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ActionScript Technology Center

Getting started

Follow these steps to start coding in ActionScript 3:

1. New to ActionScript 3? Read six reasons to use ActionScript 3.

   If you already know ActionScript 2, explore the resources in the Migration section to help migrate your apps to ActionScript 3.

2. Browse the Getting Started with ActionScript chapters of Programming Adobe ActionScript 3.

   You will learn the programming fundamentals, how to work with objects, and see examples geared toward quickly building basic ActionScript 3 applications:

   • Getting Started with ActionScript 3 for Flash CS4 (or PDF, 13 MB)
   • Getting Started with ActionScript 3 for Flex 3 (or PDF, 13 MB)

3. Drill down in subsequent sections of Programming Adobe ActionScript 3.

   These chapters provide a "basics of..." overview and walk you through many examples so that you can create applications with Flash or Flex as you learn. If you already know ActionScript 2 and are new to ActionScript 3, make sure to read the following sections, depending on your programming environment:

   • Introduction (Flash) (Flex)
   • Getting started (Flash) (Flex)
   • Display programming (Flash) (Flex)
   • Handling events (Flash) (Flex)
   • Working with movie clips (Flash) (Flex)
   • Language and syntax (Flash) (Flex)
   
   

   Or just browse/download the entire book:

   • Programming ActionScript 3 for Flash CS4 (or PDF, 13 MB)
   • Programming ActionScript 3 for Flex 3 (or PDF, 13 MB)

4. Create your first ActionScript 3 class.

   In this video tutorial, Dan Carr demonstrates the basics of creating an ActionScript 3 class—which is simply a text file that stores code externally to the editable FLA file. Developers use classes to create organized code frameworks that can be assigned to elements within their SWF files and be reused across projects. This tutorial shows you how to create a "hello world" class and assign it to the main Timeline of a Flash file.

5. Learn ActionScript 3 one-on-one with Doug Winnie.

   Follow these ActionScript 3 videos by trainer Doug Winnie that begin with the basics and guide you through building interactive and dynamic designs and animations.

6. Watch some Lost ActionScript Weekend videos featuring Colin Moock.

   Join ActionScript guru Colin Moock and friends as they turn fireside chats, cabin discussions, and even some clowning around into compelling, real-world lessons about ActionScript 3 in these videos from O'Reilly Media. (The lessons here contain two full hours from the complete program, which runs over 11 hours.)

7. Read the Flash and ActionScript components learning guide.

   ActionScript components significantly reduce the time and effort needed to develop Flash applications by providing complex pieces that behave in a consistent way and are ready to use and customize. Learn how to use the data and media ActionScript 2 components included with Flash CS3 and Flash CS4, as well as the user interface and video ActionScript 3 components.

Additional resources

ActionScript 3.0 Quick Reference Guide excerpts: Copy motion, display list, events, and migration

David Stiller, Rich Shupe, Jen deHaan, Darren Richardson (Dec. 22, 2008)
Read these four book excerpts from O'Reilly Media so you can make the leap from ActionScript 2.0 to ActionScript 3.0 quickly and painlessly.