2.Flash Variables

Flash Variables are a Flash staple, and ASPNetFlash handles them beautifully.They allow variables, which consist of a given name and value, to be injected into an Adobe Flash movie when it is loaded.These variables are then easily accessible from the Flash movie's ActionScript, allowing you to set textual content, menu links and other settings that are useful to display dynamic Flash content.

The FlashVariables collection is a public property, which can be edited in three ways.It can be accessed by writing ASPX tags in the source code, or by directly accessing the variable in the code behind.Either of these options provide flexibility and the power to dynamically define and modify Flash Variables.The simplest way, is a Property Editor, accessible from either the Control Designer's Smart Tags, or from the Property Panel is shown below:

JavaScript API

The new JavaScript API allows developers to completely control and manipulate Flash Movies using JavaScript code.This includes using JavaScript to set and set flash variable and call ActionScript function.

ActionSpeak™ - Louder than words

1.Overview

ActionSpeak™ is an ActionScript APIwhich, when used in concert with ASPNetFlash's Flash WebControl, allows you to do some very amazing things with Adobe Flash objects.It expands the world of the Flash developer, by opening pathways for synchronous or asynchronous communication with every technology in its environment.It lays a concrete web-foundation for your Flash objects with its Persistent ActionScript ViewState and SessionState Variables.Finally, it functionalizes universally compatible Flash Pop-overs and allows developers to dynamically move, swap and resize Flash Movies on the fly.

2.Synchronous Communication

One of the key concepts that ActionSpeak™ brings to the Adobe Flash developer is fluid interoperability between ActionScript, JavaScript, HTML form objects, and other Flash Movies.Using ActionSpeak™, methods in any of the technologies below can be called, and their return values read synchronously, as though the functions were native to their own language.

3.HTML Forms

ActionSpeak™ allows you to get and set the value of any form field that is on the same ASPX page as the embedded Flash Movie.Addtionally, HTML forms can now be submitted directly from ActionScript.

ii.JavaScript

With ActionSpeak™, ActionScript and JavaScript are completely intertwined.Using ActionSpeak™ protocols, any JavaScript function can be called from ActionScript.

From ActionScript:

var returnValue = ActionSpeak.CallJavaScript("confirm('Hello World');");

iii.Other Flash Movies

ActionSpeak™ allows remote control of any other Flash Movie, embedded in the same ASPX page.This includes remotely setting ActionScript variables or calling ActionScript functions.

3.Asynchronous Communication

i.ASP.NET Data-Driving Interface

ActionSpeak™ also aids in simplifying the parsing of data sets that are passed into the Flash Movie.Using the ASPNetFlash Flash WebControl, you can very simply DataBind the control to a DataSource.This data comes in the form of either an XML document or a RecordSet, and ActionSpeak™ presents Flash developers with objects that hold this data in a easy to use way.

ii.ASP.NET Event Wireup

At any point of a Flash Movie's life, a postback function can now be called to its parent ASPX page.The event will be handled by a function that can be set in the code-behind, simply by double clicking on the ASPNetFlash Flash control in the Visual Studio Designer for your WebForm, and then filling it in with a custom action.

Using this feature causes the web page to postback - which in the past would cause your Flash Movie to lose its memory.By using the ActionScript ViewState or SessionState Variables (#4 below), these postbacks can occur without your Flash Movie losing its place.

4.ActionScript ViewState & SessionState Variables

i.ActionScript ViewState Variables

By setting and retrieving ActionScript ViewState Variables, Flash developers can make their Flash Movies persist across ASPX page refreshes, including those caused by postbacks.ViewState variables remain unchanged in the Flash Movie, even after the page reloads.

ii.ActionScript SessionState Variables

By setting and retrieving ActionScript SessionState Variables, Flash developers can save data to a site-wide repository - accessible by any Flash Movie on the Website.This data will persist after page reloads and even in a return visit to the website.Unlike saving data in the traditional "Shared Object", the user is not prompted to authorize its use.

5.Advanced Flash Features

i.Pop-over & Live Movement

Traditionally used in advertising, floating, movable Flash overlays have in the past been difficult to implement and have worked only in Internet Explorer.With ActionSpeak™, Flash can be easily deployed as a transparent, floating layer, in all modern web browsers.

ii. Resizing

With ActionSpeak™ installed, your Flash Movie can be automatically resized from either ActionScript or JavaScript.

iii. Dynamic Flash Movie Source Swapping

With ActionSpeak™ installed, you can change the source URL of your Flash Movie to another Flash Movie on the fly, from either ActionScript or JavaScript.

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