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Special Edition Using Macromedia Director MX

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  • Reviews
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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 on 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.

Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent Director MX resource, July 7, 2003
By 
This review is from: Special Edition Using Macromedia Director MX (Paperback)
Working in a busy development studio, we've purchased all of Gary Rosenzweig's 'Special Edition, Using...' Director books over the last 4 years or so, and in this edition he's given the series a great overhaul.

The book is not particularly aimed at a Director beginner (like most titles seem to be), although as a beginner this book will have you making your own multimedia very quickly. It's more tailored towards intermediate (and even very experienced) developers who want to push their skills a little bit further - or simply want a reference book full of extremely useful, and practical solutions. None of this 'Hello World' stuff in here, all of the examples have clearly come from a mind who knows what is useful to us developers.

The book differs quite a lot from the previous versions, in that there is much more content now on 3D, Flash integration and imaging Lingo. The beginner chapters (focusing on the Director metaphor etc.) have been condensed (though they still cover... Read more

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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars VERY GOOD BOOK, August 10, 2003
This review is from: Special Edition Using Macromedia Director MX (Paperback)
This book states it's the only Director MX book you will ever need ... well, it's TRUE. Buy it, you will not be disappointed. Director is a great tool. Especially if you have a programming background, you will embrace the power of Lingo to create multimedia applications. This book shows some of the best Lingo examples I have seen up to now in Director books. It's good as a learning book and it's equally good as a reference book.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Listen to me..... its the words of wisdom, April 23, 2005
This review is from: Special Edition Using Macromedia Director MX (Paperback)
I really don't have to get into detail. This is the book you want to have when you need something to go back on and read. This is the 1st book that helped me the most i only used 4 books but this one was the one that made me go back and read up again and me as a person that hates to read, I learn a ton of stuff from this very book. I'm telling you right now no one here can tell you all the details this one book has but if you pick it up and read it you will see for your self that this book is worth more then it cost. He even has a mixure of games inside the cd its crazy. This book chills in my back pack when i need some lingo codes and which im back in director for the 3d field im just useing it to bring back the old codes which this book holds. All i can tell you is that this is a great book for director and perhaps one of the best i have encounter you won't regrate it trust me on that.
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Online Sample Chapters

Writing Lingo Scripts

Writing Lingo Scripts for Macromedia Director MX

Table of 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.

 
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