Flash 4 Bible [With CDROM]

As a new Flash user, I figured I'd go the whole route, and get the big Flash 4 Bible by Rob Reinhardt and Jon Lentz. There is such a world of information in this book, that when I e-mailed Rob Reinhardt to see what he new about the possiblity of the release of Flash 5, I mentioned to him that owning this book is like getting a part-time job. Big book? Try 600+ pages, plus CD...I blocked off 1-1/2 hours per night, sometimes 2, and dedicated it to working with the information these two authors provided. From file sizes to adding Quicktime movies and sound, to Flash's own Actionscript, there's just a world of knowledge here.First, we've all gotten halfway through a project on our computer, and had a question. I've never set this book down and said, "Now what do I do?". I found the answers every single time. As a training guide and reference book, I couldn't have hoped for a more complete book.Second, in addition to the fact that having this book was like having a 24-hour a day expert in the house, yes, I did e-mail the authors with a question that couldn't have been covered in the Flash 4 book--the release date of Flash 5. One of the authors responded quickly, to give me what was his best guess.While you shouldn't try to get away with telling your co-workers or fellow students that you'll be "reading the Bible" into the night, I guarantee that's what you'll be doing.These authors will, I'm sure, write another book for the new, even more outrageous Flash 5, now that it's been announced. I'll be one of the first in line for both the application and the book (book first).Oh, and I gladly paid the full price ... for the Flash 4 Bible, and envy those of you who can pick it up for ... less. You don't need to be a novice, and you'll want to read more, and more, and faster. The easily addicted amongst you should avoid this book. I took it on my train commute, read it at lunch, and read it outside on perfectly sunny days (when I should have been reveling in the weather). Read. The. Bible. Period.

I love this book. I felt I only knew Flash in pieces but couldn't make sense of all of the principles until this book easily made sense of them. "Tell Target Explained" That kind of information gave me a better underlying understanding of the program so that I could make sense of all of the scripting (with no directions or explanations)in FLASH 4 MAGIC. I already had the basics down on how to tween, etc., etc. so this book put the pieces of the puzzle together. If only someone had an amazing book on advanced scripting, etc...ADVANCED! life would be perfect.

I've just got this book too!" I was pretty excited when it finally came into my front porch. This book is totally awesome, I do have to admit they do go into detail about everything, even the dang stroke pen hehe. This does lack some tutorials but I'm just thinking it just gives you an idea what Macromedia Flash 4 is and what it can handle. I do plan to buy "Flash 4 Magic" because of their tutorials. A book with tutorials and a book with inside details is a great combination! Having both books will lead you to a great flash site! Promise!

I finally got my hands on this book. It does an excellent job of presenting all the in's and out's of Flash 4. The book is logically organized and easily usable by beginners and advanced users alike. The knowledge in this book and on the CD makes it a MUST HAVE for any serious flash developers. I would also recommend "Flash 4 Magic", for higher end developers.

I have got to admit that I learned more from J. Scott Hamlin's Flash 4 Magic, but this is a great book. Like Flash 4 Magic, this tomb doesn't spend lots of time telling how to make rectangles, but it does tell you how to active script and other things that you won't find in the Flash 4 manual. If you're new to Flash, I suggest reading the Macromedia Flash manual that comes with the program to learn the basics and then read this book. And if you're already an advanced Flasher, I would buy Flash 4 Magic and if you want to buy another book, I would get this one. I have both books and use them constantly. You can't go wrong if you buy both.