Using Flash with ASP.NET

Wayne Smith, Principal ConsultantThe Multimedia Mix

Macromedia Flash & ASP.NET

Why?

Basic Data Binding in Flash Pro MX2004

Getting data from ASP.NET into FlashLoadvarsData componentsFlash Remoting

Utilising .SWF within Visual Studio

Utilising .SWF within .EXE

Why?

If you’re a Flash user?See previous presentations!

If you’re a [potential] Visual Studio user?

Cross platformCross deviceEveryone has itSmall playerSmart clientEtc. etc. etc

Databinding in Flash

Either visual or in code

Visual is easy, but inflexible

Code needs learning

A simple example

Getting data into Flash

GetVars

Flash Data Components

Flash Remoting

Getting data into Flash

GetVars - Bad

Flash Data Components - Good

Flash Remoting - Better

GetVars

Old, old, old

Showing just for completeness

Legacy Flash will use this

Can still be used with .NET

Don’t start with this!

(Hint – it can still be useful )

Data Components

1st step for visual designers

Data Wizards

Data Connection Wizard

DataGrid Column Editor

The easiest possible solution

Very rigid rules for use

Flash Remoting

Requires .NET SDK (even with VS installed!)

3rd party solutions available (FlashOrb)

Visual data components are available (but…)

You need to code

Plenty of source is available

Example(s)

Gotcha

Flash Remoting Summary

Fast due to AMF (Flash’s native language)

More access to ASP.NETASP.NET adapter ADO.NET data binding adapter Web services adapter

Auto proxy generation (don’t forget the gotcha)

Assembly (*.dll)

More flexibility with incoming dataRecordsets especially

The learning curve is well worth it

Getting Flash into Visual Studio

How to integrate with rest of project

Right-click on the Toolbox, choose "Add/Remove items..."

Select the "COM Components" tab

Scroll down to "Shockwave Flash Object" and make sure it's ticked

Click OK

Flash within executables

Flash is a very flexible graphical tool

3rd party components add more goodies

Communication is easy

(Psst… loadvars helps a lot!)

Stock History example

Thanks! Plus a Few Final Links

.NET XML Web Services Repertory

http://www.flash-db.com/

http://www.flashkit.com/

http://www.moock.org/

http://www.markme.com/mxna/index.cfm