Adobe Flex 3

Contents......Page 3
Using this manual......Page 15
Viewing online documentation......Page 16
Typographical conventions......Page 17
Using Flex Programming Languages......Page 19
About MXML......Page 21
Writing a simple application......Page 22
Compiling MXML to SWF Files......Page 23
The relationship of MXML tags to ActionScript classes......Page 24
Developing applications......Page 25
Laying out a user interface using containers......Page 26
Adding user interface controls......Page 27
Using the id property with MXML tags......Page 28
Using XML namespaces......Page 29
Using MXML to trigger run-time code......Page 30
Binding data between components......Page 31
Using RPC services......Page 32
Storing data in a data model......Page 33
Validating data......Page 34
Formatting data......Page 35
Using Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)......Page 36
Using skins......Page 37
Defining custom MXML components......Page 38
Basic MXML syntax......Page 41
Setting component properties......Page 42
Setting properties using constants......Page 43
Setting the default property......Page 44
Escaping characters using the backslash character......Page 45
Including a newline character in a String value......Page 46
Setting Arrays of scalar values......Page 47
Setting Object properties......Page 48
Populating an Object with an Array......Page 49
Populating Arrays of objects......Page 50
Setting style and effect properties in MXML......Page 51
Specifying a URL value......Page 52
Using compiler tags......Page 53
MXML tag rules......Page 54
Using ActionScript in Flex applications......Page 55
About generated ActionScript......Page 56
Using ActionScript blocks in MXML files......Page 58
Referring to Flex components......Page 60
Calling component methods......Page 63
Creating visual Flex components in ActionScript......Page 64
About scope......Page 66
Including ActionScript files......Page 68
Using the source attribute to include ActionScript files......Page 69
Using the include directive......Page 70
Importing classes and packages......Page 71
Techniques for separating ActionScript from MXML......Page 72
One MXML document (Event handling logic in event attribute)......Page 73
One MXML document (Event handling logic in  block)......Page 74
Creating ActionScript components......Page 75
Types of custom components......Page 76
Using for..in loops......Page 77
Using the introspection API......Page 79
About events......Page 83
About the bubbling phase......Page 85
About event subclasses......Page 86
Using events......Page 87
Specifying the Event object......Page 90
Accessing the target property......Page 91
Registering event handlers......Page 92
Defining event listeners inline......Page 93
Using the addEventListener() method......Page 95
Creating event handler classes......Page 101
Defining multiple listeners for a single event......Page 104
Registering a single listener with multiple components......Page 107
Passing additional parameters to listener functions......Page 109
Manually dispatching events......Page 112
Event propagation......Page 115
About the target and currentTarget properties......Page 116
Capturing phase......Page 117
Bubbling phase......Page 118
Stopping propagation......Page 119
Examples......Page 121
Event priorities......Page 122
Using event subclasses......Page 124
Handling keyboard events......Page 126
Understanding the keyCode and charCode properties......Page 128
Understanding KeyboardEvent precedence......Page 130
Handling keyboard-related MouseEvents......Page 132
About data access......Page 133
HTTPService components......Page 134
WebService components......Page 135
RemoteObject components......Page 136
Client-side processing and server-side processing......Page 137
Data source access......Page 138
Flash Professional data management......Page 139
Building User Interfaces for Flex Applications......Page 141
About visual components......Page 143
Class hierarchy for visual components......Page 144
Commonly used UIComponent properties......Page 145
Using components in MXML and ActionScript......Page 146
Initializing components at run time......Page 148
Sizing visual components......Page 151
Examples of component sizing......Page 153
Handling events......Page 156
About the component instantiation life cycle......Page 159
Using styles......Page 161
Using behaviors......Page 163
Changing the appearance of a component at run time......Page 165
Extending components......Page 168
About data providers and collections......Page 171
About data providers......Page 172
Data provider types......Page 173
Data providers and the uid property......Page 175
About collections......Page 177
Collection interfaces......Page 178
Collection classes......Page 179
Using a collection object directly......Page 180
Example: Using a simple data provider......Page 182
Using IList interface methods and properties......Page 184
Using ICollectionView interface methods and properties......Page 186
Sorting......Page 187
Example: Sorting and filtering an ArrayCollection......Page 188
Manipulating the view cursor......Page 190
Getting, adding and removing items......Page 191
Using bookmarks......Page 193
Example: Updating an Array Using ICollectionView interface methods and properties......Page 195
Using collection events......Page 199
Using the itemUpdated method......Page 201
Disabling and enabling automatic updating......Page 202
Example: Modifying data in DataGrid control......Page 204
Data descriptors and hierarchical data provider structure......Page 207
Data descriptor methods and source requirements......Page 208
Using the  tag with Tree and menu-based controls......Page 210
Creating a custom data descriptor......Page 212
Using an XML data provider......Page 219
Using the XMLListCollection class......Page 221
Using a remote data source......Page 223
About sizing and positioning......Page 225
About layout in Flex......Page 226
About component sizing......Page 227
About component positioning......Page 228
Component layout patterns......Page 229
Basic layout rules and considerations......Page 230
Manually forcing layout......Page 231
Commonly used sizing properties......Page 232
Basic sizing characteristics and properties......Page 233
Maximum and minimum dimensions......Page 234
Basic sizing property rules......Page 235
Determining component size......Page 236
Determining container size......Page 237
Example: Determining an HBox container and child sizes......Page 238
Using default sizing......Page 240
Using percentage-based sizing......Page 241
Setting the Application container size......Page 246
Dealing with components that exceed their container size......Page 247
Using padding and custom gaps......Page 251
Using the Spacer control to control layout......Page 252
Disabling automatic positioning temporarily......Page 253
Preventing layout of hidden controls......Page 255
Using absolute positioning......Page 256
Creating a constraint-based layout......Page 259
Example: Using constraint-based layout for a form......Page 260
Constraint rows and columns......Page 263
Using ConstraintRow and ConstraintColumn objects......Page 264
Contents......Page 267
About controls......Page 268
Using data provider controls......Page 270
Flex controls......Page 271
Sizing controls......Page 274
Positioning controls......Page 275
Changing the appearance of controls......Page 276
Button control......Page 277
Embedding an icon in a Button control......Page 278
Button control user interaction......Page 279
Specifying image skins......Page 280
PopUpButton control......Page 281
Creating a PopUpButton control......Page 283
ButtonBar and ToggleButtonBar controls......Page 284
Creating a ButtonBar control......Page 286
Handling ButtonBar events......Page 287
LinkBar control......Page 288
Creating a LinkBar control......Page 289
Creating a TabBar control......Page 291
Passing data to a TabBar control......Page 293
Handling TabBar control events......Page 294
CheckBox control......Page 295
RadioButton control......Page 296
Creating a RadioButton control......Page 297
RadioButton user interaction......Page 299
Creating a group using the  tag......Page 300
NumericStepper control......Page 302
Keyboard navigation......Page 303
About the DateChooser control......Page 304
About the DateField control......Page 305
Creating a DateChooser or DateField control......Page 306
Using the Date class......Page 307
Specifying header, weekday, and today’s day text styles......Page 308
Specifying selectable dates......Page 309
Setting DateChooser and DateField properties in ActionScript......Page 310
Formatting dates with the DateField control......Page 314
User interaction......Page 315
LinkButton control......Page 316
Creating a LinkButton control......Page 317
HSlider and VSlider controls......Page 319
About Slider controls......Page 320
Creating a Slider control......Page 321
Using slider events......Page 324
Using data tips......Page 326
Keyboard navigation......Page 327
SWFLoader control......Page 328
Creating a SWFLoader control......Page 329
Interacting with a loaded Flex application......Page 330
Using the SWFLoader control to load a LiveCycle Data Services ES application......Page 332
Sizing a SWFLoader control......Page 333
About importing images......Page 334
Specifying the image path......Page 335
Sizing an image......Page 337
Maintaining aspect ratio when sizing......Page 338
Positioning the image in a Canvas container......Page 340
Setting visibility......Page 341
Techniques for using the Image control......Page 342
VideoDisplay control......Page 344
Setting the size of a media component......Page 345
Using methods of the VideoDisplay control......Page 346
Adding a cue point......Page 347
Adding a cue point by using the CuePointManager class......Page 348
Streaming video from a camera......Page 349
Using the VideoDisplay control with Flash Media Server 2......Page 350
About the ColorPicker control......Page 351
Creating a ColorPicker control......Page 353
Example: ColorPicker control that uses Objects......Page 355
Using custom field names......Page 357
Keyboard interaction......Page 358
Alert control......Page 360
Using event listeners with the Alert control......Page 363
ProgressBar control......Page 365
ProgressBar control modes......Page 366
Creating a ProgressBar control......Page 367
Defining the label of a ProgressBar control......Page 368
HRule and VRule controls......Page 370
Creating HRule and VRule controls......Page 371
Sizing HRule and VRule controls......Page 372
Setting style properties......Page 373
ScrollBar control......Page 374
Creating a ScrollBar control......Page 375
User interaction......Page 376
About text controls......Page 377
Using the text property......Page 379
Specifying special characters in the text property......Page 380
Specifying special characters in ActionScript......Page 382
Specifying HTML tags and text......Page 384
Specifying HTML text......Page 385
Escaping special characters in HTML text......Page 386
Anchor tag ()......Page 388
Bold tag ()......Page 389
Font tag ()......Page 390
Image tag ()......Page 391
List item tag (
)......Page 393
Underline tag ()......Page 394
Getting a selection......Page 395
Getting a TextRange object......Page 396
Changing text......Page 397
Example: changing selected text in a RichTextEditor control......Page 399
Label control......Page 400
TextInput control......Page 401
Sizing a TextInput control......Page 402
Text control......Page 403
Sizing a Text control......Page 404
TextArea control......Page 405
About the RichTextEditor control......Page 406
Creating a RichTextEditor control......Page 408
Sizing the RichTextEditor control......Page 409
Programming RichTextEditor subcontrols......Page 410
Removing and adding RichTextEditor subcontrols.......Page 411
About menu-based controls......Page 415
About menu data providers......Page 416
Menu entry types......Page 417
Menu attributes......Page 418
Example: An Array menu data provider......Page 420
Example: An XML menu data provider with icons......Page 421
Handling Menu control events......Page 423
Handling MenuBar events......Page 426
Example: Using Menu control events......Page 430
Handling PopUpMenuButton control events......Page 433
About the Menu Control......Page 435
Creating a Menu control......Page 436
Example: Creating a simple Menu control......Page 437
Menu control user interaction......Page 438
Creating a MenuBar control......Page 439
PopUpMenuButton control......Page 441
About the PopUpMenuButton control......Page 442
Creating a PopUpMenuButton control......Page 443
Example: Creating a PopUpMenuButton control......Page 444
Using the label property......Page 445
PopUpMenuButton user interaction......Page 446
Contents......Page 447
List control sizing......Page 448
Creating a List control......Page 449
Using a label function......Page 450
Displaying ScrollTips......Page 452
Setting variable row height and wrapping List text......Page 453
Using a custom item renderer......Page 454
Specifying an icon to the List control......Page 455
Alternating row colors in a List control......Page 456
List control user interaction......Page 457
About HorizontaList controls......Page 458
Creating a HorizontalList control......Page 459
Keyboard navigation......Page 461
About the TileList control......Page 462
Creating a TileList control......Page 463
TileList control user interaction......Page 465
ComboBox control......Page 466
Creating a ComboBox control......Page 467
Using events with ComboBox controls......Page 469
Specifying ComboBox labels......Page 471
Populating a ComboBox control using variables and models......Page 472
ComboBox control user interaction......Page 473
About the DataGrid control......Page 475
Creating a DataGrid control......Page 476
Specifying columns......Page 478
Hiding and displaying columns......Page 479
Passing data to a DataGrid control......Page 480
Handling events in a DataGrid control......Page 481
Determining the initial DataGrid sort order......Page 482
Controlling user sorting of DataGrid displays......Page 483
Example: Sorting a DataGrid on multiple columns......Page 484
DataGrid control user interaction......Page 486
Tree control......Page 487
Creating a Tree control......Page 488
Handling Tree control events......Page 491
Expanding a tree node......Page 492
Specifying Tree control icons......Page 495
Using icon fields......Page 496
Using the setItemIcon() method......Page 497
Editing a node label at run time......Page 498
Using the keyboard to edit labels......Page 499
Tree Navigation keys......Page 500
Contents......Page 501
About the AdvancedDataGrid control......Page 502
Sorting by multiple columns......Page 504
Styling rows and columns......Page 506
Styling rows......Page 508
Styling columns......Page 510
Using a data formatter in a column......Page 511
Selecting multiple cells and rows......Page 513
Hierarchical and grouped data display......Page 517
Setting the data provider with hierarchical data......Page 520
Controlling the navigation tree......Page 521
Setting navigation tree icons and labels......Page 522
Creating a separate column for the navigation tree......Page 524
Displaying hierarchical data......Page 525
Defining hierarchical data with an ArrayCollection......Page 526
Displaying hierarchical XML data......Page 528
Displaying grouped data......Page 529
Calling the GroupingCollection.refresh() method......Page 532
Creating a column for the GroupLabel field......Page 533
Creating groups in ActionScript......Page 535
Creating summary rows......Page 536
Using the default properties of the GroupingField and SummaryRow classes......Page 540
Specifying the location of the summary data......Page 541
Creating multiple summaries......Page 543
Creating column groups......Page 544
Dragging and dropping columns in the group......Page 547
Using grouped columns with hierarchical data......Page 548
Using item renderers with the AdvancedDataGrid control......Page 550
Using an item renderer......Page 551
Using a renderer to generate column data......Page 554
Using an item renderer that spans an entire row......Page 557
Keyboard navigation......Page 560
About containers......Page 563
About layout containers and navigator containers......Page 564
Using containers......Page 565
Flex containers......Page 569
Class hierarchy for containers......Page 570
Container example......Page 571
Event overview......Page 572
About the creation policy......Page 573
About the initialize and creationComplete events......Page 574
Disabling containers......Page 576
Using the Panel container......Page 577
Defining a default button......Page 578
Using scroll bars......Page 579
Scroll bar layout considerations......Page 580
Controlling scroll delay and interval......Page 581
About the coordinate systems......Page 582
Using coordinate properties and methods......Page 584
Example: Using the mouse position in a Canvas container......Page 585
About the display list and container children......Page 588
Obtaining the number of child components in a container or application......Page 590
Creating and removing components at run time......Page 591
Example: Creating and removing a child of an VBox container......Page 594
Example: Creating and removing children of an Accordion container......Page 596
Controlling child order......Page 597
Using the Application container......Page 601
Sizing an Application container and its children......Page 602
Changing the Application background......Page 605
Using the plain style......Page 606
Viewing the application source code......Page 607
Specifying options of the Application container......Page 608
About the Document object......Page 609
Accessing Document and Application object scopes......Page 610
Using the mx.core.Application.application property......Page 611
Using the parentDocument property......Page 613
Showing the download progress of an application......Page 614
Creating a custom progress bar......Page 615
Download progress bar events......Page 616
Creating a simple subclass of the DownloadProgressBar class......Page 617
Creating a subclass of the DownloadProgressBar class......Page 619
Creating a subclass of Sprite......Page 621
Contents......Page 625
Canvas layout container......Page 626
Creating a Canvas Control by using absolute positioning......Page 627
Preventing overlapping children......Page 629
Box, HBox, and VBox layout containers......Page 631
Creating a Box, HBox, or VBox container......Page 632
ControlBar layout container......Page 634
Creating a ControlBar container......Page 635
ApplicationControlBar layout container......Page 636
Creating an ApplicationControlBar container......Page 637
DividedBox, HDividedBox, and VDividedBox layout containers......Page 639
Creating a DividedBox, HDividedBox, or VDividedBox container......Page 640
Form, FormHeading, and FormItem layout containers......Page 642
About forms......Page 643
Creating the Form container......Page 644
Creating a FormItem container......Page 645
Controlling form item label style......Page 646
Example: A simple form......Page 647
Aligning and spacing Form container children......Page 648
Defining a default button......Page 650
Specifying required fields......Page 652
Storing and validating form data......Page 653
Using Form controls to hold your form data......Page 655
Validating form control contents data on user entry......Page 657
Using a Flex data model to store form data......Page 658
Using Flex validators with form models......Page 660
Submitting data to a server......Page 662
Grid layout container......Page 666
Creating a Grid layout container......Page 667
Setting the row and column span......Page 671
Panel layout container......Page 673
Adding a ControlBar container to a Panel container......Page 675
Tile layout container......Page 678
Creating a Tile layout container......Page 679
Sizing and positioning a child in a Tile container......Page 680
TitleWindow layout container......Page 681
Creating a pop-up window......Page 683
Removing a pop-up window......Page 687
Using TitleWindow and PopUpManager events......Page 688
Centering a pop-up window......Page 690
Passing data to and from a pop-up window......Page 691
Passing data using events......Page 694
Using the addPopUp() method......Page 696
About navigator containers......Page 699
ViewStack navigator container......Page 700
Creating a ViewStack container......Page 701
Applying behaviors to a ViewStack container......Page 704
TabNavigator container......Page 706
Creating a TabNavigator container......Page 707
TabNavigator container Keyboard navigation......Page 709
Accordion navigator container......Page 710
Creating an Accordion container......Page 712
Using Button controls to navigate an Accordion container......Page 713
Controlling the appearance of accordion buttons......Page 715
Customizing the User Interface......Page 717
About behaviors......Page 719
About applying behaviors......Page 720
About factory and instance classes......Page 722
Available effects......Page 724
Available triggers......Page 728
Applying behaviors in MXML......Page 729
Applying behaviors in MXML using data binding......Page 730
Applying behaviors in MXML using styles......Page 731
Using setStyle() and getStyle() with behaviors defined in MXML......Page 732
Applying behaviors in ActionScript......Page 733
Playing an effect backward......Page 735
Ending an effect......Page 736
Creating a reusable effect......Page 738
Applying behaviors in ActionScript using styles......Page 739
Applying behaviors using the Effect.target and Effect.targets properties......Page 742
Using embedded fonts with effects......Page 744
Creating composite effects......Page 745
Delaying effect start......Page 748
Repeating effects......Page 749
Using a sound effect......Page 750
Using a mask effect......Page 752
Creating a custom mask function......Page 753
Handling effect events......Page 755
Handling tween effect events......Page 757
Using an easing function......Page 758
Using a Flex easing function......Page 759
Creating a custom easing function......Page 761
Disabling container layout for effects......Page 762
Improving performance when resizing Panel containers......Page 764
Setting UIComponent.cachePolicy on the effect target......Page 765
About styles......Page 767
External style sheets......Page 768
Local style definitions......Page 769
getStyle() and setStyle() methods......Page 770
Inline styles......Page 771
Length format......Page 772
Time format......Page 775
Color format......Page 776
Using Arrays for style properties......Page 777
Using Cascading Style Sheets......Page 781
About property and selector names......Page 782
About inheritance in CSS......Page 783
About class selectors......Page 784
About type selectors......Page 785
Using compound selectors......Page 787
About selector precedence......Page 788
Supported CSS properties......Page 789
Embedding resources in style sheets......Page 790
Style inheritance order......Page 791
Inheritance exceptions......Page 793
About supported styles......Page 794
About the themeColor property......Page 795
Using external style sheets......Page 796
Using local style definitions......Page 797
Using the Application type selector......Page 798
Using the global selector......Page 799
Using the StyleManager class......Page 800
Setting styles......Page 807
Using inline styles......Page 812
Loading style sheets at run time......Page 814
Creating a run-time style sheet......Page 815
Compiling the CSS-based SWF file......Page 816
Loading style sheets at run time......Page 817
Unloading style sheets at run time......Page 820
Using run-time style sheets in custom components......Page 821
Using theme SWC files as run-time style sheets......Page 822
Using filters in Flex......Page 823
Using themes......Page 828
Creating a theme SWC file......Page 830
Creating a theme style sheet......Page 831
Compiling a theme SWC file......Page 832
Using a configuration file to compile theme SWC files......Page 833
About fonts......Page 835
Using device fonts......Page 837
Using embedded fonts......Page 838
Embedded font syntax......Page 839
Locating embedded fonts......Page 842
Embedding fonts in ActionScript......Page 843
Using advanced anti-aliasing......Page 847
Detecting embedded fonts......Page 850
Using multiple typefaces......Page 853
Setting character ranges......Page 858
Setting ranges in font-face declarations......Page 859
Setting ranges in flex-config.xml......Page 860
Detecting available ranges......Page 861
Embedding fonts from SWF files......Page 862
Creating Flash 8 files with embedded fonts......Page 863
Embedding fonts from SWF files into Flex applications......Page 865
Troubleshooting......Page 874
Resolving run-time errors......Page 875
About skinning......Page 879
Types of skins......Page 880
Creating skins......Page 881
Creating graphical skins......Page 882
Creating programmatic skins......Page 883
Creating stateful skins......Page 887
Sizing skins......Page 888
Skinning subcomponents......Page 889
Skin resources......Page 890
Applying programmatic skins inline......Page 891
Applying skins by using CSS......Page 893
Using CSS to apply graphical skins......Page 894
Applying skins by using the setStyle() method......Page 895
Using the setStyle() method to apply graphical skins......Page 896
Using the setStyle() method to apply programmatic skins......Page 897
Creating graphical skins......Page 899
Using JPEG, GIF, and PNG files as skins......Page 900
Using static SWF assets as skins......Page 901
Creating programmatic skins......Page 903
Programmatic skins recipe......Page 904
Selecting an interface or base class for your skin......Page 905
Compiling programmatic skins......Page 907
Implementing the updateDisplayList() method......Page 908
Drawing programmatically......Page 911
Implementing measuredWidth and measuredHeight getters......Page 917
Implementing a getter for the borderMetrics property......Page 919
Creating stateful skins......Page 921
Example: creating a stateful skin......Page 923
Creating stateful skin using images......Page 926
Using transitions with a stateful skin......Page 928
Accessing the parent component......Page 930
Making properties styleable......Page 934
About item renderers......Page 939
Default item rendering and cell editing......Page 940
Using custom item renderers and item editors......Page 943
Item renderer and item editor architecture......Page 944
About item renderer and item editor interfaces......Page 946
Application layout with item renderers and item editors......Page 947
Using a drop-in item renderer or item editor......Page 948
Using an inline item renderer or item editor......Page 950
Using a component as an item renderer or item editor......Page 951
Using editable controls in an item renderer......Page 952
Setting the itemRenderer or itemEditor property in ActionScript......Page 953
About the item renderer and item editor life cycle......Page 955
Accessing the listData property......Page 956
Using drop-in item renderers and item editors......Page 959
Requirements of a drop-in item renderers in a List control......Page 963
Creating a simple inline item renderer or item editor......Page 964
Creating a complex inline item renderer or item editor......Page 965
Items allowed in an inline component......Page 967
Defining the scope in an  tag......Page 968
Creating a reusable inline item renderer or item editor......Page 970
Creating an item renderer component......Page 972
Overriding the data property......Page 976
About using the creationComplete and dataChange events......Page 978
Creating an item renderer in ActionScript......Page 979
Working with item renderers......Page 980
Example: Using an item renderer with the TileList and HorizontalList controls......Page 981
Example: Using an item renderer with a DataGrid control......Page 983
Example: Using an item renderer with a List control......Page 986
Example: Using an item renderer with a Tree control......Page 987
The cell editing process......Page 993
Creating an editable cell......Page 994
Returning data from an item editor......Page 995
Defining a property to return data......Page 996
Sizing and positioning an item editor......Page 999
Making an item editor that responds to the Enter key......Page 1001
Using the cell editing events......Page 1002
Accessing cell data and the item editor in an event listener......Page 1005
Determining the reason for an itemEditEnd event......Page 1007
Item editor examples......Page 1010
Example: Preventing a cell from being edited......Page 1011
Example: Modifying data passed to or received from an item editor......Page 1013
Example: Passing multiple values back from an item editor......Page 1015
Example: Using an item renderer as an item editor......Page 1021
Example: Using a data validator in a custom item editor......Page 1023
Examples using item editors with the list controls......Page 1024
Example: Using a custom item editor with a List control......Page 1025
Example: Using a custom item editor with a Tree control......Page 1028
About ToolTips......Page 1033
Creating ToolTips......Page 1034
Setting styles in ToolTips......Page 1036
Setting the width of ToolTips......Page 1039
Using ToolTips with NavBar controls......Page 1040
Enabling and disabling ToolTips......Page 1042
Setting delay times......Page 1043
Using effects with ToolTips......Page 1044
Using dynamic ToolTip text......Page 1045
Creating custom ToolTips......Page 1047
Positioning custom ToolTips......Page 1051
Using error tips......Page 1055
Reskinning ToolTips......Page 1059
About the Cursor Manager......Page 1063
Using the Cursor Manager......Page 1064
Creating and removing a cursor......Page 1065
Setting a busy cursor......Page 1066
Using the showBusyCursor property......Page 1069
About resource bundles and properties files......Page 1071
Creating a localized application......Page 1072
Using the ResourceBundle metadata tag......Page 1074
Using the @Resource directive......Page 1075
Substituting localized String values......Page 1076
Using localized ActionScript classes......Page 1077
Using embedded assets......Page 1079
Using localized properties files and ResourceBundle subclasses......Page 1082
Localized properties file and class search order......Page 1083
Creating the application SWF file......Page 1084
Creating a localized SWC file......Page 1086
Flex Programming Topics......Page 1089
About Repeater components......Page 1091
Declaring the Repeater component in MXML......Page 1092
Basic principles of the Repeater component......Page 1094
Creating dynamic loops with the Repeater component......Page 1097
Referencing repeated components......Page 1100
Referencing repeated child components......Page 1101
Referencing nested Repeater components......Page 1102
Event handlers in Repeater components......Page 1103
Accessing specific instances of repeated components......Page 1106
Using a Repeater component in a custom MXML component......Page 1110
Recreating children in a Repeater component......Page 1112
Considerations when using a Repeater component......Page 1113
About view states......Page 1115
Defining a login interface by using view states......Page 1116
Example: Login form application......Page 1118
Example: Controlling layout using view states......Page 1120
Additional state-based application techniques......Page 1122
Creating view states......Page 1123
View state overrides......Page 1124
Applying view states......Page 1125
Example: Creating a simple view state......Page 1126
Basing a view state on another view state......Page 1127
Creating a view state in ActionScript......Page 1129
Defining view state overrides......Page 1133
Setting overrides on component properties......Page 1134
Setting overrides on component styles......Page 1136
Adding a child component......Page 1137
Controlling when to create added children......Page 1139
Using the handlerFunction property......Page 1146
Using the handler event type......Page 1147
Example: Setting event handlers......Page 1148
Defining view states in custom components......Page 1149
Using view states with a custom item renderer......Page 1152
Example: Using view states with a custom item renderer......Page 1154
Using view states with history management......Page 1156
Creating your own override classes......Page 1158
About transitions......Page 1163
Example: Using transitions with a login form......Page 1165
Comparing transitions to effects......Page 1166
Defining transitions......Page 1167
Defining multiple transitions......Page 1170
Defining effect targets......Page 1171
Defining the effect start and end values......Page 1172
Handling events when using transitions......Page 1174
Using action effects in a transition......Page 1175
Example: Using action effects......Page 1178
Filtering effects......Page 1179
Example: Using a filter......Page 1181
Defining a custom filter......Page 1182
Writing a filter function......Page 1186
Example: Using a custom effect filter......Page 1189
Tips......Page 1192
Troubleshooting......Page 1193
About the drag-and-drop operation......Page 1195
Using drag-and-drop with list-based controls......Page 1197
Performing a two-way drag and drop......Page 1200
Dragging and dropping in the same control......Page 1202
Drag and drop properties for list-based controls......Page 1203
Classes used in drag-and-drop operations......Page 1204
Drag-and-drop events for a drag initiator......Page 1205
Drag-and-drop events for a drop target......Page 1206
The drag-and-drop operation......Page 1207
Example: Simple drag-and-drop operation for a nonlist-based control......Page 1209
Writing the mouseDown event handler......Page 1211
Handling the dragDrop event......Page 1213
Example: handling drag and drop events in a list- based control......Page 1214
Drag and drop examples......Page 1217
Example: Using a container as a drop target......Page 1218
Example: Specifying the drag proxy......Page 1220
Example: Handling the dragOver and dragExit events for the drop target......Page 1222
About copying data......Page 1227
Example: Copying data from one List control to another List control......Page 1228
Example: Copying data from a List control to a DataGrid control......Page 1230
Example: Moving and a copying data for a nonlist- based control......Page 1232
About embedding assets......Page 1237
Examples of embedding assets......Page 1238
Accessing assets at run time......Page 1239
Syntax for embedding assets......Page 1240
Embed parameters......Page 1241
About setting the path to the embedded asset......Page 1242
About the MIME type......Page 1243
Using the @Embed() directive in MXML......Page 1244
Embedding JPEG, GIF, and PNG images......Page 1245
Embedding SVG images......Page 1247
Embedding sounds......Page 1248
Embedding SWF symbols......Page 1249
Embedding SWF files that represent Flex applications......Page 1250
Using 9-slice scaling with embedded images......Page 1251
System requirements......Page 1255
Importing static SWF 9 assets......Page 1256
Importing dynamic SWF 9 assets......Page 1258
Creating the symbol for your component......Page 1259
Actions performed by the Make Flex Component command......Page 1261
Compiling your Flex application......Page 1262
Using SWF 9 files as skins......Page 1264
Adding custom events......Page 1265
Adding tool tips to Flash components......Page 1266
Controlling the size of a Flash component......Page 1267
Adding a bounding box to a Flash component......Page 1268
Overriding the setActualSize() method......Page 1269
Adding view states and transitions to SWF 9 assets......Page 1271
Adding transitions......Page 1272
Using tweens in a transition......Page 1275
About modules......Page 1277
Benefits of modules......Page 1278
Module API details......Page 1279
Creating modules......Page 1280
Creating MXML-based modules......Page 1281
Creating modules in Flex Builder......Page 1282
Creating ActionScript-based modules......Page 1283
Compiling modules......Page 1284
Using modules in a single project......Page 1285
Using multiple projects......Page 1286
Reducing module size......Page 1290
Loading and unloading modules......Page 1292
Using the ModuleLoader class to load modules......Page 1293
Using the ModuleManager class to load modules......Page 1296
Loading modules from different servers......Page 1297
Preloading modules......Page 1299
Using ModuleLoader events......Page 1301
Using the error event......Page 1305
Using the progress event......Page 1307
Passing data......Page 1310
Accessing modules from the parent application......Page 1311
Accessing the parent application from the modules......Page 1314
Accessing modules from other modules......Page 1316
Passing data with the query string......Page 1318
Using interfaces for module communication......Page 1321
Contents......Page 1327
Using standard history management......Page 1328
Registering components with the HistoryManager......Page 1330
Implementing the loadState() and saveState() methods......Page 1331
Using history management with a list-based control control......Page 1333
Calling the HistoryManager class’s static methods......Page 1335
Encoding navigation state data......Page 1336
Using history management without LiveCycle Data Services ES......Page 1337
Using history management with LiveCycle Data Services ES......Page 1339
Contents......Page 1341
Using the FlexPrintJob class......Page 1342
Starting a print job......Page 1343
Scaling a print job......Page 1344
Completing the print operation......Page 1345
Example: A simple print job......Page 1346
Using a print-specific output format......Page 1347
Example: A simple print-specific output format......Page 1348
Printing known-length multipage output......Page 1351
Using the sizeToPage attribute to format pages......Page 1352
Using the nextPage() method and validNextPage property to print multiple pages......Page 1353
Example: Printing with multipage PrintDataGrid controls......Page 1354
Multipage print application file......Page 1355
Print output component......Page 1358
Header and footer files......Page 1359
Using the PrintAdvancedDataGrid control......Page 1360
About exchanging data with Flex applications......Page 1363
Accessing environment information......Page 1365
About the ExternalInterface API......Page 1366
Passing request data with flashVars properties......Page 1368
Using the src properties to pass request data......Page 1371
Accessing the flashVars properties......Page 1372
Accessing JavaScript functions from Flex......Page 1373
Calling JavaScript methods from Flex applications......Page 1374
The navigateToURL() method syntax......Page 1381
Calling JavaScript functions with the URLRequest object......Page 1384
Invoking JavaScript with the navigateToURL() method......Page 1385
Accessing Flex from JavaScript......Page 1387
Handling multiple browser types......Page 1390
Editing the Flex application’s id and name properties......Page 1392
About ExternalInterface API security in Flex......Page 1393
About the addCallback() method......Page 1394
Shared objects compared with cookies......Page 1395
About the SharedObject class......Page 1396
Creating a shared object......Page 1397
Adding data to a shared object......Page 1398
Storing objects in shared objects......Page 1399
Creating multiple shared objects......Page 1403
SharedObject example......Page 1404
Accessibility overview......Page 1407
About screen reader technology......Page 1409
Flash Player and Microsoft Active Accessibility......Page 1410
Enabling accessibility in Flex......Page 1411
Accessible components and containers......Page 1412
Scrolling to a component when tabbing......Page 1416
Implementing screen reader detection with the Accessibility.isActive() method......Page 1420
Testing accessible content......Page 1421
Data Access and Interconnectivity......Page 1423
Using HTTPService components......Page 1425
MXML code......Page 1426
MySQL database script......Page 1427
PHP code......Page 1428
MXML code......Page 1429
ColdFusion code......Page 1431
MXML code......Page 1432
JSP code......Page 1433
Calling HTTP services in ActionScript......Page 1435
Looking at an application......Page 1436
MXML code......Page 1437
WSDL document......Page 1438
Reading WSDL documents......Page 1441
RPC-oriented operations and document-oriented operations......Page 1442
Adding SOAP headers to web service requests......Page 1443
Clearing SOAP headers......Page 1446
Using RemoteObject components......Page 1447
MXML code......Page 1448
ColdFusion Component......Page 1450
Calling RemoteObject components in ActionScript......Page 1451
Accessing EJBs and other objects in JNDI......Page 1452
Reserved method names......Page 1453
Explicit parameter passing and parameter binding......Page 1454
Explicit parameter passing with RemoteObject and WebService components......Page 1455
Explicit parameter passing with HTTPService components......Page 1456
Parameter binding with RemoteObject components......Page 1457
Parameter binding with HTTPService components......Page 1461
Parameter binding with WebService components......Page 1462
Handling result and fault events......Page 1465
Handling results as XML with the e4x result format......Page 1468
About data representation......Page 1473
Data models......Page 1476
Data validation......Page 1477
Data formatting......Page 1478
About data binding......Page 1481
When data binding occurs......Page 1483
Using read-only properties as the source for data binding......Page 1484
Creating properties to use as the source for data binding......Page 1485
Data binding examples......Page 1486
Using data binding with data models......Page 1487
Binding more than one source property to a destination property......Page 1488
Binding to functions, Objects and arrays......Page 1489
Binding to functions in response to a data-binding event......Page 1490
Binding to Objects......Page 1492
Binding to properties of Objects......Page 1494
Binding with arrays......Page 1496
Binding to arrays......Page 1497
Binding to array elements......Page 1498
Using ActionScript expressions in curly braces......Page 1499
Using ActionScript expressions in Binding tags......Page 1501
Using an E4X expression in a data binding expression......Page 1502
Using an E4X expression in curly braces......Page 1503
Using an E4X expression in an  tag......Page 1504
Example: Defining a data binding in ActionScript......Page 1506
Defining binding watchers......Page 1508
Using the Bindable metadata tag......Page 1509
Using static properties as the source for data binding......Page 1512
Working with bindable property chains......Page 1513
Considerations for using the binding feature......Page 1514
Debugging data binding......Page 1515
About data models......Page 1517
The  tag......Page 1518
The  tag......Page 1519
Class-based models......Page 1520
Specifying an external source for an  tag or  tag......Page 1522
Using validators with a data model......Page 1524
Using a data model as a value object......Page 1525
Binding data into an XML data model......Page 1527
Validating data......Page 1529
About validators......Page 1530
About the source and property properties......Page 1531
About triggering validation......Page 1532
About validation events......Page 1533
Triggering validation by using events......Page 1534
Triggering validation for data bindings......Page 1535
Triggering validation programmatically......Page 1539
Handling the return value of the validate() method......Page 1540
Triggering the DateValidator and CreditCardValidator......Page 1542
Invoking multiple validators in a function......Page 1544
Creating a reusable validator......Page 1547
Conditionalizing validator execution......Page 1548
Validating required fields......Page 1550
Using data binding to configure validators......Page 1551
General guidelines for validation......Page 1552
Configuring error messages......Page 1555
Changing the color of the validation error message......Page 1556
Clearing a validation error......Page 1557
Specifying a listener for validation......Page 1558
Working with validation events......Page 1559
Explicitly handling component validation events......Page 1560
Explicitly handing validator validation events......Page 1561
Using the CreditCardValidator class......Page 1562
Using the CurrencyValidator class......Page 1565
Using the DateValidator class......Page 1566
Using the EmailValidator class......Page 1568
Using the NumberValidator class......Page 1569
Using the RegExpValidator class......Page 1570
Using the StringValidator class......Page 1573
Using the ZipCodeValidator class......Page 1574
Using formatters......Page 1575
Writing an error handler function......Page 1577
Using the CurrencyFormatter class......Page 1579
Error handling: CurrencyFormatter class......Page 1580
Using Pattern strings......Page 1581
Using the NumberFormatter class......Page 1584
Example: Using the NumberFormatter class......Page 1585
Using the PhoneFormatter class......Page 1586
Example: Using the PhoneFormatter class......Page 1587
Using the ZipCodeFormatter class......Page 1588
Example: Using the ZipCodeFormatter class......Page 1589
Error handling: ZipCodeFormatter class......Page 1590
Charting Components......Page 1591
About charting......Page 1593
Using the charting controls......Page 1595
About the series classes......Page 1603
About the axis classes......Page 1604
About charting events......Page 1605
Creating charts in ActionScript......Page 1606
Using chart data......Page 1613
Types of chart data......Page 1614
Using static Arrays as data providers......Page 1615
Using collections as data providers......Page 1619
Using an XML file as a data provider......Page 1628
Randomly generating chart data......Page 1633
Changing chart data at run time......Page 1634
Contents......Page 1645
Using area charts......Page 1646
Using bar charts......Page 1649
Using bubble charts......Page 1651
Using multiple series in BubbleChart controls......Page 1653
Using candlestick charts......Page 1657
Using column charts......Page 1662
Using HighLowOpenClose charts......Page 1669
Using line charts......Page 1673
Formatting lines......Page 1677
Using vertical lines in a LineChart control......Page 1681
Using pie charts......Page 1684
Using data labels with PieChart controls......Page 1685
Creating doughnut charts......Page 1687
Creating exploding pie charts......Page 1689
Using plot charts......Page 1692
Using multiple data series......Page 1696
Using multiple axes......Page 1698
Using the second axis......Page 1701
Using multiple axis renderers......Page 1702
Contents......Page 1707
Applying CSS to chart controls......Page 1708
Applying different styles to each series......Page 1709
Using predefined axis style properties......Page 1712
Using class selectors for axis styles......Page 1713
Applying styles inline......Page 1714
Applying styles by binding tag definitions......Page 1715
Using ChartElement objects......Page 1717
Setting padding properties......Page 1720
Formatting tick marks......Page 1725
Formatting axis lines......Page 1727
Using strokes......Page 1730
Defining AxisRenderer properties with strokes......Page 1733
Using strokes in ActionScript......Page 1735
Defining strokes for LineSeries and AreaSeries......Page 1736
Using fills......Page 1738
Setting fills with CSS......Page 1746
Using gradient fills with chart controls......Page 1751
Using different alpha values with fills......Page 1754
Using filters......Page 1758
Using grid lines......Page 1767
Formatting grid lines with MXML......Page 1770
Formatting grid lines with CSS......Page 1773
Formatting grid lines with ActionScript......Page 1775
Rotating axis labels......Page 1776
Skinning ChartItem objects......Page 1779
Using multiple renderer classes......Page 1780
Creating graphical renderers......Page 1781
Creating programmatic renderers......Page 1784
Formatting Legend controls......Page 1787
Setting the direction of legends......Page 1790
Formatting the legend markers......Page 1791
Working with axes......Page 1795
About the CategoryAxis class......Page 1796
About the NumericAxis class......Page 1799
About the LinearAxis subclass......Page 1800
About the LogAxis subclass......Page 1801
About supported types......Page 1803
Using the parseFunction property......Page 1805
Setting minimum and maximum values on a DateTimeAxis......Page 1808
Omitting days on a DateTimeAxis......Page 1810
Adding axis titles......Page 1818
Defining axis labels......Page 1822
Disabling axis labels......Page 1823
Customizing axis labels......Page 1824
Setting ranges......Page 1828
Using data labels......Page 1829
Adding data labels......Page 1832
Styling data labels......Page 1833
Aligning data labels......Page 1835
Rotating data labels......Page 1836
Customizing data label values......Page 1838
Customizing data labels for ColumnSeries and BarSeries objects......Page 1839
Customizing data labels for PieSeries objects......Page 1841
Using DataTips......Page 1844
Showing multiple DataTips......Page 1850
Customizing DataTip values......Page 1851
Using per-item fills......Page 1856
Using the minField property......Page 1865
Stacking charts......Page 1867
Using Legend controls......Page 1873
Adding a Legend control to your chart......Page 1874
Creating a custom Legend control......Page 1878
Handling user interactions with charts......Page 1881
Using the HitData object......Page 1883
Getting chart elements......Page 1886
Getting data with coordinates......Page 1890
Changing mouse sensitivity......Page 1895
Disabling interactivity......Page 1897
Using standard effect triggers......Page 1899
Using charting effect triggers......Page 1901
Charting effects with data series......Page 1902
Using the SeriesSlide effect......Page 1907
Using the SeriesZoom effect......Page 1909
Using the SeriesInterpolate effect......Page 1911
Applying effects with ActionScript......Page 1913
Drilling down into data......Page 1923
Methods of chart item selection......Page 1930
Region selection......Page 1933
Keyboard and mouse selection......Page 1934
Programmatic selection......Page 1935
About selection events......Page 1948
Clearing selections......Page 1949
Using the selection API to create new charts......Page 1950
Dragging and dropping chart items......Page 1953
Index......Page 1959