Flash Remoting: The Definitive Guide

Flash Remoting MX lets developers easily integrate rich Macromedia Flash content with applications that are built using Macromedia ColdFusion MX, Microsoft .NET, Java, PHP, or SOAP-based web services. The result is complex client/server applications that more closely resemble desktop applications than traditional web pages. Gone is the click/wait/reload approach of HTML. Your web application uses Flash as the front end while Flash Remoting handles the communication behind the scenes with the application server. All the end user knows is that it's fast and flexible.

The potential uses for Flash Remoting are endless. Flash Remoting: The Definitive Guide will help you understand this breakthrough technology and use it to build your own Rich Internet Applications (RIAs). Build applications that connect to a database, file system, or other server-side technologies. Or, use Flash Remoting to create:

• online stores that feature catalogs and shopping cart systems
  
• sound and video clip libraries
  
• banner ads with built-in shopping carts, click-through tracking, and site search capabilities
  
• new controls that can be used in place of HTML
  
• extensions to Flash, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, and more
  
• front-ends to databases for administrators

The book begins with Flash Remoting basics: setup, installation and an introduction to its underlying concepts. Next, you'll explore the Flash's User Interface components as they relate to Flash Remoting. Then, you'll gain insights into Flash Remoting internals and the Remoting API. The book is rich with examples that you will be able to run on your own system.

The next section focuses on the server-side environment that you'll use for your applications. Individual chapters cover Flash Remoting with ColdFusion, Server-Side ActionScript, Java, ASP.NET, and PHP.

The last section covers more advanced Flash Remoting techniques, such as calling web services from Flash Remoting, extending objects and UI controls, best practices, and debugging. Plus there is a detailed chapter demonstrating a real-world application. The book concludes with a Flash Remoting API reference.

Developers who are looking to create Rich Internet Applications with Flash will find Flash Remoting: The Definitive Guide indispensable.

Table of Contents

Preface

Part I. Remoting Fundamentals

1. Introduction to Flash Remoting

     What Is Flash Remoting?

     How Does Flash Remoting Work?

     Benefits

     Flash Remoting Requirements

     Supported Platforms

     Hello World

     Workflow Example

     Architecture for Flash Remoting Applications

2. Installing, Configuring, and Using Flash Remoting

     Installing Flash Remoting

     Naming Your Services

     The Authoring Environment

     Sequence of Events in Flash

     Making a Remote Call

3. Client/Server Interaction, UI Components, and RecordSets

     User Interface Components

     Flash UI Components Set 2 and Flash Charting Controls

     Macromedia's DRK

     Text Objects

     Building Forms in Flash MX

     The RecordSet Class

     DataGlue

4. Flash Remoting Internals

     The NetConnection Class

     Using NetServices

     Creating Responder Functions

     RecordSet Object

     The Timeline

     Catching Errors

     Registering Objects

Part II. The Server-Side Languages

5. Flash Remoting and ColdFusion MX

     Introduction to ColdFusion MX

     How ColdFusion Fits into Flash Applications

     Service Name Mappings

     ColdFusion Pages Versus ColdFusion Components

     Loading Query Data Incrementally

     ColdFusion Security: Authenticating Users

     Updating Data on the Server

6. Server-Side ActionScript

     What Is Server-Side ActionScript?

     The CF Object

     When to Use Server-Side ActionScript

     Datatype Conversions

     Handling Errors with try/catch

     Extending Server-Side ActionScript with Java

7. Flash Remoting and Java

     The Flash Remoting Gateway

     Supported Platforms

     Setting Up Flash Remoting for J2EE

     Service Types

     Datatype Conversions

     Service Lookup

     Invoking Service Methods

     Architecture and Design

     Referencing the Request and Session

     Saving and Sharing State

     Databinding

     Security

     OpenAMF

8. Flash Remoting and .NET

     Overview of .NET

     Connecting to .NET

     Datatype Conversions

     Database Access with ADO.NET

     State Management

     Error Handling in Flash Remoting with .NET

9. Flash Remoting and PHP

     Introduction to PHP

     Installing AMFPHP

     Datatype Conversions

     Using AMFPHP with Web Services

     Using AMFPHP with PHP Classes

     Working with a Database

Part III. Advanced Flash Remoting

10. Calling Web Services from Flash Remoting

     What Is a Web Service?

     Why Use Flash Remoting?

     Web Services from a ColdFusion Server

     Web Services from an ASP.NET Server

     Wrapping J2EE and JRun Web Services

     Web Services from PHP

     BabelFish Web Service

     Datatype Conversions

     Creating a Flash MX Web Service Extension

11. Extending Objects and UI Controls

     Principles Behind UI Components

     DataProviderClass and DataGlue

     Enhancing a Standard Control

     Enhancing the RecordSet Class for Interactivity

     Adding Validation to a TextField

12. Flash Remoting Best Practices

     Separation of Tasks

     Separation of Functionality

     Server-Proofing the Application

     Component Use

     Clean API

     Loops and Repeated Operations

     OOP or Not OOP

     ColdFusion RecordSets

     Implementing Caching

     What to Walk Away With

13. Testing and Debugging

     Debugging Flash Remoting Applications

     Trapping Errors

     The Flash ActionScript Debugger

     NetConnection Debugger

     NetDebug.as

     Trace Debugging

     Testing Server-Side Code

     Using a TCP Trace Utility

     Debugging SQL Code

14. Real-World Application

     General Considerations

     Requirements

     Specifications

     The Modules

     Flash Remoting Code

     Testing and Debugging

     Completed Application

     Future Expansion

15. Flash Remoting API

Part IV. Appendixes

A. ActionScript Datatype Conversion

B. Books and Online Resources

C. Specification and Implementation for a Real-World Application

Index