DRK
Josh Dura has made a post asking what type of apps / content do developers want to see on DRK 6.
Head over to Josh’s weblog and post your suggestions.
I have put up a new poll on the right of the page. This weeks question is “What is your favorite gaming system”?
The previous poll went well with over 500 responses. According to poll, Pollster is by far the most popular item on DRK 4.
This poll is run by Pollster, which is available on DRK 4. More info here.
A question was posted to my weblog asking how to retrieve the data for the individual bar chart section selected in the 3D Bar chart included as part of the Flash Charting Components Set 2 on DRK 4.
If you are using a listener to capture the select / press event, it is very simple as all of the data is passed to the listener method.
Here is an example:
Peter Hall has put together a very cool example of the 3D Pie Chart component from the Flash Charting Components Set 2 on DRK 4.
He has used the extrude depth of the pie chart to display additional information, and has added some code so that the chart morphs between data sets.
You can check out the example here.
You can find more information on the Charting Component Set 2 here.
The Macromedia DevNet center has just published an article I wrote that discusses embedding the Flash player within Windows applications using C#.
The article is based on the Stock Charting Windows application which is included on DRK 4. The application uses the line chart component from the Flash Charting Component Set 2 to chart historical stock data within the windows app.
You can read the entire article here.
You may have noticed the online poll on the right of the page. This is actually the Flash interface to the Pollster sample application included on DRK 4.
Pollster includes the following:
A Flash Interface to place on your website. Complete Admin back-end written in ColdFusion A Dreamweaver extension that makes it easy to insert the poll into your web site. The Poll has quite a few features including:
Complete admin back-end.
The DevNet Resource Kit Volume 4 (DRK 4) is now available for for DevNet Essentials subscribers and for individual purchase ($99). Yes, you heard that right, no more three months before you can buy it individually.
This DRK is probably our most comprehensive yet, with over 25 new components, extensions, sample applications, graphic libraries and other resources.
You can see a complete list of content here.
Here are some of the highlights:
At FlashForward last week, I gave a sneak peak of some of the content on DRK 4 (due out shortly). One of the things I showed was a polling sample application, that uses Flash as the interface.
Well, here is your chance to check it out.
This is a quick test of the poll (and is not the final version). If you run into any problems or have any suggestions, post them in the comments.
I have posted some pictures from FlashForward. They are mostly from the speaker reception, and the keynote.
The new EDGE newsletter is out and among other things has an article about the DevNet Resource Kits (DRK), and the development process and steps behind the components on the DRK.
You can read the article here.
[via greg burch]
Just a quick reminder that the HTML documentation for the Flash UI Component set 5 from DevNet Resource Kit Volume 3 is available on-line.
Flash UI Component Set 5 includes the following components:
Accordion Pane Week View Tab View Slider TextField The complete documentation includes:
Reference Panel Documentation HTML documentation PDF Documentation 66 Sample Files, demonstrating virtually every API You can view the documentation here.
You can find more info about DRK 3 here.
Wow. We were really blown away by the response to the DRK ad spoof contest. The creativity of some of the entries was simply amazing. So much so, that we decided to pick three winners instead of one.
And the winners are (in no particular order):
UI Correction Officer (Ben Gibbs) Quality Control (Mike Klepper) Mike’s Personal DRK (Anders Wikstrom) Each winner will receive a copy of the DevNet Resource Kit Volume 3 (chocked full of component and sample app goodness).
We have chosen some winners for the DRK 3 Ad spoof contest. Yes, I said winners (plural). We had so many great submissions that we decided to give away 3 copies of DRK 3. We have picked two winners already, but want to let the community vote on the third winner from the runners up.
Here are the candidates:
Accordion Mike Kung Fu Mike’s Personal DRK mesh Hair To vote, send an e-mail to mesh@macromedia.
Josh Dura and and I have been playing around with the Google Web Service API. We have put together a simple Flash based application that allows you to search google. It is not 100% complete, but we though we would post it to let people check out (and hopefully give us some ideas for features).
The application uses the GoogleService ActionScript Library, components from DRK 3, and Flash Remoting.
Update [May, 5 2003] : A new version of the application was uploaded.
I have posted another example of the Week View component from the Flash UI Component Set 5 on DRK 3. This example creates a simple TV listings browser, and uses the Week View component to navigate through the days.
You can view an archived working version here
This example is included on the DRK (one of the 66 component sample files).
You can view the on-line docs for the Week View component here.
I have uploaded another component example from Flash UI Component Set 5 on DRK 3. This one uses the Week View component (DRK 3) as well as the Advanced Calendar Component from DRK 2.
You can view a working archived version here
This example is included on the DRK (one of the 66 component sample files).
You can view the on-line docs for the Week View componenthere.
You can find more information about the Flash UI Component Set 5 (which includes the Week View component) here.
I have uploaded another example of some of the components included the DevNet Resource Kit (DRK) Volume 3. This example uses the Accordion Pane and Slider components, and demonstrates sorting sections, and changing the transition speed within the Accordion Pane components. In this example, the sections do not have any content, although when you are using them they would.
You can view a running archived version here
This example is included on the DRK (one of the 66 component sample files).
Here is another example of one of the DevNet Resource Kit (DRK) 3 components. This one is an advanced usage of the Tab component, which shows how to specify custom tabs (in this case to add icons to the tabs). It also uses the TextField Component.
Basically, each tab represents the type of input for its associated text field. Icons will appear indicating the status of its text field. This example is included on the DRK (one of the 66 total component sample files).
I have been getting some requests for some examples of the components included on DRK 3, so I am going to try and post a bunch over the coming days.
The first example is a simple one showing how to validate user input using the TextField component and Data Validation library.
You can view a running archived version here
And here is the code:
#include "com/macromedia/validation/DataValidation.as" //set the function to be called when isValid is called.
OK. As many of you have noticed, some of our DRK marketing materials use some pictures of me. You can see some examples on the macromedia home page (you may have to reload it a couple of time) as well as here, here and here.
Well, I don’t know what to say except that marketing made me do it! Anyways, I have already seen a couple of spoofs, so I figured I would roll with it.
If you are a DevNet Pro or DevNet Essentials subscriber, DRK 3 will be available for download from Your on-line subscription portal in the next couple of hours. You should receive an email when it is available.
Update : DRK 3 is now available for download from your subscription portal.
As I posted earlier, the DevNet Resource Kit Volume 3 (DRK 3) is available today. One of the highlights of DRK 3 is the Flash UI Components Set 5.
The new component set includes the following components:
Tab View: The Tab component provides an advanced user-interface element for displaying and navigating between multiple elements within an application.
Week View: The Week View Calendar component allows users to navigate easily through a calendar and select days and weeks.
DRK 3 is the first DRK that we have released with full ColdFusion content. Christian Cantrell, the server community manager, has posted some info and screen shots of all of the ColdFusion content included on DRK 3.
You can view the info here.
DevNet Resource Kit Volume 3 (DRK 3) is avaliable today to DevNet Pro and DevNet Essentials subscribers. DRK 3 contains Flash, Dreamweaver and for the first time, complete ColdFusion content.
So what Flash content does it contain?
Flash UI Component Set 5 Tab View Component TextField Component Week View Component Accordion Pane Component Slider Component Bevel Component Set ActionScript Data Validation Library Macromedia Flash MX and Director MX Integration Kit RSS 1.
I have been getting a lot of questions today about which DRKs are included with DevNet Pro Subscriptions. So here is the answer.
When you subscribe to DevNet Pro, you get:
DRK Special Edition (Contains a selection of the extensions and components from Volumes 1 and 2) The current DRK (which is currently 3) The next 3 DRKs So basically, DevNet Pro includes DRK 1 and 2, which were part of Studio MX plus, plus a subscription to DevNet Essentials.
I had forgotten that this page was on-line, but Waldo pointed out today that we have a page on the website which describes some of the content planned for the next DevNet Resource Kit (DRK 3).
You can view the info here.
I can’t give an more specifics on it, but I can say that it is only a sample of the content planned. Of course, FlashForward is going on this week, so there is no telling what new information may come out.
DRK 3 is shaping up very nicely. We have all of the Flash components and some other cool stuff lined up, and I have some time to get some additional content together. So, what type of content do you want to see on the next DRK? Articles, sample applications, code libraries, etc..?
Post your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. Be as general or as specific as you like.
I have finally gotten around to putting up an example of the Stock Services sample application available on the Developer Resource Kit Volume 1.
The application uses Macromedia Flash, Flash Remoting, ColdFusion MX and the Flash Remoting Stock Services Library (available on DRK 1) to provide charts of historical stock information.
You can view a version of the app running here.
The Flash Remoting Stock Services Library and this sample application are both available on DRK 1.
The documentation for some of the Flash Components from the Developer Resource Kits is now online.
DataGrid Documentation from DRK 1.
Flash UI Component Set 4 Documentation from DRK 2.
I think we are still working on getting the other documentation up. I will post here when I find out more info.
Just a quick FYI, the Developer Resource Kit promotion (buy one get one half off) ends this Saturday (January 31, 2003). The promotion allows you to buy DRK 1, and then get DRK 2 for half price.
Below is a list of some of the Flash related content included on the DRK:
DataGrid Component Media Controller Component Sound Player Component Flash movie player Component Flash Streamer Component Loading Box Component Advanced Message Box Component Tool Tip Component Tool Tip Light Component Rich Text Editor Component Smart Combo Box Component Advanced Calendar Component Color Picker Component Simple Menu Component MyPhoto Flash Photo Application Stock Services Flash Remoting Library Email Services Flash Remoting Library Sample Applications Complete Offline Archive of DesDev Center from January to October 2002 There is also a ton of Dreamweaver MX and ColdFusion MX content included.
This is just a quick reminder that the current Developer Resource Kit promotion expires in a little over a week (January 31, 2003). If you buy DRK 2 you can get DRK 1 for half price.
You can find more info here.
I just noticed that we are running a promotion on the DRK. If you buy DRK 2, then you get DRK 1 for half price.
You can find more info here.
I am planning on holding another “Find Cartoon Mesh” DRK contest similar to the run i ran last week. However, this time, Cartoon Mesh (or should it be mini-mesh) will be hidden on my blog or one of the other Flash related weblogs.
So, if you run a weblog and want to participate in the contest, just send me an email directly, or post your link in the comments section. I’ll get all of the links together, and then start the contest.
I hope that everyone had a good holiday. I am back from some “time off” and am trying to get back into the swing of things. It looks like I finally have the resources necessary to post some DRK 2 (or 1) examples online, so if there is anything in particular that would like to see, let me know.
More posts a little later…
The Edge Newsletter is running a promotion where subscribers to the newsletter can receive 10% off of the DRK (it doesn’t specify if it is DRK 1, 2 or both). Unfortunately, I just found out about it today, and today is the last day that the offer is available.
You can find more info on the offer here.
Btw, this months newsletter has a good article on Flash Remoting.
I have put up a simple example using the Advanced Calendar and Color Picker components. The components are part of the Flash UI Component Set 54which is available of volume 2 of the Developer Resource Kit.
You can view the example here.
I will try and get some additional examples up soon.
Volume 2 of the Macromedia Developer Resource Kit is available today. This volume contains Flash, Flash Remoting, ColdFusion, Fireworks and Dreamweaver content.
The Flash content includes:
Flash UI Component Set 4, which includes the following components:
Rich Text Editor Smart Combo Box Advanced Calendar Color Picker Simple Menu MyPhoto Rich Internet Application : Sample Application A ton of chapters from some of the newest and most popular books on creating Flash content, and Rich Internet applications.
DevMX has posted a fairly comprehensive tutorial on using the DataGrid component included with the Developer Resource Kit. It actually describes how to build a complete application using Flash, the DataGrid component and ColdFusion MX.
You can read the entire article here.
I have found an issue with the Stock Services sample application and ActionScript / ColdFusion Library available on the DRK. In the Stock.cfc ColdFusion component file, the following code that starts at line 89:
<cfset var startMonth = Month(startDate) /> <cfset var startDay = Day(startDate)/> <cfset var startYear = Year(startDate) /> <cfset var endMonth = Month(endDate) /> should be changed to:
<cfset var startMonth = Month(startDate) - 1 /> <cfset var startDay = Day(startDate)/> <cfset var startYear = Year(startDate) /> <cfset var endMonth = Month(endDate) - 1 /> If you noticed that the sample stock charting application began acting erratically, this should solve the problem.
We are getting a couple of reports of people having problems installing extensions / components from the Developer Resource Kit (DRK). If you have a problem, there are two work arounds:
When the extension manager opens, save the extension to your hard-drive, and install it from there. Manually copy the extension from the CD to the hard-drive and then install. Using one of the steps above should solve the problem.
Stuart Schoneveld (illogicz.com) has put together a couple of examples showing the ToolTip component from the Macromedia Developer Resource Kit (DRK).
You can view them here.
Fridays are usually slow, so i decided to put together another quick example of the datagrid component available on the Macromedia MX Developer Resource Kit.
You can view the new example here.
Among other features, the example shows off editable fields, and formatting via style properties.
You can see the original example here.
Update 9/14 : I have updated the example to include an index column, and to show how to add a custom sort function.
Just a quick FYI. We have updated the information on the DataGrid component on the Developer Resource Kit website. It now includes a listing of some of the features of the component.
You can view the description here.
You can see an example of the datagrid in action here.
Some developers are having problems understanding how the Calendar component works (thread), so i put together a couple of simple examples that show how to use the component.
The first example shows how to work with a single selected date, and the second shows how to work with multiple selected dates.
You can download the files here.
If you know of any other examples online, please post them in the comments.
I have put up a simple example of the datagrid component that shows some of the more advanced features.
You can view the example here.
The datagrid component is available as part of the Developer Resource Kit.
On Friday, we announced a new product line, the Developer Resource Kit. It contains components, extensions, articles, samples applications and other resources (including a complete archive of the Designer and Developer Center).
Some of the new Flash MX content includes:
DataGrid component (including 46 pages of documentation, and 6 usage examples). Flash UI Component Set 3 (includes : Loading Box, Prompt Box, Advanced Message Box, ToolTip and ToolTip Lite). Media Player Components 3 Sample Applications (that include resuable Flash / Flash Remoting APIs for sending an retrieving email as well as retrieving historical stock information).
