Introduction to Flex 3 Training (3 days)

Introduction to Flex Training Overview

In this Adobe Flex training class, students will learn how to use Adobe Flex to create their first rich internet applications.

Introduction to Flex Training Course Goals

• Understand what is meant by "Rich Internet Application"
• Learn to layout an application in Flex 3
• Learn to use Flex 3 controls
• Learn to handle events and work with data structures
• Learn to work with remote XML data
• Learn to create components with MXML
• Learn to work with data sets
• Learn to declare and use custom events
• Learn to create custom components with ActionScript 3.0
• Learn to use DataGrids and ItemRenderers
• Learn to use drag and drop
• Learn about navigation in Flex 3 applications

Introduction to Flex Training Course Prerequisites

Experience in the following areas is required:

• Basic XML knowledge

Experience in the following areas would be beneficial.

• Object-oriented programming

Introduction to Flex Training Course Outline

1. Understanding Rich Internet Applications
   1. Understanding the Evolution of Computer Applications
   2. Breaking Away from Page-Based Architecture
   3. Identifying the Advantages of Rich Internet Applications
   4. RIA Technologies
   5. What You Have Learned
2. Getting Started with Flex 3
   1. Getting Started with Flex 3 Application Development
   2. Creating a Project and an MXML Application
   3. Understanding the Flex Builder 3 Workbench
   4. Running Your Application
   5. Creating a Second Application Page and Working in Design Mode
   6. Getting Ready for the Next Lesson
   7. What You Have Learned
3. Laying Out the Interface
   1. Learning About Containers
   2. Laying Out the E-Commerce Application Using Design Mode
   3. Working with Constraint-Based Layouts
   4. Working with View States
   5. Laying Out an Application in Source Mode
   6. What You Have Learned
4. Using Simple Controls
   1. Introducing Simple Controls
   2. Displaying Images
   3. Building a Detail View
   4. Using Data Binding to Link a Data Structure to a Simple Control
   5. Using a Form Layout Container to Lay Out Simple Controls
   6. Adding Radio Buttons and Date Fields to the Dashboard
   7. What You Have Learned
5. Handling Events and Data Structures
   1. Understanding Event Handling
   2. Building a Data Structure on the creationComplete Event
   3. Using Data from the Event Object
   4. Building a Custom ActionScript Class
   5. Building a Method to Create an Object
   6. Building Shopping Cart Classes
   7. What You Have Learned
6. Using Remote XML Data with Controls
   1. Retrieving XML Data with HTTPService
   2. Retrieving XML Data via HTTPService
   3. Populating an ArrayCollection with HTTPService Data
   4. Populating a ComboBox Control and Programmatically Adding an Option
   5. Using XML Data with a Tree Control
   6. Retrieving XML Data and Transforming It into an ArrayCollection of Custom Objects
   7. Using Data Binding with Complex Data Structures
   8. Manipulating Shopping Cart Data
   9. Adding a Remove Button
   10. What You Have Learned
7. Creating Components with MXML
   1. Introducing MXML Components
   2. Creating an Update/Delete Product Component and Instantiating It
   3. Popping Up Product Information When Clicking the Update and Delete Buttons
   4. Creating Another Value Object
   5. Creating a Data Manager Component for All Three Applications
   6. Using the New Data Manager Component
   7. Implementing Add Product Functionality
   8. Creating and Using a Component for the Dashboard Application
   9. What You Have Learned
8. Using Controls and Repeaters with Datasets
   1. Using Datasets
   2. Displaying the Categories Using a HorizontalList and an itemRenderer
   3. Displaying Grocery Products Based on Category Selection
   4. Coding States to Display Detailed Product Information
   5. Placing Products in the Shopping Cart
   6. What You Have Learned
9. Using Custom Events
   1. Understanding the Benefits of Loosely Coupled Architecture
   2. Dispatching Events
   3. Declaring Events for a Component
   4. Identifying the Need for Custom Event Classes
   5. Building and Using the CategoryEvent
   6. Creating and Using the ProductEvent Class
   7. Understanding Event Flow and Event Bubbling
   8. What You Have Learned
10. Creating Custom Components with ActionScript 3.0
    1. Introducing Building a Component with ActionScript 3.0
    2. Creating the Structure of the Class
    3. Overriding the createChildren() Method
    4. Sizing and Positioning in Flex 3
    5. Understanding the measure() Method
    6. Overriding the updateDisplayList() Method
    7. What You Have Learned
11. Using DataGrids and Item Renderers
    1. Introducing DataGrids and Item Renderers
    2. Adding a Generic DataGrid to ChartPod
    3. Adding HTTPService Calls to Dashboard
    4. Displaying the Shopping Cart with a DataGrid
    5. Using the AdvancedDataGrid
    6. What You Have Learned
12. Using Drag and Drop
    1. Introducing the Drag and Drop Manager
    2. Dragging and Dropping Between Two DataGrids
    3. Dragging and Dropping Between a DataGrid and a List
    4. Using a Nondrag-Enabled Component in a Drag-and-Drop Operation
    5. Dragging a Grocery Item to the Shopping Cart
    6. What You Have Learned
13. Implementing Navigation
    1. Introducing Navigation
    2. Using a TabNavigator in the DataEntry Application
    3. Adding a Home Page and Checkout Page in the E-Commerce Application
    4. Creating the First Step of the Checkout Process Displayed by a ViewStack
    5. Completing the Checkout Process Using the ViewStack
    6. What You Have Learned

Introduction to Flex Training Course Materials

Each student will receive a copy of Adobe Flex 3: Training from the Source by Jeff Tapper, Mike Labriola, Matt Boles and James Talbot, which will serve as a guide for the class.

Each student will also receive a one-year subscription to Webucator's online reference library, which contains hundreds of the most current electronic technology books - a $149.95 per student value.

Introduction to Flex Training Technical Requirements

1. Operating Systems Options
   • Operating System Options
     • Windows Vista
     • Windows XP with Service Pack 2
   • Macintosh
2. Flex 3 Requirements
   1. Adobe Flex Builder 3
      • Download
      • System Requirements
   2. Adobe Flex 3 SDK
      • Download
   3. Sun Java Runtime Environment 1.4.2 or later
      • Download
3. Flash Player (latest version)
   • Download
4. Eclipse 3.1 or later
   • Download
5. Browser Options
   • Internet Explorer 6.0 or later
     • Download
   • Firefox
     • Download
   • Safari
     • Download

Class Files for Introduction to Flex Training

The class files for this course are included on a CD that is shipped with the book.