Listen to Them; Help Them Build on Solid Foundations; Give Them Quality and Quantitiy Time; Help Them Find Their Special Talent; and Learn More About Them and Their Friends.

I am a fairly experienced programmers who wanted to learn actionscript. So, I bought the only actionscript book I could find. Unfortunately, the book is aimed at *COMPLETE* beginners - this is "actionscript for super dummies". For people who find programming scary, like many designers, they probably find the extreme hand holding and snail pace of this book quite comforting, although many of them may even find it patronising.

However, at the end of this 300 or so page book, it still hasn't covered a LOT of ground and leaves you at beginner level still. Wanna understand about loadVariables? Sorry, on your own. How about onClipEvent? Only very basic coverage.

The stuff it does cover is aimed at doing "neat" tricks, there's no depth. Actionscript in flash 5 has turned flash into an incredibly powerful tool capable of some really quite amazing functionality. But you wouldn't know it from reading this book.

Flash is finally become a full-featured object-oriented (OO) programming tool to create fascinating user experience on the web and great user interfaces. This is one of the few books dedicated to the powerful side of Flash, which is ActionScript. With Flash 5, this powerful side is now mature enough. Yet this book does not hit the target. You will still wonder if this is all ActionScript can do. You will miss some of its core power. ... On the other hand, this is the first real tentative to go beyond "how to draw with Flash" and "This is your first animation in page 200 and something". This is not another artist with its adhoc technique book. Not another "Freehand with animation" book. This one is different. You will not be sorry.

I'm a designer/developer and I've been putting off learning ActionScript--until now! I have never seen a book that is so clear, understands what I need so well and carefully explains and illustrates everything. I have used Flash professionally, but sooner or later I needed to learn ActionScript, and I'm glad I waited until Flash 5. What little ActionScript I used (goto and play/stop was about it) gave me far more flexibility and control than I had using Flash without ActionScript.

The back of the book says it's for Intermediate and Advanced users, and I suppose it is. However, if you're new to ActionScript but have experience with Flash you'll love this book. Each of the projects and examples is very carefully crafted down to the color schemes. The author integrates ActionScript into the examples and projects rather than just laying out the ActionScript in ways that I would not use it in the real world. The author explains the concepts but he never talked down to me (as a reader) and all of the parts come together. In going through the examples, I not only learned how to use ActionScript effectively, I learned a lot of new Flash 5 tricks. My programmer friends (who keep borrowing it) and I both like the Example Glossary in the back where I can look up stuff quickly. It's great for reminding me about the exact format of the different actions and I don't have to re-read entire sections to be reminded that I need a double equal (==) when I use conditional statements. (I'm even talking like one of THEM now.)

I ran into a little trouble in Chapter 2, and I fired off a very nasty email to the author. He responded almost immediately, sorted out my question and didn't mention the fact that I acted like a jerk in my email. He was extremely helpful and even sent me an extra FLA to play with. After getting the hang of things, I've been having a lot of fun with AcitonScript, and not just using the examples. I really have learned how to use ActionScript, and the book still has a lot more for me. So if you want a carefully crafted, thoughtful, well written book on AcitonScirpt and not some computer science tome, get this book, learn ActionScript and a lot of added Flash 5 material to boot.

It is the most shallow coverage of Notes that I've ever seen. I still don't understand how they managed to pack so little information into so many pages.

For example, a new feature of 4.5 is Multidatabase indexing through a site search database. Here is the unabridged exerpt from this "reference" on site search:

"The Multi Databse Indexing feature enables you to create many indices at once. After these indices exist, it is possible to search more than one database at a time for data (such as a client's name or company name). This feature can be extremely helpfull when designing a Web page. As shown in figure 8.21, you must be a manager of the file to enable this option."

That's it. That pathetic, inane, useless, and technically incaccurate blurb is all the info this book provides on site search. They don't even know what a site search database is (its the tool used to actually build a multidatabase index). And the worst part is that the whole book is like this. Uhh... I don't know exactly what this is but uhh.... here's the property box for it and uhh... you can click boxes and stuff on it. And uhh.. oh, yeah, you have to have sufficient access to do that.

Avoid this one like the plague. New Riders Publishing should really be ashamed of themselves.

This book is less than useless, I had more questions than answars after reading it. The book is terribly shallow and never goes into any depth.

Read some reviews here.

Some folks feel it is not a good book, so I went to a local bookstore and spent an hour leafing ... for the 2nd time. For my project [ where there were some challenges, this book came closest to giving me script pointers, though not solutions]

I beleive this book is by far the best I have seen for Notes/Domino 4.x and would be happy if they released one for R 5.0 - same manner....

Great book in my personal opinion..and stands out in the Notes/Domino arena.