Posted by jack in scaesar.com
Howdy all :)
So Flash 8 is on its way to this office. We had some extra $$ in the budget and even though I only get to use flash for work maybe twice a year my boss okayed the upgrade.
Anyway, bossman really wants me to learn how to connect a flash front end to a database. I have no clue how to do this. My actionscript skills are marginal, and I am not a progammer - only dabbled in ColdFusion, had a 2 day class on python, have used php for a flash guestbook and downloaded that script from a tutorial - didn't write it myself. Same with integrating an xml file into Flash - I understand all the tutorials but am shaky writing it myself. ASP - dont' know what it stands for. .NET what? :pa:
Point being - I can look at these things (code) and understand them (sort of) but am not proficient at coding from scratch. SO, I thought I'd get a book. I know there are umpteen tutorials on line but I thought having a book for reference would be handy plus I can get work to pay for it.
I found this one on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0735713820/ref=bxgy_cc_img_b/103-3311933-0772663?%5Fencoding=UTF8
and it looks pretty decent but my question to all of you is - does it matter that it is aimed at MX2004? Are there differences in Flash 8 in the database connection world that I need to be aware of? Do I need to wait for a Flash 8 database specific book to come out?
Got another suggestion?
Thanks for any help.
:hr:
www.gotoandlearn has a tutorial on MySql - PHP - Flash.
I'm checking it out right now!
Yeah both PHP and coldfusion are good. Personally I like using PHP most of the time, because it's more similar to AS, which I use a lot... It's easier to stay on-the-ball with things that are more similar, IMHO.
-Matt
I really don't think there are. Most of Flash 8's upgrade are geared towards better bitmap handling, and better usability. Maybe one thing that is new in Flash 8 that could come in handy somehow with dbase interaction and dynamic applications, is file uploading, although that really isn't the job for Flash if there's HTML/PHP around.
The interaction comes down to Flash reading data that PHP generates (and sending data to PHP pages using the POST method, just like HTML forms). The two ways to do this are by using either XML or LoadVars. XML is much preferred over LoadVars, no doubt about that. Always, always go with XML. I don't think Flash 8 has altered the LoadVars/XML objects in any way, so you're pretty safe.
Btw, here's an excellent tutorial on using XML data in Flash. It's the only one I ever read, and the only one I've ever needed: http://www.actionscript.org/tutorials/intermediate/XML/index.shtml
Well, I can do SOME cold fusion - I've created a few project log type applications using CF and SQL Server (through Dreamweaver) to be used on our Intranet. But you are right - I need to get into the PHP game. Sigh! :smirk:
The two ways to do this are by using either XML or LoadVars. XML is much preferred over LoadVars, no doubt about that.
I like to load data through XML, but send data using LoadVars(to PHP form-mailers, etc.)
-Matt
It sounds like that book is kind-of aimed at people who know server stuff already, like php or coldfusion... You might be best served to learn some basic PHP first, it's really not too hard, but you might be best served to just look at some tutorials/examples and adapt them.
-Matt
Awesome, thanks Voets :love:
So PHP and XML is the way to go eh? Guess I better start with Kirupa's tutorials too. :book:
if i can give my $.02 I would tell you to look at coldfusion if it's at all a possibility for you.
it works pretty seamlessly and easily with flash remoting and lets you call cf pages/components on the fly with flash functions (no need for loadvars). super easy if you don't want to struggle with PHP. I have a book from Macromedia Press called something like "building RIAs with Macromedia ColdFusion Mx7" which is really good.
otherwise hit the php forums and other tutes and go with PHP!
Wow, good to know that CF is a valid option. Since I've already been using it it's definitely more familiar than PHP. However, not everyone can afford a coldfusion server so if ever I switch jobs I guess it would be good to know something about the free option - PHP.
I'll look into the book you recommended also natronp. :) So have you built RIA's with cold fusion and flash? :P Do you have any examples I could look at?
So Flash 8 is on its way to this office. We had some extra $$ in the budget and even though I only get to use flash for work maybe twice a year my boss okayed the upgrade.
Anyway, bossman really wants me to learn how to connect a flash front end to a database. I have no clue how to do this. My actionscript skills are marginal, and I am not a progammer - only dabbled in ColdFusion, had a 2 day class on python, have used php for a flash guestbook and downloaded that script from a tutorial - didn't write it myself. Same with integrating an xml file into Flash - I understand all the tutorials but am shaky writing it myself. ASP - dont' know what it stands for. .NET what? :pa:
Point being - I can look at these things (code) and understand them (sort of) but am not proficient at coding from scratch. SO, I thought I'd get a book. I know there are umpteen tutorials on line but I thought having a book for reference would be handy plus I can get work to pay for it.
I found this one on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0735713820/ref=bxgy_cc_img_b/103-3311933-0772663?%5Fencoding=UTF8
and it looks pretty decent but my question to all of you is - does it matter that it is aimed at MX2004? Are there differences in Flash 8 in the database connection world that I need to be aware of? Do I need to wait for a Flash 8 database specific book to come out?
Got another suggestion?
Thanks for any help.
:hr:
I'm checking it out right now!
-Matt
The interaction comes down to Flash reading data that PHP generates (and sending data to PHP pages using the POST method, just like HTML forms). The two ways to do this are by using either XML or LoadVars. XML is much preferred over LoadVars, no doubt about that. Always, always go with XML. I don't think Flash 8 has altered the LoadVars/XML objects in any way, so you're pretty safe.
Btw, here's an excellent tutorial on using XML data in Flash. It's the only one I ever read, and the only one I've ever needed: http://www.actionscript.org/tutorials/intermediate/XML/index.shtml
I like to load data through XML, but send data using LoadVars(to PHP form-mailers, etc.)
-Matt
-Matt
So PHP and XML is the way to go eh? Guess I better start with Kirupa's tutorials too. :book:
it works pretty seamlessly and easily with flash remoting and lets you call cf pages/components on the fly with flash functions (no need for loadvars). super easy if you don't want to struggle with PHP. I have a book from Macromedia Press called something like "building RIAs with Macromedia ColdFusion Mx7" which is really good.
otherwise hit the php forums and other tutes and go with PHP!
I'll look into the book you recommended also natronp. :) So have you built RIA's with cold fusion and flash? :P Do you have any examples I could look at?
#If you have any other info about this subject , Please add it free.# |