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TRAINING ADOBE AIR - 2009 CALENDAR

Developing with Adobe AIR

Use Flex Builder 3, Flash CS3 and Ajax

DATE:	To be defined
HOUR:	4 consecutive lessons from Monday to Thursday. Each lesson has a duration of 6 hours and takes place during the hours between 9.30 and 16.30 (with a 1 hour break for lunch)
LOCATIONS:	Rome: via Famiano Nardini 1/c (Metro linea B, stop Bologna) Rome: via Lazzaro Spallanzani 36/A Milan: Via Gian Antonio Boltraffio, 21 Milan: via Taormina, 36 (Metro linea 3, stop Maciachini)
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS:	Up to 10
Download the course brochure Developing desktop applications with Adobe AIR, Ajax and Flex

Overview

Adobe AIR is a multi-platform runtime system that Adobe is developing and that allows developers to use their web development skills (Flash, Flex, HTML, JavaScript, Ajax) to create and distribute Rich Internet Applications (RIAs) on the desktop. Web applications have transformed with time from simple web sites to more complex applications which have started to bring the development limitations of the browser to light. The web browser was originally thought of to display a document based on HTML language. For this reason, now that more and more applications, which function as true desktop software, are released on the web, a series of problems, linked to their deployment via the web browsers, arise. Among the greatest limitations for the developer, but also for the end user, one is surely the impossibility of interacting with the operative system. Operations that allow the application to copy, save or create files are made impossible by the security model of the web browser, which does not have access to the file system of the machine on which it is running. Adobe AIR provides a platform between the desktop and the browser which combines the simplicity of the development model and release model of the web with the rich functions of the desktop application model. Adobe AIR allows Rich Internet Applications to be distributed outside the web browser and to be able to access the functions of the operative system using Flash, Flex, HTML and AJAX as development technologies.

Training objectives

This course introduces the participants to the development of Rich Applications with Adobe AIR using its capacity to be able to access the File System, to modify the Windows of the system, to be able to make it function even in offline mode and to use the notification mechanism of the operative system.

Prerequisites

This course is aimed at Actionscript/Flash or Flex programmers who also have a knowledge of development on the web with HTML and Javascript. The requirements requested to participate in the course are as follows:

A deep knowledge of Actionscript 2 and Flash 8 or Flex 2 environments
A knowledge of object orientated programming
Knowledge of web technologies: HTML and Javascript or AJAX

Additional Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of SQL language
Knowledge of a server-side language (PHP/ASP/.NET/JAVA)

PC requirements

Each participant should come with his/her own notebook with the following minimum requirements to partecipate in the Flash Media Server 2 course:

Intel Pentium 4 processor
Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2, Windows XP Professional, Windows 2000 Server, or Windows Server 2003
1 GB of memory
300 MB of available hard-disk space to install

Those who are not equipped with a notebook with the above characteristics may rent a PC for the entire course. Please inform us a few days in advance if you require this service.

Teaching material

The course will provide each student the following text book:
Flex Solutions: Essential Techniques for Flex 2 and 3 Developers
Editor: Friends of Ed
Pages: 904

Programme

Introduction to Adobe AIR

Rich Internet Applications
Limits of web applications
Adobe AIR Runtime
Installation of Adobe AIR
Adobe AIR Flash Technology, Actionscript 3 and Flex
HTML Engine of AIR
AIR and AJAX
AIR and integration with PDF

Using Adobe AIR

System Requirements
Software necessary to develop with AIR
Adobe Flex Builder 3
Flash CS3
Dreamweaver CS3
Aptana Studio
AIR SDKs
Creating the first application with AIR

Using HTML and Javascript in AIR

HTML and Javascript support
Using the HTML Flex Component
Using the HTMLControl class
Communicating with Actionscript and Javascript

Actionscript 3 for AIR

The API Actionscript 3 for AIR
Programming objects with Actionscript 3
Extending classes with Actionscript
Understanding the Interfaces

Using the API for the File System

Accessing a File or Directory
Introduction to the File object
Accessing the File System
Understanding absolute and relative pathways for multi-platform use
Creating and deleting files or directories
Reading information of a File
Writing and creating Files
Serializing and deserializing ActionScript3 objects

Developing Applications with Adobe AIR

Creating a Project
Arranging the Assets
Interacting with Javascript
Debug and testing
Badge installation

Working with the operative system

Using drag and drop functions
Using the clipboard
Implementing the Native Menu API

Remote connections and RPC with Adobe AIR 1

Using the Service Connectivity API
AIR Service Connectivity
XML an E4X in Flash/Flex
HTTPService in Adobe AIR
Using Web Service in AIR
Using the local database: SQLITE
Using the OFFLINE/ONLINE synchronisation with the LocalServer API

Window applications and integration with the operative system

Creating native windows for the operative system
Creating customised windows
Management techniques for multi-window applications
System notifications, tray icons and docks

AIR command Line utilities

The AMXMLC wrapper
Using the AMXMLC
Using the ADL tool
Using AT

AIR and security

Security in AIR
Understanding the AIR sandbox
Digital signature in AIR applications
Permissions to access the system
Priveleged resources
Badge installation