F7 and F8:Diagramming & Modelling Data in Flash and MVC Architecture in Flash with Allen Ellison
Component Development Data in Flash
Allen goes through concepts and ideas for diagramming and modelling complex data using Flash. Throw in some interactivity and cap it off with collaboration using Flash Comms and you have some RIA interface ideas you can apply to any real world scenario.
Diagramming & Modelling Data in Flash
Many Flash applications and interfaces collapse data maintenance with the visual aspect of the Flash interface -- often putting business rules and data-maintenance code in the very same movie clip that is used to display the information. MVC architectures allow you to strongly distinguish between data manipulation in Flash and how the user sees it. The benefits are numerous: it makes applications much easier to maintain and update, it allows for more compelling and sophisticated interfaces, and allows for a much stronger level of interface personalization.
Site Map tool
(copyright 2002, Allen Ellison) -- one note about this, these files are a little rough, haven't been touched by a decent designer, and I don't cover every possible exception. As an example, in any version, you can designate a node's child to be its parent. Obviously, this is a really bad thing and something you would want to fix before using this as a real application. I left it this way though to keep the code fairly simple, easy to read, and understand. Besides, if you don't have something to modify and further improvements to make to it, how are you going to learn?
Entity Relationship tool
In order to use this, you have to have a version of the Macromedia Flash Communications Server installed and working on your server. Just place all of these files in a directory called 'erdiagram' under the flashcom/applications folder. (although you're welcome to ask me questions about the application itself, please don't ask for me assistance in installing, configuring or otherwise using or trouble-shooting the Flash Communications Server).
