|
Special Edition Using Macromedia Director MX (Special Edition Using)
Special Edition Using Macromedia Director MX is a comprehensive guide to creating and publishing Director movies. The book includes complete coverage of the newest version of Director, from advanced issues such as Lingo scripting and multi-user applications to how to employ the 3D API. This edition includes more coverage of multi-user applications,
using 3D media, efficient sprite editing with the context-sensitive Property Inspector, increased control of cast members through the Cast Manager, vector drawing tools that add illustration capability, and special imaging effects and transition behaviors to add pizzazz and drama to applications.
Contents:
Introduction
I
1
Using the Director Interface
The Macromedia Director Metaphor
Exploring Windows and Panels
Understanding the Cast and Cast Members
Using the Stage
Using the Score
Working with Tool Panels
Setting Director Preferences
Getting Help
Troubleshooting
Did You Know? 2
Working with Director Member Types
Using Bitmaps
Using Text Members
Using Field Members
Importing Font Members
Importing and Using Sounds
Creating Shape Members
Creating Vector Members
Adding Flash Members
Importing Digital Video
Other Member Types
Adding New Cast Member Types with Xtras
Troubleshooting
Did You Know? 3
Writing Lingo Scripts
What Is Lingo? Creating Scripts
Understanding Lingo Elements
Navigation with Lingo
Understanding Messages and Behaviors
Writing Lingo Code
Troubleshooting
Did You Know? II
BUILDING DIRECTOR MOVIES
4
Using Sprites and the Score
Creating Animation
Sprite Placement Tools
Working with the Sprite Spans
Animation Techniques
Using Score Effects Channels
Controlling Sprite Appearance
Troubleshooting
Did You Know? 5
Adding User Interaction
Types of User Interface Elements
Mouse Input
Keyboard Input
Interface Elements
Troubleshooting
Did You Know? 6
Controlling Sprites
Changing the Sprite's Member
Controlling Sprite Location
Changing Ink, Color, and Blend
Distorting a Sprite's Shape
Other Sprite Properties
Mapping Sprites
Troubleshooting
Did You Know? 7
Controlling Sound with Lingo
Playing Sound Members
Using Cue Points
Playing External Sounds
Using Shockwave Audio
Troubleshooting
Did You Know? 8
Controlling Flash Members
Using Flash Member Lingo
Lingo and ActionScript Interaction
Troubleshooting
Did You Know? 9
Controlling Digital Video with Lingo
Using Video Commands
Building Video Controls
Using Other Video Techniques
Troubleshooting
Did You Know? 10
Creating MIAWs and Controlling the Director Environment
Using MIAWs
Creating Custom Dialog Boxes
Creating Oddly Shaped MIAWs
Other Uses for MIAWs
Using Linked Director Movies
Using MUI Xtra Dialog Boxes
Using Menus
Using Cursors
Learning About the Computer
Telling Time
Quitting and Shutting Down
Troubleshooting
Did You Know? III
ADVANCED PROGRAMMING CONCEPTS
11
Understanding Variables, Operations, and Lists
Using Number Variables
Using String Variables
Constants
Comparing Variables
Using List Variables
Symbols
Identifying Variables
Troubleshooting
Did You Know? 12
Using Object-Oriented Programming and Behaviors
Understanding Behaviors
Controlling a Single Sprite
Creating Simple Behaviors
Creating a Simple Button Behavior
Using Complete Behaviors
Building a Complete Button Behavior
Creating Animation Behaviors
Communicating Between Behaviors
Using Parent Scripts
Troubleshooting
Did You Know? 13
Using Lingo to Alter Text Members
Field Properties and Functions
Text Member Properties and Functions
Creating Text Lists
Creating Text Pop-Up Menus
Using Rich Text Format
Using HTML and Tables
Using HTML and Hypertext
Troubleshooting
Did You Know? 14
Using Lingo to Create Images
The Image Object
Drawing with Lingo
Examining Pixel Color
Manipulating Images
Images of Other Member Types
Troubleshooting
Did You Know? 15
Using Lingo to Draw Vector Shapes
Vector Shape Properties and Commands
Vector Shape Commands
Building Vectors with Lingo
Using Vectors for Collision Detection
Troubleshooting
Did You Know? IV
CREATING AND CONTROLLING 3D
16
Creating 3D Models
3D Basics
Importing Models
The Shockwave 3D Panel
Displaying a 3D Model on the Stage
Using ShapeShifter 3D
Creating Primitives with Lingo
Particle Systems
Modifying Primitive Models with Mesh Deform
Creating Complex Scenes
Troubleshooting
Did You Know? 17
Controlling 3D Models
Setting a Model's Position
Setting a Model's Orientation
Moving and Rotating Models
Scaling Models
Duplicating Models
Orienting Objects Using pointAt
Grouping Models
Controlling Animation
Bones and Joints
Troubleshooting
Did You Know? 18
Implementing 3D User Interaction
Click Tracking
Collision Detection
Havok Physics Engine
Troubleshooting
Did You Know? 19
Modifying Shaders, Textures, and Lights
Coloring Models
Applying Textures to Models
Understanding and Using Lights
TroubleShooting
Did You Know? 20
Controlling Camera and Rendering Effects
Moving the Camera
Multiple Cameras
Camera Effects
Using Special Model Modifiers
Optimizing Shockwave 3D
Troubleshooting
Did You Know? V
EXTENDING DIRECTOR
21
Reading and Writing Data Files
FileIO Xtra Basics
Reading Files
Writing Files
Choosing Files
FileIO Utility Handlers
FileIO Commands
File-Related Lingo Properties
Troubleshooting
Did You Know? 22
Programming Network Communication
Controlling the Web Browser with Lingo
Getting Text over the Internet
Downloading Files
Troubleshooting
Did You Know? 23
Adding Multiuser Communication
Shockwave Multiuser Server
Setting Up the Multiuser Server
Using the Multiuser Behaviors
Learning Basic Multiuser Lingo
Creating Your Own Multiuser Application
Using Peer-To-Peer Connections
Using the Multiuser Database
Using User Data Protocol (UDP)
Using Server-Side Lingo
Using the Flash Communication Server
Troubleshooting
Did You Know? 24
Building Authoring Tools
Type of Authoring Tools
Score Recording
Creating MIAW Xtras
Using Behavior Libraries
Troubleshooting
Did You Know? 25
Addressing Accessibility Issues
Understanding Accessibility
Building Accessible Movies
Using the Speech Xtra
Troubleshooting
Did You Know? 26
Using Xtras
What Are Xtras? Xtras Shipped with Director MX
Using Xtra Lingo
Using Xtras in Shockwave
Third-Party Xtras
Troubleshooting
Did You Know? VI
PRODUCTION PROCESS
27 - Error Handling and Debugging
Writing Good Code
Using Lingo Debugging Tools
Testing Your Code
Did You Know? 28
Creating Applications
Creating a Standalone Projector
Stub Projectors
Building CD-ROMs and DVDs
Making Installers
Building Screensavers
Troubleshooting
Did You Know? 29
Publishing Shockwave Movies
Publish as Shockwave
Working with Shockwave HTML Tags
Troubleshooting
Did You Know? 30
Addressing Performance and Cross-Platform Issues
The Importance of Performance
Designing for a Target Machine
Recognizing Issues Affecting Performance
Improving Performance
Optimizing Projector Performance
Optimizing Lingo Performance
Mac and Windows Cross-Platform Issues
Browser Cross-Platform Issues
The Cross-Platform Checklist
Did You Know? VII
APPENDIXES
Appendix A
What's on the CD-ROM
Book Source Files
Bonus Chapters
Software Applications, Xtras, and Goodies
Appendix B
Glossary
Appendix C
Online Resources
Top Resources
General Director Resources
Non-English Director Resources
Director-Related Mailing Lists
3D-Related Resources
Major Xtra Developers and Distributors
Appendix D
Lingo Index
Index.
Brief Description:
The definitive guide to the leading multimedia authoring environment.
|
