Icons, Fonts download and Flex SkinTutorials collection

some resources for design skins and icons.

100000+ Free Fonts For Skins and Themes
A list of free font download site.

480+ free icon sets to create skins and themes in Flex
A list of free icon set collection for download

15+ Tutorials for Creating Skins and Themes in Flex
A list of tutorial collection of Flex skin and themes.

Flex in a Week, Adobe video training

Adobe launched the portal for flex training a while ago, but I did not notice and bookmarked.
Just post here for further attention.

http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flex/videotraining/

Tool to check Flash made with Flex

Very interesting tool found from a post:
How To Tell If That Cool Flash Movie Was Made With Flex at
http://www.codersrevolution.com/index.cfm/2008/11/7/How-To-Tell-If-That-Cool-Flash-Movie-Was-Made-With-Flex

This tool is available here.
http://www.bradwood.com/is_it_flex/

Works in IE but not FF.

JS: window.showModalDialog()

Retrieved this JS method today.
Window.showModalDialog(url, arguments,"features")
This method displays a special window that remains on top of the browser window until the dialog is closed.
This is different with window.open(), which open another browser window.
Browser support: NN n/a IE 4 DOM n/a


Sample source Reference

Step By Step 下定决心学习

一直以来都感觉自己不是努力的学Java, 所以进度非常慢。不是家里的事，就是闲得就看国内的连续剧给耽误了。从“Java Introduction” 课程上完都已经是快两年了，但编程技术好像没什么变化。
太慢了，这篇开始，我下决心要学习“新”东西。

有些建议是从这里开始：
Sun Java: Tutorials and Online Training
http://java.sun.com/developer/onlineTraining/

一本教科书，是去年上课留下的。
还有很有名的Bruce Eckel的 "Thinking in Java"（第四版都下载了N年了，就没动过）。
曾经读过一篇10年编程路的Blog，感觉还应该加强一下逻辑和数学方面的回顾啊！

---------------------
附带一个 JavaScript:
JavaScript for the Total Non-Programmer
http://www.webteacher.com/javascript/

SpringGraph

In my recent project, I was asked to develop an component in Flex to represent hierarchical relationship of each item. It has interactive ability to display drill in relationship of items.
The component should have filter which can opt user defined key attributes or properties as well as search box. I also think it should have an bread-thumb trail like navigation to go back to the original place.
I found a good example from Flokoon ( www.flokoon.com).
Then there is an impressive sample with code from Mark Shepherd
The component is here which has docs to expain package.
The drawback is the component is Flex 2 what I believe.

Quick Note: Custom String Validator

got a source from Adobe cookbook:
http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/communityengine/index.cfm?event=showdetails&productId=2&postId=9603

I will check back later when I get some spare time to view this validator.

Flex Component: Gauge

A few examples of Gauge Component.

Gauges Flex 2 Components by Peter Ent
Very simple and detail explanation to using only Flex class to create components.
http://weblogs.macromedia.com/pent/archives/2006/07/writing_flex_2.cfm

--------------------------------------
Using Degrafa by Thomas Gonzalez
V.02 version add the Degrafa graphic Classes to draw skin for components.
More flexible and polished.

Gauge Component v.02
http://form-function.blogspot.com/2008/04/gauge-component-v02.html
Gauge Component v.01 - Flex
http://form-function.blogspot.com/2008/03/gauge-component-v01.html

Degrafa : Declarative Graphics Framework

The focus behind the Declarative Graphics Framework (Degrafa) is to bring the graphics classes up a level to provide a common ground between developer and designer within Flex, and enable the graphics classes to become first class citizens within the Flex framework.

Home: http://www.degrafa.com
Code: http://code.google.com/p/degrafa/
Group: http://groups.google.com/group/degrafa/

Open Source: Resize & Move Container

flex-object-handles

User resizeable container for flex components.
Official website at: http://www.rogue-development.com/objectHandles.xml

A very common UI element found in many applications are those little square handles around an on-screen object that allow you to move & resize it. I haven't been able to find anything like that pre-built in flex, so I've started a project to develop one. It behaves as a container object so you can put any other flex component inside it and get the resizeable functionality right away.

Link: the list of helpful Flex or Flash debug tools

Debugging tools collection:
Debugging AS3 with "firebug’s console" combined with "FlashTracer" will take efficiency's advantage.

the list of helpful Flex or Flash debug tools

from: Ntt.cc (http://ntt.cc/)

Link: 36 New, Cool Flex and AS3 Tools, Libraries and Components

very useful resources:

36 New, Cool Flex and AS3 Tools, Libraries and Components

By: Sean Moore (http://www.seantheflexguy.com/)

Thought by Bruce (Author of Thinking in Java)

Very good computing thoughts.
The author is Bruce Eckel who wrote "Think in Java"
ActionScript Collections and Functional Programming

Summary
Not only are basic collections (arrays and associative arrays) tightly integrated into the core language, but arrays provide some sophisticated functional programming support. This article also introduces the creation and use of shared libraries and the basics of prototypes.

Flex Component: FlowBox Container

I found several Flex Containers can handle automatic wrapping child component.

1. Eric Cancil version(best practice):
   http://blog.3r1c.net/
   This is the best I've seen.
   
2. Tony Fendall version:
   http://www.munkiihouse.com/?p=60
   Tony's FlowBox use HBox as sub container, add child to HBox, when the HBox is full, create new one to add child. But there are some issues, especially the HBox scrollingBar appear sometime.
3. FlexLib version:
   This version handle the basic function of wrapping but limited to horizontal only and doesn't have many inherited style from box/container.

There are some more experiment like Flow Layout in Adobe cookbook and Flow Layout in Adobe Exchange By jamesjaco, but they are not coded carefully.

Flex Resources and Blog Collection

Flex Blog Collection
Doug McCune: http://dougmccune.com/blog/
David Coletta: http://www.colettas.org/
Ely Greenfield: http://www.quietlyscheming.com/blog/
Eric Cancil: http://blog.3r1c.net/
Peter Ent: http://weblogs.macromedia.com/pent/
Ben Stucki: http://blog.benstucki.net/
Darron Schal: http://weblog.cahlan.com/
Brendan Meutzner: http://www.meutzner.com/blog/index.cfm
Arpit Mathur: http://www.arpitonline.com/blog/
Andrew Trice: http://www.cynergysystems.com/blogs/
Mike Nimer: http://blog.mikenimer.com/

Component, Widget List
http://www.brightworks.com/technology/adobe_flex/components_widgets_etc.html

List of 31 Flex APIs, Libraries, Components and Tools
http://seantheflashguy.com/blog/2007/08/21/list-of-31-flex-apis-libraries-components-and-tools/

Flex 2 Primitive Explorer
http://www.3gcomm.fr/Flex/PrimitiveExplorer/Flex2PrimitiveExplorer.html