Lesson 1. Introducing ActionScript

Introductions form the start of any great relationship. Get ready, then, to be introduced to your new best friend: ActionScript! We believe you'll find ActionScript a satisfying companion especially as you delve deeper into the relationship. Although you may not necessarily think of scripting as a creative endeavor, a working knowledge of ActionScript can spark all kinds of ideas ones that will enable you to create dynamic content that can interact with your users on myriad levels. Best of all, you'll get the satisfaction of watching your ideas grow into working models that fulfill your projects' objectives.

We'll plan, create, and test a highly interactive electric-bill payment system.

In this lesson, we'll introduce previous ActionScripters to version 2.0 of the language. xFor new users, we'll show you some compelling reasons for learning ActionScript, as well as what makes it tick. And if you're feeling a little shy, sometimes the best thing to do is jump right in which is exactly what you'll do here as you create and test a complete interactive project before lesson's end.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

In this lesson, you will:

• Learn about ActionScript 2.0 and how it differs from ActionScript 1.0

• Discover the benefits of learning ActionScript

• Learn to navigate and use the ActionScript editor

• Learn about script elements

• Plan a project

• Write your first script

• Test your script

• Debug your script

APPROXIMATE TIME

This lesson takes approximately one and one half hours to complete.

LESSON FILES

Starting File:

Lesson01/Assets/electricbill1.fla

Completed Projects:

electricbill2.fla

electricbill3.fla