Adobe^® Flash^®:
Developing Interactive Web Content

What is this course about?

In this course, you learn how to build and deploy interactive Flash animations, Websites and applications. You learn the latest techniques and comprehensive tools to integrate audio and visual elements into your Flash projects.

Who will benefit from this course?

This course is valuable for anyone involved in developing, designing, or programming Web animations and applications with Adobe Flash. Web developers, graphic designers, programmers, content managers, and Webmasters all benefit from this course. This course is also valuable for managers who want to evaluate the potential of integrating Flash applications and video into their Web strategy.

What background do I need?

A basic knowledge of Web development fundamentals, such as HTML and CSS, is helpful, but not required. Familiarity with the Internet and Web browsers is assumed.

Can I take this course remotely if I'm using a Mac?

No. This course contains exercise content that is not compatible with AnyWare (our training solution that enables online participation) when using a Mac. This does not affect customers using a PC for AnyWare. This is due to an issue with the LogMeIn software which presents a problem for customers using a Mac. We expect that this problem may be resolved by LogMeIn in the future. Currently, you should plan to use a PC for AnyWare access.

I am using a previous version of Adobe Flash. Will this course be valuable for me?

Yes. While Flash CS5 adds many enhancements and improvements to the interface and performance of Flash projects, the major concepts of animation and scripting learned in the course can be applied to the MX, MX2004, Flash 8, CS3 and CS4 versions of Flash. Whenever possible, concepts and topics that are unique to CS5 are pointed and out and the differences from the previous versions are discussed.

Will I learn how to set up a streaming video server?

This course does not cover installation and administration of a streaming video server.

Will I be creating videos to put on the Internet?

Flash does not create or edit videos, it is not a video editing tool. In the course you will convert existing videos to playback in the Flash player and embed it into an application or web site. In addition, you will learn how to create closed captions to place over top of the video.

Will I learn to program in ActionScript?

Yes! ActionScript is fundamental to building interactive content and applications as well as some of the more sophisticated special effects and animations. The course will teach you all the required ActionScript features to achieve this. However, it should be noted that the ActionScript coverage is at the beginner/intermediate level and not advanced.

Will I learn how to build Flash animations?

Yes, this course covers the basics of Flash animation through the traditional timeline and through the use of ActionScript.

Will I learn how to build a Flash Website?

Yes. The skills you gain on this course will enable you to create an Adobe Flash Website that incorporates mixed media. It should be noted that the course does not cover Web page design principles but rather how to generate the content for a Website.

Will I learn about Flex?

No. This course is dedicated to Adobe Flash and has no coverage of Flex.

Will I learn how to connect to databases?

Yes. For data driven content and applications, you learn how to connect to server side scripts which provide data, in addition, you learn how to access data provided in XML format.

Will I learn how to embed video on my Web pages?

Yes. The coverage of video content and delivery is extensive. You will learn how to encode video, how to publish for delivery and how to embed that content in Web pages and applications.

What systems and software are used in this course?

The machines used in this course run on the Windows operating system. Tools used include: Flash, Device Central and Adobe Media Encoder.

How much time is spent on each topic?

What kinds of hands-on exercises are in the course?

Approximately 45% of class time is spent engaging in hands-on exercises. These include:

• Creating an application framework with buttons, graphics and sounds
• Integrating with Photoshop to manipulate bitmap graphics
• Building animations with motion and special effects
• Adding interactive functionality with ActionScript
• Connecting Flash to databases and XML
• Generating and deploying video
• Extending Flash with third-party extensions

How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses?

Learning Tree offers a number of courses that will help you expand upon the knowledge gained in this course and further your skills in several key areas. Those courses include:

• 522, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) for Web Page Development: Hands-On 
• 470, Developing a Website: Hands-On 
• 986, Developing Ajax Web 2.0 Applications: Hands-On 
• 489, JavaScript for Web Development: Hands-On 
• 988, Adobe® Photoshop®: Creating and Enhancing Images and Graphics