Flash Article

Macromedia Flash MX 2004 introduces version 2 of the Macromedia Component Architecture, or "v2 components" for short. Naturally, this means you'll find new features, improved performance, and additional capabilities in this release. However, because of the changes to the underlining architecture, it also means you need to adopt new ways of scripting. Plus, updating your old applications that use v1 components raises a lot of questions. Will you be exporting to Flash Player 6 or 7? Will you be using ActionScript 1.0 or 2.0? Can you mix and match v1 and v2 components? There's no one answer and no one best practice because there are so many variables. In this article you learn the main differences between the old and new components. I also step you through your upgrade path options.

Requirements

To complete this tutorial you will need to install the following software and files:

Macromedia Flash MX 2004

• Try
• Buy

Tutorials and sample files:

• my_renderer.zip (164K ZIP)

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About the author

Phillip Kerman is a Macromedia Flash programmer and author of the best-selling Sams Teach Yourself Macromedia Flash 24 Hours, ActionScripting in Flash, and the new book Flash MX 2004 for Rich Internet Applications. He also conducts Macromedia Flash training workshops around the world. He used Macromedia Flash Communication Server MX and Flash Remoting to program a real-time auction for www.stampedecattle.com that sells millions of dollars worth of cattle per hour. His site www.phillipkerman.com includes several Communication Server examples.