FLEX TRAINING - 2009

Flex 3 and Flex Builder 3
Developing Rich Internet Applications with the new Flex 3 SDKs

DATE

Milan 30 March - 2 April 2009
Rome 20-23 April 2009

HOURS

4 Consecutive lessons. Each lesson has a duration of 6 hours and takes place between 9:30am and 16:30pm (with a break of 1 hour for lunch)

LOCATION

Rome: via Famiano Nardini 1/c (Metro linea B, stop Bologna)
Rome: via Lazzaro Spallanzani 36/A (Metro linea B, stop Policlinico)
Milan: via Imperia, 2
London: Lafone House, The Leathermarket - Weston Street
New York: 71 West 23rd Street - Suite 515

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS

Up to 10

PREREQUISITES

Knowledge of programming and web development concepts. Knowledge of ActionScript and Java are preferable.

OVERVIEW

Flex 3 is the new version of Adobe technology used to define a runtime and development environment that allows developers to create highly interactive front ends by taking advantage of the already popular Flash Player. Flex 3 applications, classified as a Rich Internet Applications, interact with the Business Logic component via web services, Java public methods (POJO, EJB3, Sprinf, Hibernate) or with HTTP calls with any server side technology (PHP, Coldfusion, .NET, Ruby on Rails) and can be inserted into complex Enterprise architectures (J2EE) guaranteeing aspects such as security and the separation between presentation and logic.
The Flex 3 version enriches SDKs, providing new components to enrich web applications even more, like the new and powerful AdvancedDataGrid, or integration with Flash CS3 and other Adobe Creative Suite 3 products, or even the possibility of exporting the application onto desktop, thereby creating an AIR project.

TRAINING OBJECTIVES

This course guides students in a step-by-step learning process that begins from the basic notions of Flex 3 and Flex Builder 3 to the development of complex front end applications that communicate with remote data sources.

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

Flex 3 Development: Getting Started

Rich Internet Application - Flex 3 and Flex Builder 3
Flex 3 Family of products
Flash Player 9 and Flash Virtual Machine
Flex Builder 3 and Eclipse
Installing Flex Builder 3 and Flex 3 SDK
Designing and developing a Flex 3 application
Asynchronous applications

Flex 3 application architecture

MXML language
ActionScript 3 Language
Developing your first application with Flex 3and Flex Builder 3
Using Flex Builder 3’s IDE
Debugging with Flex Builder 3

Developing Applications with Flex Controls and Containers

Creating a layout using Containers
Using User Interface Controls
Navigating with Navigation Container
Using XML Namespace

Creating Flex Components

Creating MXML Components
Defining a customised XML Namespace
Calling MXML Components
Creating Composite Components
Developing ActionScript 3 Components
Building Loosely coupled components
Creating template components
Creating a Flex library
Exporting re-usable SWC components

Data Binding

Using data binding in Flex
Using the <mx:Binding> tag
The BindingUtil ActionScript class
Differences between bindings defined in MXML and ActionScript
Using the ChangeWatcher class
Data binding with components
Binding Methods, Objects and properties
Using [Bindlable] Metadata

Event management in Flex

Document Object Model (DOM) Level 3 events model
Understanding the Event flow in Flex 3
The three phases: capturing, targeting, and bubbling
The flash.events class.
Events and subclasses
Using Event listeners or event handlers functions
The addEventListener() method
Invoking the removeEventListener()
The Event object
Properties of the Event object: currentTarget, target and type
Dispatching events using the dispatchEvent() method
Mouse and Keyboard events
Extending the Event class

Creating user interfaces with Flex

Using Visual Components
Sizing and Positioning components
Styling Components
Using CSS
Creating a Contraint Based Layout
Using the improvements of Design Mode in the new Flex Builder 3

Data Models, Data Providers and ActionScript 3 Value Objects

Data Models in Flex 3
MXML Data Models
Loading XML data with Data Models
ActionScript 3 Data Models
Using Data Binding with Data Models
Converting MXML Data Models into Actionscript Data Models
Understanding the Data Provider
Using List based controls
Populating the List control
The labelFunction property

Validating and Formatting Data

Using the Validator classes
Applying Validators to Form items
Personalising Error Messages
Extending Validator classes
Validating a Data Model
Formatting data using Formatter classes

Using Collection classes

Collection subclasses
Using the ArrayCollection
Converting MXML Data Model into ArrayCollection
Setting and receiving items in an ArrayCollection
Using the XMLListCollection
The Collection interfaces
Creating data groups using the GroupingCollection class
Structuring data with the Hierarchical collection class
Using the SummaryField, SummaryObject and SummaryRow classes
Data filtering
Data ordering
Using cursors and bookmarks in a row of data
Adding and deleting items in a collection class

Remote Procedure Call in Flex: HTTPService e WebService class

Connecting to remote data and databases
Using the HTTPService class
Managing result and fault events
Invoking PHP remote scripts
Working with Java and JSP in Flex
The resultFormat property
Using web services on the internet
Visualising external data
Using the Repeater container
Uploading files in the server with the FileReferenceList class

Using List-based controls and AdvancedDataGrid

Using List control
Using the ComboBox
Using TileList and HorizontalList components
Visualising and formatting data in list based controls
Receiving the selected item
Extending the DataGrid control
AdvancedDataGrid control
Implementing drag and drop operations
Integrating Tree controls via AdvancedDataGrid
Using the Item renderers and the Item editors
Extending Item renderers and Item editors
Using the Summary Collection class to group data
Visualising groups of data in an AdvancedDataGrid
Using the List-based controls and the AdvancedDataGrid control

Using the AdvancedDataGrid control

The new features of the AdvancedDataGrid control of Flex 3
Sorting multiple columns
Selecting multiple cells and rows
Viewing hierarchical data with the Tree control and the Hierarchical collection
Viewing grouped data
Using ItemRenderers and ItemEditors with AdvancedDataGrid control
Using the OLAPDataGrid
Creating an OLAP scheme
Carrying out OLAP queries

Importing RIA application onto desktop with Adobe AIR

Creating an AIR project
Using WIndow API in AIR
Accessing the File system
Reading and writing persistent data
Including an HTML page in the AIR application

Flex 4 (Gumbo) introduction

Building a Flex 4 application
Using Flex 4 SDK beta inside Flex Builder 3
Introduction to Flex 4 Component Architecture
Flex 4 component architecture objectives
Interoperability between Halo and Flex 4
Flex 4 Base Classes
Graphics in MXML
Flex 4 Layout
The new Lifecycle component
Flex 4 Component Lifecycle Methods
Flex 4 Components
Advanced Animations with Flex 4
Advanced Text features

PARTICIPATION PRICE

1.200 euro + iva

FOR

Planning customised course plans
Client based courses
Corporate courses