HTML Form-like behavior in Flash

Question

Hello,
I'm looking to find a reference that can help me in the
creation of Flash user input screens that behave in a manner
analogous to an HTML form. Specifically I'm concerned with error
checking and data validation. For example, if a user is creating a
new record or editing an existing record and they choose to
navigate away from the page, the code should check for data
changes, and on finding any offer the user an option to save the
data. Once the offer is made and responded to the flow of the
application should proceed appropriately.
In an HTML form this type of behavior would be accomplished
with an appropriately worded JavaScript "confirm" dialog. This
dialog allows for a synchronous interaction between the user and
the flow of the JavaScript code in which user choice results in how
the code flow proceeds. With Flash, such a synchronous event is not
inherently possible (to the best of my admittedly limited
experience). Without this type of "confirm" dialog, one must create
a custom messaging system to communicate with the user, and must
also structure the code in such a way that everything is able to
achieve the desired effects in an asynchronous manner.
I've tried searching this forum but I don't know how to
phrase my search in order to find good results. If anyone has any
ideas, links to resources, links to threads, or any other items
that might help in my quest to build fully optimized and robust
user input forms in Flash CS3, I'd really appreciate the help.
Thanks in advance for any advice!
Regards,
Dave

Answer 1

Why not just use a DataGrid component? They're pretty easy to
use actually.
Try this: start a new AS2 project and drag a DataGrid from
the components
panel onto the stage. Use the properties panel to size it to
500 x 300. When
you add data to a grid it will just show a scroll bar if
necessary, it
doesn't resize... Give it an instance name of "theGrid".
Now, add the following script to the frame:
import mx.controls.gridclasses.DataGridColumn;
function doGrid(gridRef, gArray:Array)
for (var i = 0; i < gArray.length; i++) {
var cat:DataGridColumn = new DataGridColumn(gArray
[0]);
cat.width = gArray[2];
cat.headerText = gArray
[1];
cat.editable = false;
gridRef.addColumn(cat);
var gFormat = new Array(["fname", "First Name:", 120],
["lname", "Last
Name:", 200], ["date", "Win Date:", 80]);
doGrid(theGrid, gFormat);
If you compile now, you'll see the grid with the field
titles... I use the
doGrid function, and an array like this to make formatting
the grid easy.
The first item in the array matches the dataProvider
property, as you will
see in a moment - the second is the title, and the third the
width of the
column... change these as you need.
To add data, you just create an array of objects, with the
object properties
matching the first item in the format array - like so - add
the following
and test again:
var gridData = new Array({fname:"Dave", lname:"Mennenoh",
date:"09/14/08"},
{fname:"giga", lname:"saurus", date:"10/14/08"});
theGrid.dataProvider = gridData;
That's all there is to it... If you add more data than can be
shown, you'll
get a scroll bar. You can add en event listener to know when
someone selects
an item, etc...
good luck
Dave -
www.offroadfire.com
Head Developer
http://www.blurredistinction.com
Adobe Community Expert
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