Macromedia Flash 8 Documentation Resources

The Macromedia Flash help system contains a great deal of information and resources that describe the full range of Flash authoring capabilities and the ActionScript language. You can also consult many online resources to learn Flash. This document is intended to help you navigate these resources and find the information that is most helpful to you in realizing your goals with Flash.

This document covers the following topics:

Accessing the Flash documentation
Accessing additional online Flash resources

Accessing the Flash documentation

The following tables summarize the documents included in the Flash help system.

You can purchase printed versions of select titles. For more information, see www.macromedia.com/go/buy_books.

Feature information

Title

Description/Audience

Where to Find It

Getting Started with Flash

Basic introduction to Flash concepts and interface, with a detailed beginner tutorial. Intended for beginning Flash users.

View in Flash: Select Help > Flash Help

View online: livedocs.macromedia.com/go/livedocs_flash

Get the PDF: www.macromedia.com/go/fl_documentation

Using Flash

Comprehensive information about all the features of Flash except ActionScript. Intended for all Flash users.

View in Flash: Select Help > Flash Help

View online: livedocs.macromedia.com/go/livedocs_flash

Get the PDF: www.macromedia.com/go/fl_documentation

Flash 8 Video Encoder

Complete information about using the Flash 8 Video Encoder application. Intended for Flash designers creating video content.

View in Flash 8 Video Encoder: Select Help > Using Flash Video Encoder

View online: livedocs.macromedia.com/go/livedocs_flash

Get the PDF: www.macromedia.com/go/fl_documentation

Tutorials and Samples

Title

Description/Audience

Where to Find It

Flash Tutorials

A collection of step-by-step tutorials that teach a variety of both beginning and advanced Flash techniques. Intended for all Flash users.

View in Flash: Select Help > Flash Help

View online: livedocs.macromedia.com/go/livedocs_flash

Get the PDF: www.macromedia.com/go/fl_documentation

Flash Samples

A collection of sample files demonstrating various Flash features and techniques, with a detailed description of each one. Intended for all Flash users.

View in Flash: Select Help > Flash Help

View online: livedocs.macromedia.com/go/livedocs_flash

Get the PDF: www.macromedia.com/go/fl_documentation

ActionScript

Title

Description/Audience

Where to Find It

Learning ActionScript 2.0 in Flash

Detailed introduction to coding with ActionScript, including extensive reusable code examples. Intended for beginning and intermediate ActionScript users.

View in Flash: Select Help > Flash Help

View online: livedocs.macromedia.com/go/livedocs_flash

Get the PDF: www.macromedia.com/go/fl_documentation

ActionScript 2.0 Language Reference

Dictionary-style reference entries for each term in the ActionScript language. Intended for all ActionScript users.

View in Flash: Select Help > Flash Help

View online: livedocs.macromedia.com/go/livedocs_flash

Get the PDF: www.macromedia.com/go/fl_documentation

Components

Title

Description/Audience

Where to Find It

Using Components

Information about how to use and customize components in your Flash documents. Intended for all Flash users.

View in Flash: Select Help > Flash Help

View online: livedocs.macromedia.com/go/livedocs_flash

Get the PDF: www.macromedia.com/go/fl_documentation

Components Language Reference

Dictionary-style reference entries for each term in the ActionScript component application programming interface (API). Intended for all Flash users.

View in Flash: Select Help > Flash Help

View online: livedocs.macromedia.com/go/livedocs_flash

Get the PDF: www.macromedia.com/go/fl_documentation

Extending Flash

Title

Description/Audience

Where to Find It

Extending Flash

Information about adding functionality to the Flash authoring tool with JavaScript. Intended for JavaScript users and advanced Flash users.

View in Flash: Select Help > Flash Help

View online: livedocs.macromedia.com/go/livedocs_flash

Get the PDF: www.macromedia.com/go/fl_documentation

Flash Lite

Title	Description/Audience	Where to Find It
Developing Flash Lite Applications	Information about creating Flash content for mobile phones and devices. Intended for mobile and device developers and intermediate Flash users.	View in Flash: Select Help > Flash Help View online: livedocs.macromedia.com/go/livedocs_flash Get the PDF: www.macromedia.com/go/flash_lite_documentation
Learning Flash Lite 1.x ActionScript	Information about writing ActionScript for mobile phones and devices. Intended for mobile and device developers and intermediate Flash users.	View in Flash: Select Help > Flash Help View online: livedocs.macromedia.com/go/livedocs_flash Get the PDF: www.macromedia.com/go/flash_lite_documentation
Flash Lite 1.x ActionScript Language Reference	Dictionary-style reference entries for each term in the Flash Lite 1.x ActionScript language. Intended for mobile and device developers and intermediate Flash users.	View in Flash: Select Help > Flash Help View online: livedocs.macromedia.com/go/livedocs_flash Get the PDF: www.macromedia.com/go/flash_lite_documentation
Getting Started with Flash Lite	Introductory information about Flash Lite workflows and authoring considerations. Intended for mobile and device developers and intermediate Flash users.	View in Flash: Select Help > Flash Help View online: livedocs.macromedia.com/go/livedocs_flash Get the PDF: www.macromedia.com/go/flash_lite_documentation

Accessing additional online Flash resources

The following table summarizes additional online resources for learning Flash.

Resource	Description	Where to Find It
Flash Support Center	TechNotes, plus support and problem-solving information.	www.macromedia.com/go/flash_support
Flash Developer Center	Articles and tutorials to help you improve your skills and learn new ones.	www.macromedia.com/go/flash_devcenter
Flash Documentation Resource Center	PDF and HTML versions of the Flash documentation.	www.macromedia.com/go/fl_documentation
Macromedia Online Forums	Discussion and problem-solving information by Flash users, technical support representatives, and the Flash development team.	www.macromedia.com/go/flash_forums
Macromedia Training	Classroom and online instruction offered by Macromedia training partners.	www.macromedia.com/go/flash_training
Flash Resource Manager (English only)	An alternative viewer for viewing the Flash Help system outside the Flash application.	www.macromedia.com/go/flash_resource_manager