Flash Article

Introducing Yahoo! Maps JS-Flash API: Creating Web Applications Using Scriptable Flash Objects

In this tutorial, I introduce the Yahoo! Maps JS-Flash API, a delightful marriage of Flash with JavaScript, all bundled up in a piquant API that's easy to use, yet quite powerful. The beauty of the JS-Flash API is that rich applications can be built with no Flash programming at all, yet the built-in Flash objects provide geocoding, overlays, navigation controls, and other advanced features. Experience the completed application that I create in this article.

Only JavaScript is needed to access the API though experienced Flash developers can enrich their JS-Flash application even further by creating custom SWF objects. For proof of how powerful this technology can be, check out our new Yahoo! Maps site for end-users which is based on the same technology as the JS-Flash API.

While this tutorial covers using the JS-Flash API, please note that there are also Yahoo! Maps APIs available for Flex developers and for ActionScript coders who want to develop within the Flash authoring tool:

• Yahoo! Maps Flex API
• Yahoo! Maps AS-Flash API

Requirements

To complete this tutorial you will need to install the following software and files:

Flash Player 7 or 8

• Download Flash Player

Dreamweaver 8 or your favorite text editor

• Try
• Buy

Tutorials and sample files:

• js4flash.zip (ZIP, 3K)

Prerequisite knowledge

General working knowledge of an ECMAScript compliant language, such as Javascript or ActionScript, is necessary though programmers experienced in similar languages should have no problems understanding the examples. Basic understanding of CSS and web page design, as well as object-oriented programming techniques (for example, classes and methods) is helpful.

Page 1 of 3

Next Page

About the author