A–C
D–H
I–Z
Developer services
Project centers
Community resources
- Flex cookbook (share code)
- Adobe AIR cookbook (share code)
- CSS Advisor (browser bug fixes)
- Exchanges (share components)
- Adobe Labs
- Adobe Open Source
- Forums
- RSS feeds
- Bug base
- User groups
- Adobe Community Experts (ACE)
- Developer events
Product documentation
Downloads
Samples
Training and books
- Online training
- Classroom training
- Certification
- Adobe Developer Library
- Adobe Press
- Safari Books Online
Newsletters
Blogs
- MXNA (blog aggregator)
- Adobe blogs
Archives
ADC program
Additional resources
Flash Article
Data for Designers: Connecting to Data in Flash Using Data Wizards
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Getting the Required Software
- Understanding the Data Connection Wizard
- Syndicating XML with the Data Connection Wizard
- Using the DataGrid Column Editor
- Consuming Web Services Using Wizards
Getting the Required Software
Before you can use the new Data Connection wizard in your applications, you have to make sure that Flash is updated to version 7.0.1 and that you have the latest version of the Extension Manager installed. In Flash, choose Help > About Flash Professional to check what version of Flash MX Professional you have installed. The current version number is found in the lower right corner of the window.
Note: If you don't have Macromedia Flash MX Professional 2004 version 7.0.1 yet, you can download the (free) updater at www.macromedia.com/support/flash/downloads.html.
If you are unsure what version of the Extension Manager you are running, open the Extension Manager (from Flash, Help > Manage Extensions) and choose Help > About Macromedia Extension Manager. The version number is found in the lower right corner of the window.
Note: If you don't have at least Extension Manager 1.6 installed, march on over to www.macromedia.com/exchange/em_download/ and download the latest version.
Installing the Extensions
To start out, you need to install the Data Connection wizard and DataGrid Column Editor extensions using the Extension Manager:
- Choose File > Install Extension and then locate the first extension on your hard drive using the file browser and click on the Install button. Alternatively, just double-click the extension itself to open the Extension Manager and install the file.
You might be asked to accept license agreements, or if you want to overwrite existing classes (good to install regardless because the extension fixes prior issues with Data Binding too). Agree to both and the extension will be installed into the Extension Manager (see Figure 1).
Figure 1. The two new extensions appear in the list in the Extension Manager
Congratulations, you have just installed a new extension. Repeat this process for the DataGrid Column Editor then close the Extension Manager and restart Flash.
Finding the Wizards
After you have everything installed and updated, you can find the Data Connection wizard in Flash by choosing Commands > Data Connection Wizard. Finding the wizard in the Commands menu might seem like an odd choice; why don't you access it through the Component Inspector panel? You must select a component instance before you can click the Wizards For This Component button in the Component Inspector panel. Because the Data Connection wizard adds the instance itself, there is no component instance to select first. Therefore, you must use the Commands menu to start the wizard.
Find the DataGrid Column Editor by first selecting an instance of a DataGrid component. Then click the Wizards For This Component button in the Component Inspector panel.
