New Actionscript in Flash MX

This page is a quick overview of new Actionscript added to MX - everything in red is MX specific, just look it up in the help if you need more detail. This page only covers new syntax, if you find any bugs or omissions drop me a line.

• Actions : Actions that can be added to your script
  • Miscellaneous Actions : Miscellaneous actions
    • setInterval : Initialize a periodic callback
    • clearInterval : Cancel a periodic callback
    • #initclip : Begin a Component initialization block
    • #endinitclip : End a Component initialization block
• Operators : Operators to use in expressions
  • Miscellaneous Operators : The weird ones
    • instanceof : Returns whether a is of class b
• Functions : Functions to use in expressions
  • Mathematical Functions : Functions that perform mathematical operations
  • Conversion Functions : Functions that perform type conversions
    • Array : Constructs array from arguments
    • Object : Converts argument to corresponding object type
• Objects : Predefined objects provided by ActionScript
  • Core : Core objects of ActionScript language
    • super : Superclass operator; invokes constructor/method of superclass
    • _global : The global object, which holds global variables
    • arguments : Object passed to user-defined functions
      • caller : Function object that invoked this function
      • length : Number of arguments passed to this function
    • Array : Object that helps you work with arrays
      • Methods : Methods of the Array object
        • sortOn : Sorts an array, using object property as sort key
    • Function : Object which represents a function
      • Methods : Methods of Function objects
        • call : Invokes the function with specified parameters
        • apply : Invokes the function with parameters in array
    • Object : Object is the primitive ActionScript object type
      • Methods : Methods of Object objects
        • watch : Add a watchpoint on an object property
        • unwatch : Removes a watchpoint created with Object.watch
        • registerClass : Associates a linkage identifier with an object class
        • addProperty : Registers a getter/setter property on an object
  • Movie : Objects for scripting Flash movies
    • Accessibility : Object for creating accessible movies
      • isActive : true if Accessibility is active, false otherwise
    • Button : Object which represents button instances
      • Methods : Methods of Button objects
        • getDepth : Returns the absolute "z" order of the button
      • Properties : Properties of Button objects
        • enabled : If true, button is enabled; if false, disabled
        • useHandCursor : If true, use hand cursor over button rather than arrow
        • tabIndex : Tab index of button
        • tabEnabled : If true, tab stop enabled; if false, disabled
        • trackAsMenu : Track as Menu Item for Buttons
      • Events : Events received by Button objects
        • onPress : Callback invoked when press event occurs
        • onRelease : Callback invoked when release event occurs
        • onReleaseOutside : Callback invoked when releaseOutside event occurs
        • onRollOver : Callback invoked when rollOver event occurs
        • onRollOut : Callback invoked when rollOut event occurs
        • onDragOver : Callback invoked when dragOver event occurs
        • onDragOut : Callback invoked when dragOut event occurs
        • onSetFocus : Callback invoked when button receives focus
        • onKillFocus : Callback invoked when button loses focus
    • Capabilities : Object containing system capabilities info
      • Properties : Properties of the Capabilities object
        • hasAudio : If true, system has audio capabilities
        • hasMP3 : If true, system has MP3 sound capabilities
        • hasAudioEncoder : If true, system can encode audio
        • hasVideoEncoder : If true, system can encode video
        • screenResolutionX : Screen X resolution in pixels
        • screenResolutionY : Screen Y resolution in pixels
        • screenDPI : Screen dots per inch (dpi)
        • screenColor : String indicating type of color screen
        • pixelAspectRatio : Pixel aspect ratio of screen
        • hasAccessibility : If true, system has Accessibility features
    • Color : Object that controls the color transform of movie clips
      • Methods : Methods of the Color object
    • Key : Object which help you interface with the keyboard
      • Methods : Methods of the Key object
        • addListener : Adds a listener for onKeyDown/onKeyUp events
        • removeListener : Removes a listener for onKeyDown/onKeyUp events
      • Constants : Constant properties of the Key object
        • Listeners : Listener callbacks of the Key object
          • onKeyDown : Listener invoked when key is pressed
          • onKeyUp : Listener invoked when key is released
    • Mouse : Object that controls the mouse cursor
      • Methods : Methods of the Mouse object
        • addListener : Adds a listener for onMouseDown/onMouseMove/onMouseUp events
        • removeListener : Removes a listener for onMouseDown/onMouseMove/onMouseUp events
        • Listeners : Listener callbacks of the Mouse object
          • onMouseDown : Listener invoked when mouse button is pressed
          • onMouseMove : Listener invoked when mouse is moved
          • onMouseUp : Listener invoked when mouse button is released
    • MovieClip : Object that represents a movie clip
      • Methods : Methods of MovieClip Object
        • createEmptyMovieClip : Creates an empty Movie Clip instance
        • createTextField : Creates an empty text field
        • getDepth : Returns the absolute "z" order of the movie clip
        • setMask : Sets the scriptable mask of this movie clip
        • Drawing Methods : Methods that perform direct drawing
          • beginFill : Identifies the beginning of a solid fill
          • beginGradientFill : Identifies the beginning of a gradient fill
          • lineStyle : Changes the current line style
          • moveTo : Moves the current drawing position
          • lineTo : Draws a line from the current drawing position
          • curveTo : Draws a curve from the current drawing position
          • endFill : Identifies the end of a fill
          • clear : Clears all drawing commands on Movie Clip
        • Properties : Properties of MovieClip object
          • enabled : If true, button movie clip is enabled; if false, disabled
          • focusEnabled : If true, movie clip may receive the focus
          • hitArea : Hit Area to use for Button Movie Clips
          • tabIndex : Tab index of a MovieClip object
          • tabEnabled : If true, tab stop enabled; if false, disabled
          • tabChildren : If true, children may be tab stops
          • trackAsMenu : Track as Menu Item for Button Movie Clips
          • useHandCursor : If true, use hand cursor over movie clip rather than arrow
        • Events : Events received by MovieClip objects
          • onPress : Callback invoked when press event occurs
          • onRelease : Callback invoked when release event occurs
          • onReleaseOutside : Callback invoked when releaseOutside event occurs
          • onRollOver : Callback invoked when rollOver event occurs
          • onRollOut : Callback invoked when rollOut event occurs
          • onDragOver : Callback invoked when dragOver event occurs
          • onDragOut : Callback invoked when dragOut event occurs
          • onLoad : Callback invoked when load event occurs
          • onUnload : Callback invoked when unload event occurs
          • onEnterFrame : Callback invoked when frame is entered
          • onMouseDown : Callback invoked when mouseDown event occurs
          • onMouseUp : Callback invoked when mouseUp event occurs
          • onMouseMove : Callback invoked when mouseMove event occurs
          • onKeyDown : Callback invoked when keyDown event occurs
          • onKeyUp : Callback invoked when keyUp event occurs
          • onData : Callback invoked when data event occurs
          • onSetFocus : Callback invoked when movie clip receives focus
          • onKillFocus : Callback invoked when movie clip loses focus
    • Selection : Object that controls the edit text selection and focus
      • Methods : Methods of the Selection object
        • addListener : Adds a listener for the onSetFocus event
        • removeListener : Removes a listener for the onSetFocus event
        • Listeners : Listener callbacks of the Selection object
        • Listeners : Listener callbacks of the Selection object
          • onSetFocus : Listener invoked when focus changes
    • Sound : Object that helps you work with sound
      • Methods : Methods of Sound objects
        • loadSound : Download a MP3 sound.
        • getBytesLoaded : Returns the number of bytes that have download during the loadSound() operation.
        • getBytesTotal : Returns the size of the file that is currently being downloaded.
        • Properties : Properties of the Sound object
          • position : Number of milliseconds sound has been playing for
          • duration : Duration of sound in milliseconds
        • Events : Events of the Sound object
          • onSoundComplete : Callback invoked when sound has completed playing
          • onLoad : Callback invoked when loaded sound has been received.
    • Stage : Object that controls characteristics of the Flash movie stage
      • Methods : Methods of Stage object
        • addListener : Adds a listener for the onResize event
        • removeListener : Removes a listener for the onResize event
      • Properties : Properties of the Stage object
        • showMenu : Flash movie context menu visibility flag: show (true), hide (false)
        • scaleMode : Flash movie scaling behavior: show all, exact fit, no border, or no scale
        • align : Flash movie alignment behavior: centered(C), top(T), top-left(TL), etc.
        • width : The current width of the Flash movie stage, in pixels
        • height : The current height of the Flash movie stage, in pixels
      • Events : Events of the Stage object
        • onResize : Callback invoked when Flash movie has resized
    • System : Object containing system information
      • capabilities : System capabilities object
    • TextField : Object which represents text field instances
      • Methods : Methods of text field objects
        • removeTextField : Removes a text field created with createTextField
        • replaceSel : Replace selected text with specified text
        • getTextFormat : Get text format information
        • setTextFormat : Set text format information
        • getNewTextFormat : Get text format information for new text
        • setNewTextFormat : Set text format information for new text
        • getFontList : Get array containing names of fonts on system
        • addListener : Adds a listener for onChanged/onScroller events
        • removeListener : Removes a listener for onChanged/onScroller events
        • getDepth : Returns the absolute "z" order of the text field
      • Properties : Properties of TextField objects
        • scroll : Index of first visible line in text field
        • bottomScroll : Index of last visible line in text field
        • maxscroll : Maximum value of .scroll in text field
          • type : Type of text field ('dynamic' or 'input')
          • textColor : Color of text in text field
          • borderColor : Color of border of text field
          • backgroundColor : Color of background of text field
          • text : Current text in the text field
          • htmlText : Current text in the text field, with HTML tags
          • autoSize : Text field auto-sizes to fit text
          • variable : Name of variable associated with text field
          • hscroll : Current horizontal scrolling position
          • maxhscroll : Maximum value of .hscroll in text field
          • maxChars : Maximum number of characters that may be entered
          • embedFonts : Boolean; if true, use embedded font outlines
          • html : Boolean; if true, use HTML for variable representation
          • border : Boolean; if true, display border around text field
          • background : Boolean; if true, display background behind text field
          • wordWrap : Boolean; if true, perform word wrap at line ends
          • password : Boolean; if true, display asterisks to hide characters
          • multiline : Boolean; if true, user may enter multipline lines
          • restrict : Set of characters accepted by the text field
          • selectable : Boolean; if true, user may select text with mouse/keyboard
          • length : Length of text in .text property
          • textWidth : Width of the text, in pixels
          • textHeight : Height of the text, in pixels
          • tabIndex : Tab index of text field
          • tabEnabled : If true, tab stop enabled; if false, disabled
        • Events : Events received by text field objects
          • onChanged : Callback invoked when text changes
          • onSetFocus : Callback invoked when text field receives focus
          • onKillFocus : Callback invoked when text field loses focus
          • onScroller : Callback invoked when scrolling position/range changes
        • Listeners : Listeners for text field objects
          • onChanged : Listener invoked when text changes
          • onScroller : Listener invoked when scrolling position/range changes
    • TextFormat : Object that controls text formatting in text fields
      • new TextFormat : Construct a new TextFormat object
      • Methods : Methods of TextFormat objects
        • getTextExtent : Get X and Y extents of text
      • Properties : Properties of TextFormat objects
        • font : Name of text font
        • size : Point size of text
        • color : Color of text
        • url : URL hyperlink of text, null if none
        • target : Target window of hyperlink, null if none
        • bold : Boolean indicating whether text is bold
        • italic : Boolean indicating whether text is italicized
        • underline : Boolean indicating whether text is underlined
        • align : Alignment of text (left, center, right)
        • leftMargin : Left margin of text
        • rightMargin : Right margin of text
        • indent : Indentation of initial line in paragraph
        • blockIndent : Indentation applied to all lines in paragraph
        • leading : Inter-line leading of text
        • bullet : Boolean indicating whether text is bulleted
        • tabStops : Array indicating positions of tab stops
  • Client/Server : Objects for client/server communication
    • LoadVars : Object-oriented interface to Load Variables
      • new LoadVars : Creates new LoadVars object
      • Methods : Methods of the LoadVars object
        • load : Loads variables into Flash from an URL
        • send : Sends variables from Flash to an URL
        • sendAndLoad : Sends variables from Flash to an URL and downloads variable results
        • toString : Converts this LoadVars object to a URL-encoded string
        • getBytesLoaded : Returns the number of bytes loaded of variables
        • getBytesTotal : Returns expected total downloaded size of variables
      • Properties : Properties of the LoadVars object
        • loaded : Sets to true if load/sendAndLoad completed
        • contentType : MIME Content Type for send/sendAndLoad
      • Events : Events received by the LoadVars object
        • onLoad : Callback invoked when load/sendAndLoad completes
    • XML : Object that allows you to work with XML documents
      • Methods : Methods of XML objects
        • getBytesLoaded : Returns the number of bytes loaded of XML
        • getBytesTotal : Returns expected total downloaded size of XML
    • Authoring : Objects specific to the Authoring Tool
      • CustomActions : Object that manages Custom Actions
        • Methods : Methods of the CustomActions object
          • install : Installs a Custom Action
          • uninstall : Uninstalls a Custom Action
          • list : Returns a list of all Custom Actions
          • get : Gets the definition of the named Custom Action
      • Live Preview : Actions specific to Live Preview of Components
        • onUpdate : Declares the onUpdate callback function

Last Updated : 21/04/2003; 22:47:49

© Copyright 2003 . David Burrows