brianConnatser

Well it’s been a while, but I have been busy… My first post back is a custom tool tip component that is easy to use and customize. Grab the .swc below, add it to your library and follow the tips below to use it. This is free for anyone to use and just let me know if you have any questions.

Download swc here.

To use this custom tooltip you will need to first add the swc to your library.

1. RIght click on your Project folder in Flex Builder.
2. Choose Properties, then Flex Build Path.
3. Then Click on the Library path tab.
4. Choose “Add SWC…” from the right hand side and browse to where you saved the swc.
5. Note that you cannot move the swc once you start working with it, or you will have to relink it up so Flex Builder will find it.
6. Now you are ready to access the simple component.

Below is a sample script block that you can copy and paste to use. Follow the comments for instructions.

	<!--[CDATA[
		//Import the Custom Event Class and the InfoBubble main class
		import com.connatserdev.events.ConnatserDevEvents
		import com.connatserdev.utils.InfoBubble
 
		//Create a new instance of the InfoBubble
		public var newBubble:InfoBubble
 
		//Create a method to instantiate the InfoBubble - note that I am using creationComplete in the main application to call this.
		public function addBubble():void{
			//Create a new InfoBubble and add the following required parameters
			//X, Y, Width, Heith, Background color, Text color, Arrow position 1, Arrow position 2, life of the bubble, string to show
			//Arrow position one  and two options: "top", "bottom", "left", "right"
			//Combinations cannot be the same, for example use "top", "right" OR "right", "top"
			newBubble = new InfoBubble(20,20,200,40,0x000000,0xFFFFFF,"top", "left", 5, "This is a test")
			//Add the new bubble to the application. you can also add it to a specific container...just be sure to use "rawChildren"
			Application.application.rawChildren.addChild(newBubble)
			//Adds the eventlistener to remove the bubble once the life has expired.
			newBubble.addEventListener(ConnatserDevEvents.REMOVEBUBBLE, removeBubble)
 
			//Method to remove bubble once life has expired.
			function removeBubble(e:ConnatserDevEvents):void{
				Application.application.rawChildren.removeChild(newBubble)
			}
		}
 
	]]-->

I picked up one of the most awesomest books recently on AS3 animation by Keith Peters.

Foundation ActionScript 3.0 Animation, Making Things Move - ISBN: 1590597915.

The sad thing is that I can’t get 15 minutes into reading part of it without heading to the computer to try out some code, but the book is truely friggen awesome. It’s chocked full of cool shit like acceleration, velocity, collision and more…with a bunch of formula examples.

Buy a copy now!

Check out the latest Flasher Mag article, #2, featuring Doug McCune, among others. Lee Brimelow has been doing a great job with this, cool information and entertaining. What I like most is that the articles have personal opinions of Adobe shit, without all the corporate hype.

The Flex 3 and Air ACE certification exams are now available. Click here to learn more.

“Adobe Certified Experts (ACEs) set themselves apart from other IT professionals. They consistently demonstrate expertise with Adobe products and platforms, and add value to colleagues, managers, and their own careers.

The Adobe Flex 3 with AIR Exam is based upon the most critical job activities that a Flex developer performs. The skills and knowledge certified by this examination represent a professional level of expertise for a certified individual.

To become certified, you must pass a challenging exam that consists of 50 multiple-choice questions. The exam is delivered in a secure and proctored testing environment.”

I don’t get excited about a lot of new tools still in labs or beta form, but damn! PatchPanel looks pretty nice. About a week ago Adobe release the Preview Release 3 of PatchPanel, also known as the shit that lets you build plugins in Flex for CS4 products.

“PatchPanel provides the necessary link between the Flex development environment and the Creative Suite’s internal controls, allowing existing ActionScript developers the ability to apply their skills toward enhancing the creative process, as well as inviting a new generation of creative minds to explore the flexibility and automation possible with ActionScript. ” - that’s what I am talking about.

Check out more information about PatchPanel - here.