Ask iBrent --> free online Flash training session #1

[iBrent]

Hi folks,

It's me here, iBrent. No, I'm not Lee Brimelow, and no, I'm not paid to be here. (actually the only money I've seen has been from people wanting to pay me to leave!)

I have this crazy idea to do a free online Flash training session, and I wanted to see if people are interested in that sort of thing, and what questions they might have, something I could cover in a 45 min session.

For now, the only free online meeting service I could find supports up to 20 people. So if you'd like to participate in the first ever "Ask iBrent --> free online Flash training session #1", then please reply to this post, and kindly include 1 question, and what time zone you're in. I need to figure out the best time to host this, and knowing your time zone will help. For example I'm in MST, which is GMT -7 hours.

The types of questions that we could discuss could be something that relates to an existing GTAL tutorial, or perhaps a specific topic, like learning AS3, or how do I load XML, or what is your favorite color. Based on the questions we gather, I'll come up with the topic for the first online session, and figure out a day and time that works for most of the group. Remember the first 20 people to reply to this post get in.

If it's a success, I'll schedule more online sessions in the future. What do you think?

iBrent

Cool iBrent! I'd love to participate in this. Been a while since I've been over here... did ya'll miss me? I think I know the answer to that so no response needed

I don't know if my question is relevant to the topic since it also involves Flex but here goes - How do you know when to use Flex verses Flash? I've started learning Flex recently and from what I can tell, a lot of things that Flex can do you can also do in Flash. It seems that Flex can handle external data easier and thus quicker than if you were doing the same thing in Flash. On the flip side Flash seems to handle adding "eye candy" to your project's UI easier than in Flex. I guess the BIG question is - What is the best way to add "eye candy" from Flash into Flex?

I'm also in Mountain Standard Time.

[iBrent]

Long time no see!

That's a great question, and for sure if people have questions related to Flex or Flash, I'll address them in the online session.

I've been using Flex for a couple years now, and it's wicked cool. There are actually a few things that Flex can do, that Flash doesn't do natively (as in, you have to hack it to do the same thing.) I'll cover that in the session.

Go Jazz!

iBrent

- CST
- Using XML to load images, but animate those images (so say I have 10 adds that need to rotate) I want to load those images but then every 5 seconds roll it out / swipe it out / slide it out / fade it out (i think you get it) and put in the next.

I have my thoughts on how this is done, but it never hurts to see other methods.

Thanks!
Great Idea BTW (especially -- flash into flex type stuff (like skinning)

[iBrent]

Hi Lance,

No problem. I can touch on that as well. BTW, what do you mean by CST?

iBrent

[Todd Lajoie]

I believe he means Central Standard Time...

And this isn't going to be another one of those "Advanced Stuff" type of "help" that you've graced us with in the past is it???

[iBrent]

Doh! For some reason I was thinking CST was some kind of programming method that I wasn't aware of.

Todd of course, it will be Advanced, Advanced stuff.

iBrent

[Tool]

for the love of god, would you just leave ibrent!

nah, seriously a good initiative.

[iBrent]

I would have Tool, but your check bounced!

Anyway people, ignore the jokers. I'm planning to have this presentation sometime the first part of May, so keep the questions coming.

iBrent

CST = Central Standard Time

no tricks for that one.

- (UTC-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada)

Hello,

I don't feel qualified enough to participate in this 'meeting' since I'm a novice with AS 3.0 but anyways here's my question:

I guess it kind of combined a lot of aspects but basically I'm would like to hear a high level approach to beginning building a complete flash website. Obviously there is no absolute answer and I know that you it takes years to learn all the details of this so I hope I don't appear as one of those kids who comes on hear just wanting people do the work for them. I've tried create a AS 3.0 website before but found I got myself in way to deep and ended up quiting because I learned just how much I didn't know yet.

From all of Lee's tutorials and various others posted in the shared user content and other resources it seems there are a lot of examples about how to load XML, apply filters, create image galleries, etc... but these are all specific aspects which people like because they produce results and money but I'm looking for a discussion on how all of these separate classes/concepts can be fit together.

I would basically be looking for a specific way to logically set up the folders and categories of data. I've read a little on the MVC ( Model / View / Controller ) method when trying to do Lee's Zend AMFPHP framework tutorial but it wasn't quite clear to me and I wasn't even sure if this concept should be applied to flash sites in general.

Also, possibly discuss where to draw the line when designing OO structure of classes for the site. Which ones are crucial and provide the most efficient way for manipulating the website.

So instead of explaining how to execute certain techniques such as inputting XML data in flash you would go through and explain why of all the ways to achieve this effect this is the best since it allow for this folder structure and is open for expansion or whatnot.

I hope that made sense and I realize it's petty general to be answered in 45 minutes so don't feel like it needs to answered. Anyways, if someone else needs the spot they can take mine. Hopefully someone can record the talks or something with screencapture and post the results later for all of us.

-Matt (Prince)

i wanna participate
time zone GMT +1 i am from tunisia (north Africa)

(EST -5) Eastern Standard Time.

I'd be interested as well, at least just to participate via watching and if I had questions I could ask and learn. I know some basic-intermediate AS3.0 from my Flash experience, but it is always good to see how other people prepare a project and write their code, etc. I sometimes feel there is a better way of writing some of the things I create, but I just don't know any other way. Perhaps touching on some good habits to get into for AS3.0, it might help veterans and beginners alike.

I'm still new here, but I love forums and hopefully will learn and share my experiences with this community.

[iBrent]

Ok, I'm on track to set a date and time for this online session before the end of May. I'll keep everyone posted, and send a PM with details when I'm ready to announce it.

Keep the questions coming! There's still a few slots left.

iBrent

[iBrent]

Well, here we are. I've gone 2 months and haven't done the live training session. Rather than drawing this out any further, I'm going to release a number of tutorials that address these questions. I'll be sure to let people know when they're ready.

iBrent