Introduction to ActionScript Tutorial > ActionScript tutorial overview |  |

ActionScript tutorial overview

ActionScript is the scripting language of Macromedia Flash MX. A scripting language is a way to communicate with a program; you can use it to tell Flash what to do and to ask Flash what is happening as a movie runs. This two-way communication lets you create interactive movies. In this tutorial, you will examine the tasks involved in creating an interactive jigsaw puzzle.

This tutorial is designed for Flash users who are ActionScript beginners but who want to work toward advanced abilities. You should already be familiar with basic actions and know how to assign them in the Actions panel. To get the most out of this tutorial, you should first complete the Introduction to Flash MX Tutorial. You should also be comfortable with the concepts presented in Writing Scripts with ActionScript and Creating Interaction with ActionScript.

This tutorial takes approximately one hour to complete, depending upon your experience, and will teach you how to do the following tasks:

| Initialize the movie
| Save and retrieve information
| Display information in a dynamic text box
| Write an expression
| Control the flow of the movie
| Create commands and reuse code
| Use a built-in object
| Test the movie