Special Edition Using Director 8.5 is a comprehensive guide
to creating and publishing Director movies. In this book
you'll find complete coverage of Director 8.5, from
advanced issues such as Lingo scripting and multi-user
applications to how to employ the hot new feature of the 3D
API. This edition includes more coverage of multi-user
applications, using 3D media, efficient sprite editing with
the context-sensitive Property Inspector, increased control
of cast members (sorting by name, date, type, size) through
the Cast Manager, vector drawing tools that add
illustration capability, and special imaging effects and
Transition Behaviors to add pizzazz and drama to
applications. As an added bonus, Special Edition Using
Director 8.5 has nine appendixes that include keyboard
shortcuts, a Lingo reference, and a behavior library quick
reference.
Contents
Introduction.
Do You Need to Update Your
Book? Who Should Read This Book? What This Book Doesn't
Have. This Book Is About Director 8 and 8.5. How to Use
This Book. Conventions Used in This Book. Before You
Begin.
I. DIRECTOR BASICS.
1. Animation with Director. An Introduction to
Director. The Cast. The Stage. The Score. Other Controls.
Animating with the Cast, Stage, and Score. Exporting
Animations. Troubleshooting Animation. Did You Know?
2. Presentations with Director. Designing Screens. Linear
Presentations. Nonlinear Presentations. Advanced
Presentations. Showing Your Presentation. Troubleshooting
Director. Did You Know?
II. MEMBERS IN DETAIL.
3. Bitmap Members. Types of Bitmaps.
Importing Bitmaps. Using the Paint Window. Bitmap Member
Properties. Onion Skinning. PhotoShop Filters.
Troubleshooting Bitmap Images. Did You Know?
4. Text and Field Members. Using Text Members. Using
Field Members. Knowing When to Use Text and Fields. Using
Font Members. Using 3D Text. Troubleshooting Text and Field
Members. Did You Know?
5. Sound Members. Sound File Formats.
Frequency and Bit Depth. Internal Sound Members. External
Sounds. Shockwave Audio. Using Sound in Director. Waiting
for Sounds and Cue Points.Troubleshooting Sounds. Did You
Know?
6. Digital Video. Using Digital Video
Formats. Importing Digital Video. Understanding Digital
Video Settings. Working with Digital Video. Making Custom
Video Controls. Troubleshooting Digital Video. Did You
Know?
7. Vector Members. Using Shape Members. Using
Vector Members. Using Flash Members. Troubleshooting Vector
Members. Did You Know?
8. Other Member Types. Creating Pushbuttons.
Creating Check Boxes. Creating Radio Buttons. Using Palette
Members. Adding Cursors. Using Animated GIFs. Using
QuickTime VR. Adding New Cast Member Types with Xtras.
Troubleshooting Other Member Types. Did You Know?
III. AUTHORING IN
DIRECTOR.
9. The Director Environment. Ways to Work in Director.
Setting Preferences. Publish Settings. Using the Director
Library Palette. Using Xtras. Getting Help. Troubleshooting
the Director Environment. Did You Know?
10. Properties of Sprites and Frames. Controlling Frame Tempo.
Using Frame Palettes. Adding Frame Transitions. Setting
Sprite Inks. Using the Sprite Blend. Setting Sprite Colors.
Adjusting the Sprite Shape. Other Sprite Properties.
Troubleshooting Properties of Sprites and Frames. Did You
Know?
11. Advanced Techniques. Using the Behaviors
Library. Building Your Own Behaviors. Using Film Loops and
Linked Movies. Color Cycling. Shockwave Streaming.
Troubleshooting Advanced Techniques. Did You Know?
IV. USING BASIC LINGO.
12. Learning Lingo. What Is Lingo? First Steps
with the Message Window. Understanding Script Types. Using
Messages and Handlers. Using Variables. Writing Lingo Code.
Troubleshooting Lingo. Did You Know?
13. Essential Lingo Syntax. Using Number Variables.
Using String Variables. Comparing Variables. Using
Handlers. Using If...Then Statements. Using Repeat Loops.
Using Lingo Navigation Commands. Controlling Sprite
Properties. Controlling Member Properties. Using List
Variables. Using Frame Scripts. Troubleshooting Lingo
Syntax. Did You Know?
V. USING BEHAVIORS.
14. Creating Behaviors. Controlling a Single
Sprite. Creating Simple Behaviors. Creating a Simple Button
Behavior. Using Complete Behaviors. Building a Complete
Button Behavior. Creating Animation Behaviors.
Communicating Between Behaviors. Troubleshooting Creating
Behaviors. Did You Know?
15. Graphic Interface Elements. Creating Display
Rollovers. Using Check Boxes. Using Radio Buttons. Dragging
Sprites. Creating Sliders. Creating Progress Bars. Creating
Graphical Pop-Up Menus. Troubleshooting Graphic Interface
Elements. Did You Know?
VI. USING LINGO TO CONTROL
MEDIA.
16. Controlling Text. Using Strings and Chunks.
Using Text Members and Fields. Creating Text Lists.
Creating Text Pop-Up Menus. Using Keyboard Input. Using
Rich Text Format. Using HTML and Tables. Using HTML and
Hypertext. Using Text Files and the FileIO Xtra. Using 3D
Text. Troubleshooting Text and Strings. Did You Know?
17. Controlling Sound. Using Lingo's Sound
Commands. Using Cue Points. Playing External Sounds. Using
Shockwave Audio. Troubleshooting Sound. Did You Know?
18. Controlling Bitmaps. Distorting Sprites. Adding
3D Effects. Manipulating Bitmap Members. Troubleshooting
Bitmaps. Did You Know?
19. Controlling Video. Using Video Commands.
Building Video Controls. Using Other Video Techniques.
Troubleshooting Video. Did You Know?
20. Controlling Vector Graphics. Using Flash Member Lingo.
Using Vector Shape Lingo. Building Vectors with Lingo.
Using Vectors for Collision Detection. Troubleshooting
Vector Lingo. Did You Know?
VII. USING ADVANCED LINGO.
21. Controlling the Director Environment. Using Menus. Using
Cursors. Using Timeouts. Learning About the Computer.
Telling Time. Memory Management. Launching Other
Applications. Quitting and Shutting Down. Troubleshooting
Environment Lingo. Did You Know?
22. Shockwave and Internet Access. Controlling the Web
Browser with Lingo. Getting Text over the Internet. Sending
Text. Working with Browsers. Using Shockwave Preference
Files (Cookies). Controlling Streaming Media.
Troubleshooting Shockwave Lingo. Did You Know?
23. Object-Oriented Programming. What Is an Object? Reasons
to Use Objects. Creating an Object in Lingo. Creating
Object Properties. Using OOP. Using Ancestors.
Troubleshooting OOP. Did You Know?
24. Movies in a Window and Alternatives. Using MIAWs. Creating
Dialog Boxes. Creating Oddly Shaped MIAWs. Creating
Self-Contained MIAWs. Other Uses for MIAWs. Using Linked
Movies. Using MUI Xtra Dialog Boxes. Troubleshooting MIAWs
and Alternatives. Did You Know?
25. Xtras. What Are Xtras? Xtras That
Come with Director. Third-Party Xtras. Using Xtra Lingo.
Using Xtras in Shockwave. Other Xtras. Troubleshooting
Xtras. Did You Know?
26. Developing for Developers. Score Recording. Creating
MIAW Xtras. Using Behavior Libraries. Troubleshooting
Developing for Developers. Did You Know?
VIII. USING DIRECTOR TO CREATE
PROFESSIONAL APPLICATIONS.
27. Educational Applications. Creating a Matching Game.
Making a Drawing Activity. Creating Overlays. Creating a
Geography Quiz. Creating Standardized Tests.
Troubleshooting Educational Applications. Did You
Know?
28. Business Applications. Creating Database
Applications. Creating Graphs and Pie Charts. Creating
Questionnaires. Creating Computer-Based Training Programs.
Troubleshooting Business Applications. Did You Know?
29. Graphics Applications. Creating Slideshows.
Panning Large Images. Making Scrollbars for Large Images.
Zooming In on Large Images. Utilizing Ink and Color
Manipulation. Troubleshooting Graphics Applications. Did
You Know?
30. Sound Applications Creating a Piano Keyboard.
Creating a Player Piano. Simulating 3D Sound. Creating
Volume Controls. Troubleshooting Sound Applications. Did
You Know?
31. Shockwave Applets. Creating Navigation Pages.
Creating Navigation Bars. Creating Shockwave Ads.
Processing and Displaying Information. Troubleshooting
Shockwave Applets. Did You Know?
32. Games. Creating a Matching Game.
Creating a Sliding Puzzle Game. Creating a Falling Objects
Game. Emulating a Shooting Gallery. Creating Sprite
Invaders. Creating Trivia Games. Creating a Blackjack Game.
Troubleshooting Games. Did You Know?
IX. FINISHING A PROJECT.
33. Debugging. Writing Good Code. Using
Lingo Debugging Tools. Using the Watcher. Testing Your
Code. Did You Know?
34. Performance Issues. Designing for a Target
Machine. Recognizing Issues Affecting Performance.
Improving Performance. Optimizing Projector Performance.
Optimizing Lingo Performance. Did You Know?
35. Cross-Platform Issues. Developing for the Mac and
Windows. Developing for Netscape Navigator and Microsoft
Internet Explorer. The Cross-Platform Checklist. Did You
Know?
36. Delivering the Goods. Making Projectors. Making
Shockwave Movies. Building CD-ROMs. Making Installers.
Building Screen Savers. Troubleshooting Delivering the
Goods. Did You Know?
X. ADVANCED TOPICS.
37. Creating Multiuser Applications. Setting Up the Multiuser
Server. Using the Multiuser Behaviors. Learning Basic
Multiuser Lingo. Creating Your Own Multiuser Application.
Using Peer-To-Peer Connections. Using the Multiuser
Database. Using UDP. Using Server-Side Lingo.
Troubleshooting Multiuser Applications. Did You Know?
38. Using 3D Media. 3D Basics. Importing
Models. The Shockwave 3D Window. Displaying a 3D Model on
the Stage. Using 3D Behaviors. Troubleshooting Using 3D
Media. Did You Know?
39. 3D Lingo. Moving 3D Models. Moving
the Camera. Playing With Lights. Shaders and Textures.
Creating Primitives. Particle Systems. Modifiers. Mesh
Deform. Collision Detection. World to Movie Communication.
Grouping. Controlling Animation. Havok Physics Engine.
Special Effects. Creating Complex Scenes. Troubleshooting
3D Lingo. Did You Know?
XI. APPENDIXES.
Appendix A. What's on the CD-ROM. Using the CD-ROM Graphical
Interface. Author Files. Director Xtras. Third-Party
Software. Graphic Accessories.
Appendix B. Director Glossary. Appendix C. Online Resources. Top Resources. General
Director Resources. Non-English Director Resources.
Director-Related Mailing Lists. 3D-Related Resources.
Appendix D. Tables and Charts. ASCII Character Chart.
Member Types. Transitions. Inks. Common Colors. Shockwave
Audio States. Flash Member States. Movie in a Window (MIAW)
Types. Lingo Cursor Numbers.
Appendix E. Lingo by Subject. Appendix F. Behavior Library Quick Reference.
3D, Actions. 3D, Triggers.
Animation, Automatic. Animation, Interactive. Animation,
Sprite Transitions. Controls. Internet, Forms. Internet,
Multiuser. Internet, Streaming. Media, Flash. Media,
QuickTime. Media, RealMedia. Media, Sound. Navigation.
Paintbox. Text.
Appendix G. Keyboard Shortcuts. Macintosh Shortcuts.
Windows Shortcuts.
Appendix H. Guide to Xtras. Xtra Index. AcroViewer.
AdjustColors. AlphaMania. Attr Xtra. Attrib Xtra. Audio
Xtra. AutoRun (PC), AutoStart (Mac). Beatnik. Behavior
Xtra. BinaryIO Xtra. BitChecker. bkMixer. Blinker Xtra.
BlurImage. Border Xtra and BorderPatch. BrowserController.
Buddy API. Buddy Saver. Buddy Zip. CapsLock Xtra.
CastControl. CastEffects. CatBlur. CatCube. CatFade.
CatFlip. CatZoom. CD Pro Xtra. CDLink. ChartsInMotion Xtra.
ConvertData. DAOTable. Datagrip. DateMaster. DateTime Xtra.
Dave's 3D Engine. DDE Xtra. Dialogs Xtra. DirectComm Xtra.
DirectConnection Xtra. DirectControl. DirectEmail Xtra.
DirectFTP Xtra. DirectMedia Xtra. DirectOS. DirectSound
Xtra. DirectTransition Xtra. DirectTransition3D Xtra.
DirectTTS Xtra. DirectXport Xtra. DisplayRes Xtra. DM
Transition Packs. DM Waves Effect. DM Star Field Effect. DM
Fade. DropStart. EasyBase. ECD Xtra. Enhanced CD
Development Kit. f3Export Xtra. f3SoundFX Xtra.
f3VideoCapture Xtra. FileFlex. File IO. FileXtra. Fireworks
Import Xtra. Focus3D Xtra. Free Rotate. FreePPP Control.
Gamma Xtra. Grabber. HTML Xtra. Iconizer. Index Xtra.
Inspect. Installed Fonts Xtra. LiveCD Xtra. MasterApp.
ModMania. mPrint Designer Xtra. Ncrypt Xtra. OnStage.
OSUtil. PhotoCaster. PickFolder Xtra. Popup Xtra. Precision
Xtra. Print-O-Matic. ProgressCopy. Promix Xtra. QTIAW Xtra.
QuickDraw 3D. RavImageExport Xtra. RavJoystick Xtra.
RavWare GLU32 Xtra. RavWare MUIMaker. RavWare OpenGL Xtra.
RavWare PPViewer Xtra. RavWinShaper Xtra. RearWindow.
Relaunch. Resolution Xtra. ScrnXtra. SetMouse Xtra.
ShapeShifter 3D. ShockTalk. SID6581. Speller, SpellerPro,
SpellerRT. Streaming Media Xtra. StyleUtil. System Tools
Xtra. TableMaker Xtra. TaskXtra. TrackThemColors Xtra. VCap
Xtra. Versions XObject. Video Mask. VideoSprite Xtra.
VolumeController Xtra. VSnap Xtra. WinGroup Xtra. XtrAgent.
Yak Xtra. zLaunch. zOpen. zScript.
Appendix I. Lingo Reference. Index.