Flex 2 Developer's Guide

Contents......Page 3
Using this manual......Page 15
Documentation set......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
Including a newline character in a String value......Page 44
Setting Arrays of scalar values......Page 45
Setting Object properties......Page 46
Populating an Object with an Array......Page 47
Populating Arrays of objects......Page 48
Setting properties that contain XML data......Page 49
Setting event properties in MXML......Page 50
Specifying a RegExp value......Page 51
MXML tag rules......Page 52
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 62
Creating visual Flex components in ActionScript......Page 63
About scope......Page 64
Including ActionScript files......Page 66
Using the source attribute to include ActionScript files......Page 67
Referring to external files that have been included......Page 68
Importing classes and packages......Page 69
One MXML document (Event handling logic in event attribute)......Page 70
One MXML document and one ActionScript file (Event handling logic in separate script file)......Page 71
Creating ActionScript components......Page 72
Performing object introspection......Page 73
Using for..in loops......Page 74
Using the introspection API......Page 75
About events......Page 79
About the bubbling phase......Page 81
About event subclasses......Page 82
Using events......Page 83
Specifying the Event object......Page 85
Registering event listeners......Page 86
Defining event listeners inline......Page 87
Using the addEventListener() method......Page 88
Creating event listener classes......Page 92
Defining multiple listeners for a single event......Page 93
Registering a single listener with multiple components......Page 95
Passing additional parameters to listener functions......Page 96
Manually dispatching events......Page 97
Event propagation......Page 98
About the target and currentTarget properties......Page 99
Capturing phase......Page 100
Bubbling phase......Page 101
Detecting the event phase......Page 102
Stopping propagation......Page 103
Examples......Page 104
Event priorities......Page 105
Using event subclasses......Page 106
Handling keyboard events......Page 108
Understanding the keyCode and charCode properties......Page 109
Handling keyboard-related MouseEvents......Page 110
Building User Interfaces for Flex Applications......Page 113
About visual components......Page 115
Class hierarchy for visual components......Page 116
Commonly used UIComponent properties......Page 117
Using components in MXML and ActionScript......Page 118
Initializing components at run time......Page 120
Configuring components: syntax summary......Page 122
Sizing visual components......Page 123
Examples of component sizing......Page 124
Handling events......Page 126
About the component instantiation life cycle......Page 128
Using styles......Page 130
Using behaviors......Page 133
Changing the appearance of a component at run time......Page 134
Extending components......Page 136
About data providers and collections......Page 139
About data providers......Page 140
Data provider types......Page 141
Data providers and the uid property......Page 142
About collections......Page 144
Collection interfaces......Page 145
Collection classes......Page 146
Using a raw data object as a data provider......Page 147
Using a collection object directly......Page 148
Example: Using a simple data provider......Page 149
Using IList interface methods and properties......Page 151
Using ICollectionView interface methods and properties......Page 153
Sorting......Page 154
Example: Sorting and filtering an ArrayCollection......Page 155
Manipulating the view cursor......Page 157
Getting, adding and removing items......Page 158
Using bookmarks......Page 159
Example: updating an Array Using ICollectionView interface methods and properties......Page 161
Using events and update notifications......Page 164
Using collection events......Page 165
Using the itemUpdated method......Page 167
Disabling and enabling automatic updating......Page 168
Example: modifying data in DataGrid control......Page 169
Data descriptors and hierarchical data provider structure......Page 172
Data descriptor methods and source requirements......Page 173
Using the  tag with Tree and menu-based controls......Page 175
Creating a custom data descriptor......Page 177
Using an XML data provider......Page 182
Using the XMLListCollection class......Page 184
Using remote data providers......Page 186
Using a DataService component......Page 187
About ItemPendingError errors......Page 188
Handling ItemPendingError errors......Page 189
Ensuring all data is available before you display a control......Page 191
About sizing and positioning......Page 193
About layout in Flex......Page 194
About component sizing......Page 195
About component positioning......Page 196
Component layout patterns......Page 197
Basic layout rules and considerations......Page 198
Sizing components......Page 199
Commonly used sizing properties......Page 200
Basic sizing characteristics and properties......Page 201
Basic sizing property rules......Page 202
Determining component size......Page 203
Determining container size......Page 204
Example: Determining an HBox container and child sizes......Page 205
Using Flex component sizing techniques......Page 206
Specifying an explicit size......Page 207
Using percentage-based sizing......Page 208
Setting the Application container size......Page 212
Dealing with components that exceed their container size......Page 213
Using padding and custom gaps......Page 215
Using the Spacer control to control layout......Page 216
Disabling automatic positioning temporarily......Page 217
Preventing layout of hidden controls......Page 218
Using absolute positioning......Page 219
Creating a constraint-based layout......Page 221
Example: Using constraint-based layout for a form......Page 222
Contents......Page 225
About controls......Page 226
Using data provider controls......Page 228
Flex controls......Page 229
Working with controls......Page 231
Sizing controls......Page 232
Positioning controls......Page 233
Button control......Page 234
Creating a Button control......Page 235
Sizing a Button control......Page 236
Skinning a Button control......Page 237
PopUpButton control......Page 238
Creating a PopUpButton control......Page 240
User interaction......Page 241
ButtonBar and ToggleButtonBar controls......Page 242
Creating a ButtonBar control......Page 243
Handling ButtonBar events......Page 244
Creating a LinkBar control......Page 245
TabBar control......Page 246
Creating a TabBar control......Page 247
Passing data to a TabBar control......Page 248
Handling TabBar control events......Page 249
Creating a CheckBox control......Page 250
About the RadioButton control......Page 251
Creating a RadioButton control......Page 252
Creating a group using the  tag......Page 253
NumericStepper control......Page 255
Keyboard navigation......Page 256
About the DateChooser control......Page 257
About the DateField control......Page 258
Creating a DateChooser or DateField control......Page 259
Using the Date class......Page 260
Specifying header, weekday, and today’s day text styles......Page 261
Setting DateChooser and DateField properties in ActionScript......Page 262
Formatting dates......Page 264
User interaction......Page 265
Creating a LinkButton control......Page 266
LinkButton control user interaction......Page 267
About Slider controls......Page 268
Creating a Slider control......Page 269
Using slider events......Page 271
Using multiple thumbs......Page 273
Keyboard navigation......Page 274
SWFLoader control......Page 275
Interacting with a loaded Flex 2 application......Page 276
Using the SWFLoader control to load a Flex Data Services application......Page 278
About importing images......Page 279
Controlling image importing with the Image control......Page 280
Specifying the image path......Page 281
Sizing an image......Page 282
Maintaining aspect ratio when sizing......Page 283
Positioning the image in a Canvas container......Page 285
Setting visibility......Page 286
Techniques for using the Image control......Page 287
Using media in Flex......Page 289
Setting the size of a media component......Page 290
Adding a cue point......Page 291
Adding a cue point by using the CuePointManager class......Page 292
Streaming video from a camera......Page 293
Using the VideoDisplay control with Flash Media Server 2......Page 294
ColorPicker control......Page 295
About the ColorPicker control......Page 296
Creating a ColorPicker control......Page 297
Example: ColorPicker control that uses Objects......Page 299
Using custom field names......Page 301
Keyboard interaction......Page 302
Alert control......Page 303
Sizing the Alert control......Page 305
Using event listeners with the Alert control......Page 306
Specifying an Alert control icon......Page 307
ProgressBar control modes......Page 308
Creating a ProgressBar control......Page 309
HRule and VRule controls......Page 310
Creating HRule and VRule controls......Page 311
Sizing HRule and VRule controls......Page 312
ScrollBar control......Page 314
User interaction......Page 315
About text controls......Page 317
Using the text property......Page 319
Specifying special characters in the text property......Page 320
Specifying special characters in ActionScript......Page 321
Using the htmlText property......Page 323
Specifying HTML text......Page 324
Escaping special characters in HTML text......Page 326
Anchor tag ()......Page 327
Font tag ()......Page 328
Image tag ()......Page 329
List item tag (
)......Page 331
Underline tag ()......Page 332
Creating a selection......Page 333
Getting a TextRange object......Page 334
Changing text......Page 335
Example: changing selected text in a RichTextEditor control......Page 336
Label control......Page 337
Sizing a Label control......Page 338
Creating a TextInput control......Page 339
Text control......Page 340
Sizing a Text control......Page 341
TextArea control......Page 342
About the RichTextEditor control......Page 343
Creating a RichTextEditor control......Page 345
Programming RichTextEditor subcontrols......Page 346
Removing and adding RichTextEditor subcontrols.......Page 347
About menu-based controls......Page 351
About menu data providers......Page 352
Menu entry types......Page 353
Menu attributes......Page 354
Example: An Array menu data provider......Page 355
Handling menu-based control events......Page 356
Handling Menu and MenuBar control events......Page 357
Differences between MenuBar and Menu events......Page 359
Example: Using Menu control events......Page 361
Handling PopUpMenuButton control events......Page 364
Menu control......Page 365
Creating a Menu control......Page 366
Example: Creating a simple Menu control......Page 367
Menu control user interaction......Page 368
About the MenuBar control......Page 369
Creating a MenuBar control......Page 370
PopUpMenuButton control......Page 371
About the PopUpMenuButton control......Page 372
Example: Creating a PopUpMenuButton control......Page 373
Using the label property......Page 374
PopUpMenuButton user interaction......Page 375
Contents......Page 377
List control sizing......Page 378
Creating a List control......Page 379
Using a label function......Page 380
Displaying DataTips......Page 381
Displaying ScrollTips......Page 382
Setting variable row height and wrapping List text......Page 383
Specifying an icon to the List control......Page 384
List control user interaction......Page 386
About HorizontaList controls......Page 387
Creating a HorizontalList control......Page 388
Keyboard navigation......Page 390
About the TileList control......Page 391
Creating a TileList control......Page 392
Keyboard navigation......Page 394
About the ComboBox control......Page 395
Creating a ComboBox control......Page 396
Using events with ComboBox controls......Page 397
Populating a ComboBox control using variables and models......Page 399
ComboBox control user interaction......Page 401
About the DataGrid control......Page 403
Creating a DataGrid control......Page 404
Specifying columns......Page 405
Hiding and displaying columns......Page 406
Passing data to a DataGrid control......Page 407
Handling events in a DataGrid control......Page 408
Determining the initial DataGrid sort order......Page 409
Controlling user sorting of DataGrid displays......Page 410
Example: Sorting a DataGrid on multiple columns......Page 411
Keyboard navigation......Page 413
About Tree Controls......Page 414
Creating a Tree control......Page 415
Handling Tree control events......Page 417
Specifying Tree control icons......Page 419
Using icon fields......Page 420
Using the setItemIcon() method......Page 421
Editing a node label at run time......Page 422
Tree Navigation keys......Page 423
About containers......Page 425
About layout containers and navigator containers......Page 426
Using containers......Page 427
Flex containers......Page 431
Class hierarchy for containers......Page 432
Container example......Page 433
Event overview......Page 434
About the creation policy......Page 435
About the initialize and creationComplete events......Page 436
Using the Panel container......Page 438
Defining a default button......Page 440
Using scroll bars......Page 441
Scroll bar layout considerations......Page 442
Controlling scroll delay and interval......Page 443
About the coordinate systems......Page 444
Using coordinate properties and methods......Page 446
Example: Using the mouse position in a Canvas container......Page 447
About the display list and container children......Page 449
Obtaining the number of child components in a container or application......Page 450
Creating and removing components at run time......Page 451
Example: Creating and removing a child of an VBox container......Page 453
Example: Creating and removing children of an Accordion container......Page 455
Controlling child order......Page 456
Using the Application container......Page 459
Sizing an Application container and its children......Page 460
Changing the Application background......Page 462
Overriding styles with the Style tag......Page 464
Specifying options of the Application container......Page 465
About the Document object......Page 466
Using the mx.core.Application.application property......Page 467
Using the parentDocument property......Page 469
Disabling the download progress bar......Page 470
Download progress bar events......Page 471
Creating a simple subclass of the DownloadProgressBar class......Page 472
Creating a subclass of the DownloadProgressBar class......Page 474
Creating a subclass of Sprite......Page 476
Contents......Page 479
Canvas layout container......Page 480
Creating a Canvas Control by using absolute positioning......Page 481
Preventing overlapping children......Page 482
Repositioning children at run time......Page 483
Box, HBox, and VBox layout containers......Page 484
Creating a Box, HBox, or VBox container......Page 485
Creating a ControlBar container......Page 486
ApplicationControlBar layout container......Page 487
Creating an ApplicationControlBar container......Page 488
DividedBox, HDividedBox, and VDividedBox layout containers......Page 490
Creating a DividedBox, HDividedBox, or VDividedBox container......Page 491
Using the dividers......Page 492
About forms......Page 493
Creating forms......Page 494
Creating a FormHeading control......Page 495
Creating a FormItem container......Page 496
Example: A simple form......Page 497
Aligning and spacing Form container children......Page 498
Sizing and positioning Form container children......Page 500
Defining a default button......Page 501
Specifying required fields......Page 502
Storing and validating form data......Page 503
Using Form controls to hold your form data......Page 504
Validating form control contents data on user entry......Page 505
Using a Flex data model to store form data......Page 506
Using Flex validators with form models......Page 507
Populating a Form control from a data model......Page 508
Submitting data to a server......Page 509
Grid layout container......Page 512
Creating a Grid layout container......Page 513
Setting the row and column span......Page 516
Panel layout container......Page 518
Creating a Panel layout container......Page 519
Adding a ControlBar container to a Panel container......Page 520
Tile layout container......Page 521
Creating a Tile layout container......Page 522
Sizing and positioning a child in a Tile container......Page 523
TitleWindow layout container......Page 524
Creating a pop-up window......Page 525
Removing a pop-up window......Page 528
Using TitleWindow and PopUpManager events......Page 529
Centering a pop-up window......Page 530
Passing data to and from a pop-up window......Page 531
Passing data using events......Page 533
Using the addPopUp() method......Page 535
About navigator containers......Page 539
ViewStack navigator container......Page 540
Creating a ViewStack container......Page 541
Applying behaviors to a ViewStack container......Page 544
TabNavigator container......Page 545
Creating a TabNavigator container......Page 546
TabNavigator container Keyboard navigation......Page 548
Accordion navigator container......Page 549
Creating an Accordion container......Page 550
Accordion container Keyboard navigation......Page 551
Using Button controls to navigate an Accordion container......Page 552
Controlling the appearance of accordion buttons......Page 553
Customizing the User Interface......Page 555
About behaviors......Page 557
About applying behaviors......Page 558
About factory and instance classes......Page 559
Available effects......Page 561
Available triggers......Page 565
Applying behaviors in MXML......Page 566
Applying behaviors in MXML using styles......Page 567
Applying behaviors in ActionScript......Page 568
Playing an effect backward......Page 570
Ending an effect......Page 571
Creating a reusable effect......Page 572
Applying behaviors in ActionScript using styles......Page 573
Applying behaviors using the Effect.target and Effect.targets properties......Page 575
Using embedded fonts with effects......Page 577
Creating composite effects......Page 578
Using the AnimateProperty effect......Page 581
Repeating effects......Page 582
Using a sound effect......Page 583
Using a mask effect......Page 585
Creating a custom mask function......Page 586
Handling effect events......Page 587
Handling tween effect events......Page 589
Using an easing function......Page 590
Using a Flex easing function......Page 591
Creating a custom easing function......Page 592
Disabling container layout for effects......Page 593
Improving performance when resizing Panel containers......Page 595
Setting UIComponent.cachePolicy on the effect target......Page 596
About styles......Page 599
Local style definitions......Page 600
Inline styles......Page 601
About style value formats......Page 602
Length format......Page 603
Time format......Page 604
Color format......Page 605
Using Cascading Style Sheets......Page 606
About property and selector names......Page 607
About inheritance in CSS......Page 608
About class selectors......Page 609
About type selectors......Page 610
About selector precedence......Page 611
Embedding resources in style sheets......Page 612
Style inheritance order......Page 613
Inheritance exceptions......Page 615
About supported styles......Page 616
Using external style sheets......Page 617
About the default style sheet......Page 618
Using the Application type selector......Page 619
Using the StyleManager class......Page 620
Using the setStyle() and getStyle() methods......Page 623
Setting styles......Page 624
Using inline styles......Page 626
Using filters in Flex......Page 628
Using themes......Page 629
Creating a theme SWC file......Page 631
Creating a theme style sheet......Page 632
Compiling a theme SWC file......Page 633
Using a configuration file to compile theme SWC files......Page 634
About fonts......Page 637
Using device fonts......Page 638
Using embedded fonts......Page 639
Embedded font syntax......Page 640
Locating embedded fonts......Page 641
Embedding fonts in ActionScript......Page 642
Detecting embedded fonts......Page 643
Using multiple typefaces......Page 645
Setting character ranges......Page 647
Setting ranges in flex-config.xml......Page 648
Detecting available ranges......Page 649
Embedding double-byte fonts......Page 650
About embedding FlashType fonts......Page 651
About FlashType style properties......Page 652
Creating Flash 8 files with embedded FlashType fonts......Page 653
Embedding FlashType fonts into Flex applications......Page 655
Resolving run-time errors......Page 659
About skinning......Page 661
Resources for skins......Page 662
Graphical skinning......Page 663
Using style sheets to apply skins......Page 664
Using the setStyle() method......Page 665
Using SWF files as skins......Page 666
Programmatic skins recipe......Page 668
Selecting a superclass......Page 670
Implementing the updateDisplayList() method......Page 671
Implementing measuredWidth and measuredHeight getters......Page 673
Making properties styleable......Page 674
Accessing the parent component......Page 677
Compiling programmatic skins......Page 678
Drawing programmatically......Page 679
Applying programmatic skins......Page 682
Using inline syntax......Page 683
Reskinning ToolTips......Page 684
Creating themes......Page 686
About item renderers......Page 687
Default item rendering and cell editing......Page 688
Using custom item renderers and item editors......Page 690
Item renderer and item editor architecture......Page 692
About item renderer and item editor interfaces......Page 693
Application layout with item renderers and item editors......Page 694
Using a drop-in item renderer or item editor......Page 695
Using an inline item renderer or item editor......Page 696
Using a component as an item renderer or item editor......Page 698
Using editable controls in an item renderer......Page 699
Setting the itemRenderer or itemEditor property in ActionScript......Page 700
Accessing the listData property......Page 701
Creating drop-in item renderers and item editors......Page 703
Using drop-in item renderers and item editors......Page 704
Creating a simple inline item renderer or item editor......Page 707
Creating a complex inline item renderer or item editor......Page 709
Items allowed in an inline component......Page 710
Defining the scope in an  tag......Page 711
Creating a reusable inline item renderer or item editor......Page 713
Creating item renderers and item editor components......Page 714
Creating an item renderer component......Page 715
Overriding the data property......Page 717
About using the creationComplete and dataChange events......Page 718
Creating an item renderer in ActionScript......Page 719
Example: Using an item renderer with the TileList and HorizontalList controls......Page 720
Example: Using an item renderer with a DataGrid control......Page 722
Example: Using an item renderer with a List control......Page 723
Example: Using an item renderer with a Tree control......Page 724
The cell editing process......Page 727
Creating an editable cell......Page 728
Returning data from an item editor......Page 729
Defining a property to return data......Page 730
Sizing and positioning an item editor......Page 732
Making an item editor that responds to the Enter key......Page 734
Using the cell editing events......Page 735
Accessing cell data and the item editor in an event listener......Page 737
Determining the reason for an itemEditEnd event......Page 739
Example: Preventing a cell from being edited......Page 742
Example: Modifying data passed to or received from an item editor......Page 743
Example: Passing multiple values back from an item editor......Page 745
Example: Using an item renderer as an item editor......Page 749
Example: Using a data validator in a custom item editor......Page 751
Example: Using a custom item editor with a List control......Page 752
Using a DateField or ComboBox control as a drop-in item editor......Page 754
Example: Using a custom item editor with a Tree control......Page 755
About ToolTips......Page 759
Creating ToolTips......Page 760
Setting styles in ToolTips......Page 762
Using ToolTip events......Page 763
Using ToolTips with NavBar controls......Page 764
Enabling and disabling ToolTips......Page 765
Setting delay times......Page 766
Using dynamic ToolTip text......Page 768
Creating custom ToolTips......Page 769
Using error tips......Page 771
About the Cursor Manager......Page 775
Using the Cursor Manager......Page 776
Creating and removing a cursor......Page 777
Setting a busy cursor......Page 778
Using the showBusyCursor property......Page 780
Understanding the localization workflow......Page 781
Using the ResourceBundle metadata tag......Page 782
Using localized objects and embedded assets......Page 783
Localized properties file and class search order......Page 786
Creating the application SWF file......Page 787
Creating a localized SWC file......Page 788
Example: Building a simple localized application......Page 790
Flex Programming Topics......Page 791
About Repeater components......Page 793
Declaring the Repeater component in MXML......Page 794
Basic principles of the Repeater component......Page 796
Creating dynamic loops with the Repeater component......Page 799
Referencing repeated child components......Page 801
Referencing nested Repeater components......Page 802
Event handlers in Repeater components......Page 804
Accessing specific instances of repeated components......Page 806
Using a Repeater component in a custom MXML component......Page 809
How a Repeater component executes......Page 811
Considerations when using a Repeater component......Page 812
About view states......Page 815
Use case: Login interface......Page 816
Use case: Custom item renderer......Page 817
Applying view states......Page 818
Defining view states......Page 819
Elements of a view state......Page 820
Example: Login form application......Page 821
Creating a view state in ActionScript......Page 822
Setting component properties......Page 823
Adding and removing components......Page 824
Controlling when to create added children......Page 825
Using the handlerFunction property......Page 829
Example: Setting event listeners......Page 830
Example: Using view states with history management......Page 831
Example: Using view states with a custom item renderer......Page 834
Using view states in custom components......Page 836
Additional state-based application techniques......Page 837
Creating your own override classes......Page 838
About transitions......Page 841
Comparing transitions to effects......Page 842
Defining transitions......Page 843
Defining multiple transitions......Page 845
Defining effect targets......Page 846
Defining the effect start and end values......Page 847
Example: Using transitions......Page 848
Handling events when using transitions......Page 849
Using action effects in a transition......Page 850
Example: Using action effects......Page 852
Filtering effects......Page 854
Example: Using a filter......Page 856
Defining a custom filter......Page 857
Writing a filter function......Page 859
Example: Using a custom effect filter......Page 862
Tips......Page 864
Troubleshooting......Page 865
About the drag-and-drop operation......Page 867
Using drag-and-drop with list-based controls......Page 868
Examples: List control......Page 870
Example: DataGrid control......Page 872
Example: Tree control......Page 873
Drag-and-drop events......Page 874
The drag-and-drop operation......Page 875
Example: Simple drag-and-drop operation......Page 876
Starting a drag-and-drop operation......Page 878
Writing the initiator event listener......Page 879
Specifying the drag proxy image......Page 881
Handling the dragEnter event......Page 882
Handling the dragOver event......Page 883
Handling the dragExit event......Page 884
Example: All drag-and-drop events......Page 885
Dragging an image......Page 888
Examples of embedding assets......Page 891
Accessing assets at run time......Page 892
Supported file types......Page 893
Embed parameters......Page 894
About the source parameter......Page 895
About setting the path to the embedded asset......Page 896
Using the [Embed] metadata tag......Page 897
Embedding assets in style sheets......Page 898
Embedding JPEG, GIF, and PNG images......Page 899
Embedding SVG images......Page 900
Embedding sounds......Page 901
Embedding SWF symbols......Page 902
Embedding SWF files that represent Flex 2 applications......Page 903
Using scale-9 formatting with embedded images......Page 904
About history management......Page 907
Using standard history management......Page 908
Using custom history management......Page 909
Implementing the saveState() and loadState() methods......Page 910
Encoding navigation state data......Page 912
Using history management in a custom wrapper......Page 913
Using history management without Flex Data Services......Page 914
Using history management with Flex Data Services......Page 915
About printing by using Flex classes......Page 917
Building and sending a print job......Page 918
Starting a print job......Page 919
Scaling a print job......Page 920
Example: A simple print job......Page 921
Using a print-specific output format......Page 922
Example: A simple print-specific output format......Page 923
Printing multipage output......Page 926
Using the sizeToPage attribute to format pages......Page 927
Using the nextPage() method and validNextPage property to print multiple pages......Page 928
Example: Printing with multipage PrintDataGrid controls......Page 929
Multipage print application file......Page 930
Print output component......Page 932
Header and footer files......Page 934
About exchanging data with Flex applications......Page 935
Enabling Netscape connections......Page 936
About the ExternalInterface API......Page 937
Using the Application.application.parameters object......Page 938
Using flashVars......Page 939
Using query string parameters......Page 941
Using the ExternalInterface API to access JavaScript from Flex......Page 942
Calling JavaScript methods from Flex applications......Page 943
Using the navigateToURL() method in Flex......Page 945
The navigateToURL() method syntax......Page 946
Calling JavaScript functions with the URLRequest object......Page 947
Invoking JavaScript with the navigateToURL() method......Page 948
Accessing Flex from JavaScript......Page 949
Handling multiple browser types......Page 950
Editing the Flex application’s id and name properties......Page 951
About the call() method......Page 952
About the addCallback() method......Page 953
Shared objects compared with cookies......Page 955
About the SharedObject class......Page 956
Creating a shared object......Page 957
Adding data to a shared object......Page 958
SharedObject example......Page 959
Accessibility overview......Page 961
About screen reader technology......Page 963
Flash Player and Microsoft Active Accessibility......Page 964
Enabling accessibility in Flex......Page 965
Accessible components and containers......Page 966
Creating tab order and reading order......Page 969
Scrolling to a component when tabbing......Page 970
Implementing screen reader detection with the Accessibility.isActive() method......Page 973
Testing accessible content......Page 974
Flex Data Features......Page 975
About data representation......Page 977
Data models......Page 980
Data formatting......Page 981
About data binding......Page 983
Binding data with curly braces......Page 985
Using an E4X expression in curly braces......Page 986
Using ActionScript functions in curly braces......Page 987
Binding data with the  tag......Page 988
Using ActionScript expressions in Binding tags......Page 989
Binding a source property to more than one destination property......Page 990
Using an E4X expression in an  tag......Page 991
Working with bindable property chains......Page 992
Defining bindings in ActionScript......Page 994
Defining binding watchers......Page 995
Considerations for using the binding feature......Page 997
Debugging data binding......Page 998
Using binding for moving related data......Page 999
About data models......Page 1001
The  tag......Page 1002
Class-based models......Page 1004
Specifying an external source for an  tag or  tag......Page 1006
Using validators with a data model......Page 1007
Using a data model as a value object......Page 1008
Binding data into an XML data model......Page 1010
Validating data......Page 1013
About validators......Page 1014
About the source and property properties......Page 1015
About triggering validation......Page 1016
About validation events......Page 1017
Triggering validation by using the default event......Page 1018
Triggering validation for data bindings by using events......Page 1019
Triggering validation programmatically......Page 1021
Handling the return value of the validate() method......Page 1022
Triggering the DateValidator and CreditCardValidator......Page 1023
Invoking multiple validators in a function......Page 1024
Creating a reusable validator......Page 1026
Conditionalizing validator execution......Page 1027
Validating required fields......Page 1028
Enabling and disabling a validator......Page 1029
Using data binding to configure validators......Page 1030
General guidelines for validation......Page 1031
Configuring error messages......Page 1033
Showing a validation error by using errorString......Page 1034
Working with validation events......Page 1035
Explicitly handling component validation events......Page 1036
Explicitly handing validator validation events......Page 1037
Using the CreditCardValidator class......Page 1038
Using the CurrencyValidator class......Page 1040
Using the DateValidator class......Page 1041
Using the EmailValidator class......Page 1043
Using the NumberValidator class......Page 1044
Using the RegExpValidator class......Page 1045
Using the SocialSecurityValidator class......Page 1047
Using the ZipCodeValidator class......Page 1048
Using formatters......Page 1051
Writing an error handler function......Page 1052
Example: Using the CurrencyFormatter class......Page 1054
Using the DateFormatter class......Page 1055
Using Pattern strings......Page 1056
Example: Using the DateFormatter class......Page 1058
Using the NumberFormatter class......Page 1059
Example: Using the NumberFormatter class......Page 1060
Using the PhoneFormatter class......Page 1061
Example: Using the PhoneFormatter class......Page 1062
Using the ZipCodeFormatter class......Page 1063
Example: Using the ZipCodeFormatter class......Page 1064
Error handling: ZipCodeFormatter class......Page 1065
Data Access and Interconnectivity......Page 1067
About Flex data access......Page 1069
About RPC services......Page 1070
Using RPC components with Flex 2 SDK only......Page 1071
About the Data Management Service......Page 1072
About messaging......Page 1073
Contents......Page 1075
About service configuration files......Page 1076
Data Service configuration file syntax......Page 1078
Configuring message channels......Page 1084
Converting data from ActionScript to Java......Page 1089
Simple data type conversions......Page 1090
Converting data from Java to ActionScript......Page 1093
Providing legacy AMF serialization on a channel......Page 1095
Converting from ActionScript to Schema and SOAP types for web services......Page 1096
Using custom serialization......Page 1098
Securing destinations......Page 1102
Passing credentials from client-side components......Page 1103
Basic authentication......Page 1105
Custom authentication......Page 1106
Configuring server-side service logging......Page 1107
Working with session data......Page 1110
Processing messages......Page 1111
Defining and referencing a cluster......Page 1112
MBean naming conventions......Page 1113
Creating a custom MBean for a custom ServiceAdapter class......Page 1114
Using custom error handling......Page 1115
Web-tier compiler class loading......Page 1117
Using data services without the web-tier compiler......Page 1118
Using the factory mechanism......Page 1119
About RPC components......Page 1123
WebService components......Page 1125
HTTPService components......Page 1126
Client-side processing and server-side processing......Page 1127
Data source access......Page 1128
Flash Professional data management......Page 1129
Declaring an RPC component......Page 1131
Using a service without server-side configuration......Page 1132
Using an RPC component with a server-side destination......Page 1134
Configuring a destination......Page 1135
Explicit parameter passing with RemoteObject and WebService components......Page 1137
Explicit parameter passing with HTTPService tags......Page 1138
Using parameter binding......Page 1139
Parameter binding with RemoteObject components......Page 1140
Parameter binding with HTTPService components......Page 1142
Parameter binding with WebService components......Page 1143
Calling services in ActionScript......Page 1146
Calling web services in ActionScript......Page 1147
Calling HTTP services in ActionScript......Page 1148
Handling results as XML with the e4x result format......Page 1149
Binding a result to an ArrayCollection object......Page 1153
Binding a result to an XMLListCollection object......Page 1155
Binding a complex result object to a data model......Page 1156
Handling result and fault events......Page 1157
Using a service with binding, validation, and event listeners......Page 1159
Handling asynchronous calls to services......Page 1160
Using the Asynchronous Completion Token design pattern......Page 1161
Making a service call when another call is completed......Page 1162
Accessing EJBs and other objects in JNDI......Page 1163
Using features specific to WebService components......Page 1165
Reading WSDL documents......Page 1166
Stateful web services......Page 1167
Adding SOAP headers to web service requests......Page 1168
Clearing SOAP headers......Page 1169
Redirecting a web service to a different URL......Page 1171
Understanding destination configuration......Page 1173
Message channels......Page 1174
Default HTTP service destination......Page 1175
Remote object properties......Page 1176
Web service properties......Page 1177
HTTP service properties......Page 1178
Configuring the Proxy Service......Page 1179
About messaging......Page 1181
Understanding the Flex messaging architecture......Page 1183
Message channels......Page 1184
JMS message adapter......Page 1185
Using messaging in a Flex application......Page 1187
Creating a Producer component in MXML......Page 1188
Sending a message to a destination......Page 1189
Adding extra information to a message......Page 1190
Working with Consumer components......Page 1191
Creating a Consumer component in ActionScript......Page 1192
Subscribing to a destination......Page 1193
Filtering messages with a message selector......Page 1194
Using a pair of Producer and Consumer components in an application......Page 1195
Understanding Message Service configuration......Page 1197
Security......Page 1199
Referencing message channels......Page 1200
Setting server properties......Page 1201
Configuring the JMS adapter......Page 1203
Using a remote JMS provider......Page 1206
Creating a custom Message Service adapter......Page 1208
About the Data Management Service feature......Page 1211
Understanding the flow of data......Page 1212
Resolving data synchronization conflicts......Page 1213
Creating a distributed data application......Page 1215
Filling and releasing data from an ArrayCollection......Page 1216
Sending changes from a managed ArrayCollection object......Page 1218
Working with single data items......Page 1220
Connecting and disconnecting......Page 1221
Controlling whether clients receive pushed changes......Page 1222
Mapping client-side objects to Java objects......Page 1223
Handling data synchronization conflicts......Page 1227
Contents......Page 1229
About Data Management Service configuration......Page 1230
Message channels......Page 1231
Referencing message channels......Page 1232
Configuring network elements......Page 1233
Using transactions......Page 1234
Uniquely identifying data items......Page 1235
Synchronizing data automatically......Page 1236
Using the Java adapter......Page 1237
Understanding assemblers......Page 1238
Object types and relationships......Page 1239
Using strong and anonymous types with the Java adapter......Page 1240
Configuring a destination that uses the Java adapter......Page 1241
Detecting changes to fill method results......Page 1243
Using the fill-method and sync-method approach......Page 1245
Using the Assembler interface approach......Page 1249
Configuration file settings......Page 1255
Using a Hibernate destination......Page 1258
Supported Hibernate features......Page 1260
Hibernate configuration files......Page 1261
Configuration file settings......Page 1264
Using the ActionScript object adapter......Page 1265
Managing hierarchical collections......Page 1267
Implementing a managed association......Page 1270
Looking at a managed association example......Page 1272
Implementing an object relationship in a fill method......Page 1278
Pushing data changes from the server to clients......Page 1280
Charting Components......Page 1283
About charting......Page 1285
Using the charting controls......Page 1287
About the axes......Page 1291
Creating charts in ActionScript......Page 1292
Using chart data......Page 1294
Using static Arrays as data providers......Page 1295
Using collections as data providers......Page 1296
Randomly generating chart data......Page 1299
Changing chart data at run time......Page 1300
Using area charts......Page 1305
Using bubble charts......Page 1308
Using candlestick charts......Page 1310
Using column charts......Page 1313
Using HighLowOpenClose charts......Page 1314
Using line charts......Page 1317
Using pie charts......Page 1321
Using labels with PieChart controls......Page 1322
Creating doughnut charts......Page 1325
Creating exploding pie charts......Page 1326
Using plot charts......Page 1327
Using multiple data series......Page 1330
Using multiple axes......Page 1331
Using multiple axis renderers......Page 1333
Multiple axes example......Page 1334
Contents......Page 1337
Applying CSS to chart controls......Page 1338
Using predefined axis style properties......Page 1339
Applying styles inline......Page 1340
Adding ChartElement objects......Page 1341
Setting padding properties......Page 1342
Working with axes......Page 1343
About the CategoryAxis class......Page 1344
About the NumericAxis class......Page 1345
About the DateTimeAxis subclass......Page 1346
Adding axis titles......Page 1350
Defining axis labels......Page 1352
Rotating axis elements......Page 1353
Setting ranges......Page 1354
Formatting tick marks......Page 1355
Formatting axis lines......Page 1356
Using the minField property......Page 1357
Defining AxisRenderer properties with strokes......Page 1358
Defining strokes for LineSeries and AreaSeries......Page 1359
Using fills......Page 1360
Using a gradient fill with chart controls......Page 1362
Using different alpha values with a fill......Page 1363
Adding grid lines......Page 1364
Formatting grid lines with MXML......Page 1365
Formatting grid lines with CSS......Page 1366
Using DataTips......Page 1367
Showing multiple DataTips......Page 1369
Customizing DataTip values......Page 1370
Skinning ChartItem objects......Page 1371
Using multiple renderer classes......Page 1372
Creating graphical renderers......Page 1373
Creating programmatic renderers......Page 1374
Using Legend controls......Page 1375
Adding a Legend control to your chart......Page 1376
Formatting the Legend control......Page 1377
Formatting the legend markers......Page 1378
Stacking charts......Page 1379
Handling user interactions with charts......Page 1383
Using the HitData object......Page 1385
Getting chart elements......Page 1386
Getting data with coordinates......Page 1388
Changing mouse sensitivity......Page 1391
Disabling interactivity......Page 1392
Using standard effect triggers......Page 1393
Using charting effect triggers......Page 1394
Charting effects with data series......Page 1395
Using the SeriesSlide effect......Page 1397
Using the SeriesZoom effect......Page 1398
Using the SeriesInterpolate effect......Page 1400
Index......Page 1401