Welcome to the New World Kevin Towes Creative and Technical Director Pangaea NewMedia, Inc. Toronto, Canada :: Certified ColdFusion Professional :: Manager, CFUGToronto :: Professor, Ryerson University; School of Image Arts, Toronto Flash Remoting: a Developers Perspective

Advent 1 The ADVENT Labs Example can be Macromedia.com Search for “ADVENT” This is an excellent example to demonstrate how Flash can supply a rich data management interface.

Advent 3

Agenda (:60min) 1.Review examples of Rich-UI 2.DISCUSS: The client and Server – Roles 3.Squash the perception of Flash 4.Context: Review of how data XFer “was” done 5.Introduction to Flash Remoting a.Getting Started b.ColdFusion Components c.Invoking CFCs in ColdFusion d.Invoking CFCs in Flash MX e.Debugging Tools (if we have time) f.DataGlue (in case we get Stuck )

CF & Flash + ColdFusion is the Glue that holds it all together - Ben Forta What is Flash MX and How does it Work?

Flash Remoting Availability Flash Remoting Components are available in: –ColdFusion MX (native support) –JRUN 4.0 (native support) –IBM WebSphere (add-on) –Microsoft ASP.NET (add-on)

Remoting: Build the ColdFusion Component Our application requires 3 Methods inside the Component 1.Get the Park Types ::: getParkTypes(); 2.Get the List of Parks ( in the selected Type) ::: getParksList(parkType); 3.Get the Details of the Selected Park ::: getParkDetails(thisParkName);

Remoting: Calling the CFC – in ColdFusion Test the CFC by: Invoke the Component in ColdFusion

Remoting: Calling the CFC – in Flash MX (for comparison – review the same command from within Flash) Invoke the CFC inside Flash

ActionScript Steps to Connect 1.Develop the Layout 2.Include the NetServices Class Files 3.Set up the server connection 4.Invoke the CFC (consume the web service) 5.Build a default Responder

:: Develop the Layout (UI) What you Need to Know: 1)The Timeline 2)Text Fields 3)Flash UI Components

:: Text Fields and UI Components TEXT FIELDS FLASH UI COMPONENTS

ActionScript Steps to Connect 1.Develop the Layout 2.Include the NetServices Class Files* 3.Set up the server connection 4.Invoke the CFC (consume the web service) 5.Build a default Responder

ActionScript Steps to Connect 1.Develop the Layout 2.Include the NetServices Class Files 3.Set up the server connection* 4.Invoke the CFC (consume the web service) 5.Build a default Responder

ActionScript Steps to Connect 1.Develop the Layout 2.Include the NetServices Class Files 3.Set up the server connection 4.Invoke the CFC (consume the web service) 5.Build a default Responder

:: Remoting: Calling the CFC – in Flash MX Invoke the CFC inside Flash

ActionScript Steps to Connect 1.Develop the Layout 2.Include the NetServices Class Files 3.Set up the server connection 4.Invoke the CFC (consume the web service) 5.Build a default Responder

:: Default Responder 1 Flash will invoke a function when it has finished. This function is called the Default Responder: NameOfFunction_result(returnObject)

:: Default Responder 2 to populate the ComboBox Component use the setDataProvider method. ComponentName.setDataProvider(dataObj)

:: Default Responder 3 Access the Database Column By Name =Result.items[0].ParkName

DataGlue DataGlue.BindFormatStrings( lb_ParkList, result, "#parkName# (location: #city#, #state#)", "#parkName#");

Debugging

Macromedia DevCentre The Macromedia Developers Centre is the best online resource for integrating Flash MX and ColdFusion MX

Inside Flash MX NOW AVAILABLE The most Comprehensive Book on Integrating Flash MX with ColdFusion MX

FlashCFM.com

Welcome to the New World Kevin Towes Creative and Technical Director Pangaea NewMedia, Inc. Toronto, Canada :: Certified ColdFusion Professional :: Manager, CFUGToronto :: Professor, Ryerson University; School of Image Arts, Toronto Flash Remoting: a Developers Perspective