Action Script Top Notch

Starling MovieClip Hiccup! (Games)

2013-05-15T08:41:00.002-07:00

Even Daniel admits that should be enhanced and fixed when issue gets priority.

What is important in any animation?

By my opinion is to see all the frames even in dropped frame rate then expected. I noticed big hiccups in how Starling implements MovieClip.advanceTime(and no matter what you do, you couldn't get precise duration of the frame especially with difference in time of frames of AVM depending of workload, so if you are expecting some currentFrame to be hit might never be. I think I remember Adobe encourages making timings based on TimerEvent and not onEnterFrame.

You could also make adjusting of difference of more precise time with getTimer() but you never should allowed you jump frame cos previous frame have took some or all of his time. This would tell you at least to drop frame rate or try to solve bottlenecks.

Why not to using the AVM "juggler", but creating new one? I personally don't like whole concept of juggler cos first it makes Starling different from Flash, second hanging one MovieClip hangs all animations depending of juggler (could happen to AVM too, but that is on global) and your advanceTime function is called no matter your MovieClip is stopped or not (checking flag and go in or go out of).

Next "stop()" function should be stop(). Not reset. ;)

How many cases we want MovieClip to start playing on creation.

If you see the animation carefully you would see that cos of different sizes of frames (width/height)

 SubTexture name="flight_03" x="916" y="1" width="382" height="286" frameX="-32" frameY="-73" frameWidth="440" frameHeight="440"/>
    SubTexture name="flight_04" x="1314" y="285" width="402"

height="218"

after switching the texture some parts could be cut and give also wrong hit area so you need to fix with readjustSize() after switching of texture.

The other big problem is that often you have multiply animations of the Character (walking,runing,jumping...) and some of them should be combined(ex. run first and then run second on the end of first....). Also you need to trigger some action on some frame and not just last.

What Daniel proposed on forums for mulitiply animations and also saw on guy having done tutorial on AciveTuts by creating MovieClip for every animation and using switch in you loop by (key or/and mouse action) and which includes

 removeChild(currentMc);
juggler.remove(currentMc);
addChild(newMc);
juggler.add(newMc)

and count numbers of executing above, when checking loop is very fast and mouse/keys changes happen very often so the need of change of the Character. At the top of the cake aren't the fundaments of Flash are actually gotoAndPlay and gotoAndStop() :))). Other thing that boders me alot in Starling are big use of "private" modifier instead of "protected" and top of that when you create MovieClip you need to supply textures (not adequate in many situation see the feedback of the people in forums).

 //Most used call
  //mc= new MovieClipEx(Assets.getTextureAtlas("StarlingTexture","StarlingXml").getTextures("flight_"));
  
   //Add textures later
   //mc= new MovieClipEx();
   //mc.textures = Assets.getTextureAtlas("StarlingTexture", "StarlingXml").getTextures("flight_");
   

   //Add Label, Sound and Call frame script

   mc= new MovieClipEx();
   mc.textures = Assets.getTextureAtlas("StarlingTexture", "StarlingXml").getTextures("flight_");
   mc.setFrameSound(5, Assets.getSound("WingFlapSound"));
   mc.setFrameLabel(new FrameLabel("Starling Stand", 14));
   mc.fps = 60;

  //try adding label again
   try {
    mc.setFrameLabel(new FrameLabel("Starling Stand",14));
   }catch (e:Error) {
    trace("Intentional error", e);
   }
   trace("Label at frame 14 is:" + mc.getFrameLabel(14));
   //mc.setFrameDuration(14, 5);//set frame duration to 5s
   mc.addFrameScript(14, callback14,mc);//add arguments to callback
   mc.addFrameScript(15, callback15);

//add Complete and enter frame events listeners
mc.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE, onComplete);
mc.addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, onEnterFrame);

    
   //GOTO and Stop by ID and label/FrameLabel
   // mc.gotoAndStop(14);
   //mc.gotoAndStop("Starling Stand");
   //mc.gotoAndStop(new FrameLabel("Starling Stand", 14));
  

//mc.nextFrame();
//mc.gotoAndStop("Starling Stand");
//mc.prevFrame();

//mc.gotoAndPlay(5);

  
   mc.play();
   
   this.addChild(mc);
   //Starling.juggler.add(mc)  NO MORE;

//Use original Starling MovieClip (hiccup test)
var mcOrg:MovieClipTrace = new MovieClipTrace( Assets.getTextureAtlas("StarlingTexture", "StarlingXml").getTextures("flight_"),60);
   mcOrg.x = 400;
   this.addChild(mcOrg)
   Starling.juggler.add(mcOrg);


 private function onEnterFrame(e:Event):void 
  {
   trace("MovieClipEx currentFrame:", MovieClipEx(e.target).currentFrame);
  }
  
  private function onComplete(e:Event):void 
  {
   trace("MovieClipEx Completed");
  }
  
  public function callback15():void 
  {
   mc.fps = 12;
   //mc.stop();
  }
  
  
  public function callback14(mc:MovieClipEx):void {
   trace("callback from frame id "+mc.currentFrameLabel.frame+" with label:"+mc.currentFrameLabel.name);
   
  }

MovieClipEx can be used also with animations imported from swf and swc.

Not tested but I think it would work, if you concat new Vector textures( Character have received new fighting moves) to the current textures or add new Vector of textures (morphing or adding new armor of the Character).

Download

Total Objective C Native Extension development in Flash Develop on Windows

2013-05-10T17:02:00.001-07:00

In order Flash Develop to support some Objective C highlighting we need to do some upgrade. Open MainMenu.xml from FlashDevelop installation/Settings folder and add:

This would add additional item in menu.

Now add M.fdt in FlashDevelop install\Templates, which is template for creation basic Adobe Native Extension .m file. Add M.xml FlashDevelop install\Languages which contain keywords/functions set and which would add on ObjectiveC .m,.h,.mm syntax coloring styles. M.xml contains also FlashExtension functions/keywords.(Note some work on adding keywords of most of used frameworks if not all should be done)

Now we have syntax highlighting we need IOS SDK on windows. Pierre-Marry Baty have done tremendous work to bring Apple IOS SDK on windows and keep updated with every release. I deeply we encourage you to donate to support his work. He also built template that you can run in Visual Studio.
Download and install IOS Build Environment.

Create folder Adobe AIR.framework inside IOSBuildEnvrionment\SDK\System\Library\Frameworks and copy content of your AIRSDK\runtimes\air\mac\Adobe AIR.framework\Versions\1.0 into.

Copy Flash Develop template into installFlashDevelop\Projects folder and open project

Execute Run.bat. Voilla !!! Library is created.
Now you can use other Flash develop template to create your Adobe Native Extension.

And if you are lazy just copy this into your FlashDevelop and have fun.

Tweets by @Winx_Alex

Numeric Slider (Feathers,Starling)

2013-05-03T15:19:00.000-07:00

Recently I've built Numeric Slider,thx to great infrastructure Josh have done in Feathers UI, which is useful
component for use in pair when defining ranges.

Usage:

var numSlider:NumericSlider = new NumericSlider(); 

 numSlider.maximum = 100; 

 numSlider.minimum = 0;

 numSlider.value = 55;






 //numSlider.textEditorProperties.width = 100;
   //numSlider.textEditorProperties.height = 100;
   
//you can use template settings or custom
   //numSlider.minimumTrackProperties.defaultSkin=new Image(Texture...
   //numSlider.thumbProperties.defaultSkin=new Image(Texture... 

 numSlider.customTextInputName = "MyStyleTextInputNameInsideTheme";

 numSlider.customSliderName = "MyStyleSliderNameInsideTheme";

Photon server and Flash (Games)

2013-03-19T16:18:00.000-07:00

At start I was very exited about Photon being fast C++ written server with C# wrapper, with Flash SDK and even more when I saw example at sebaslab . Checking the code at first I was even more happy that Flash - Photon are using AMF. But that was it.

I found that communication is done in kind of different way of how Adobe have encourage using it and how its used in BlaseDS for Java and FluorineFX for .NET.
First I found that SDK is using Dictionary key/values pairs to transport data from Flash to Photon. For example you need to create Dictionary

var dictionary:Dictionary=new Dictionary();
dictionary[123]=new Actor2(3);
dictionary[122]={x:1111,y:"bbb"};

Key values can be bytes(0 -127) or Strings but String wouldn't help you engage auto reflection mechanism on Photon side( commented later). If you want to optimize bit code you need to call sendOperation(...) Function and send [key,value,key2,value2....] sendOperation(operationCode,[123,new Actor,122,{x:111,y:"bbb"}].. cos all your dictionaries would be converted to dynamic objects.

    public class Actor2
    {
       
            private var mActorNo:int=3333;
           
            public var testNumber:Number=1111.33;
           
            //public var vec:Vector.=new Vector.([1,2,3]);
            public var testArray:Array=[{x:1,y:3},3];
            
            public var testString:String="test_String";
            
            public var data:Date=new Date();
            
            public function Actor2(num:int)
            {
                mActorNo=num;
            }// end function
            
            
            
            
            public function setActorNo(param1:int) : void
            {
                mActorNo = param1;
                return;
            }// end function
            
        
    }

This would be prepared in something as: ["testNumber",1111.33,"testArray",["x",1,"y",3,3],"date",.... packed into the message(I woudn't not now comment about how the message is compose but will focus on message data) and send as AMF bytes. I personally doubt that such manual mechanism of mapping object attributes is better then Adobe serialization/deseralisation by implementing of flash.utils.IExternalizable into your class object. Exit Games Flash SDK:

1. Doesn't serialize private variables. Adobe shows clearly how you could decide what to serialize what not by using implementing IExternizable

2.Doesn't serialize sub/sub objects...even using Dictionary[Dictionary[Dictionary...way of doing this ex. public var testArray:Array=[{x:1,y:3},new Actor2(3)];

3.Doesn't serialize Vector (connection closed cos of InvalidDataType exception) public var vec:Vector.=new Vector.([1,2,3]); On the server side you can forget of reconstructing of Actor2 object as we expect using AMF communication and Photon would return. Every AS3 Object would be converted into C# HashTable and every AS3 Array would be converted into C# object[]

Try to use normal way of serializing object for AMF communication returned (connection closed cos of InvalidDataType exception)

package photon_trace
{
    import flash.utils.IDataInput;
    import flash.utils.IDataOutput;
    import flash.utils.IExternalizable;

    [RemoteClass(alias="photon_trace.Actor")]
    public class Actor implements IExternalizable
    {
       
            private var mActorNo:int=3333;
           
            public var testNumber:Number=1111.33;
           
            //public var vec:Vector.=new Vector.([1,2,3]);
            public var testArray:Array=[1,2,3];
           
            public var testString:String="test_String";
           
            public var data:Date=new Date();
           
            public function Actor()
            {
               
            }// end function
           
           
            public function writeExternal(output:IDataOutput):void
            { 
                output.writeInt(mActorNo); 
            } 
            public function readExternal(input:IDataInput):void { mActorNo = input.readInt();  } 
           
            public function getActorNo() : int
            {
                return mActorNo;
            }// end function
           
            public function setActorNo(param1:int) : void
            {
                mActorNo = param1;
                return;
            }// end function
           
       
    }
}

In order to achieve somekind of auto deserialisation/reflection on Photon side, you need to use byte as keys as ["testNumber",1111.33.... wouldn't be mapped. but [bytekey,value... ex. [111,1111.33... would be as key 111 maps to DataMemeber Code 111 in Operation, so some kind of mapping keys table with same values, kept at Flash and Photon side. O My I would like to back to old slow String parsing JSON.

namespace HelloPhoton
{
    class MyOperation:Operation
    {

        public MyOperation(IRpcProtocol protocol, OperationRequest request)
        : base(protocol, request)
         {
         }

        

        [DataMember(Code = (byte)111, IsOptional = false)]
        public float testNumber { get; set; }
        
    }
}

I also tried to add custom types handling serialization by using

 var typeRegistred = Photon.SocketServer.Protocol.TryRegisterCustomType(typeof(Actor), (byte)101, SerializeAMF, DeserializeAMF);

found in so scarce documentation/forums and not succeed. Let say we send now response from Photon server to Flash client.

namespace HelloPhoton
{
    public class MyResponse
    {
        
        [DataMember(Code = (byte)33, IsOptional = false)]
        public string testText { get; set; }

        //[DataMember(Code = (byte)34, IsOptional = false)]
        //public IList testList { get; set; }//ArrayList isn't supported


        [DataMember(Code = (byte)34, IsOptional = false)]
        public Hashtable testHash { get; set; }
    }
}

On Flash side you would get Dictionary with [33]=somestring, [34]=Array[1,2,3..,so no info about the class object. Also I couldn't put sub object(myItem done similar as MyResponse) in HashTable without Photon throwing error. And top of the cake is reply of Tobias Lead Client Engineer at Exit Games:

"Re: Hashtable in another Hashtable" by Tobias » Thu Sep 20, 2012 5:35 pm We always have trouble with supporting Flash fully, due to it's limitations with types, so nested Hashtables are most likely affected by this. Can you work around this? Sadly, I can't promise we can do something about it really soon."

Due to Limitations with types? What types are missing? Guys in Fluorine had not problems with any C# (.NET) types and Flash types .Am I missing something? I don't even want to think about RemoteObjects and that could I invoke C# Command. Hello! anybody home :). My opinion is if you support platform you support it seriously as serious company other then that is wasting investors time and losing the clients.

Gradient Shadow Filter Starling

2012-11-18T11:39:00.001-08:00

Instead of doing lot of bla,bla... check the code

*Updated 20.11.12 (added radial shadow option)

package filters 

{

    import starling.core.RenderSupport;

    import starling.display.DisplayObject;

    import starling.filters.FragmentFilter;

   

     import flash.display3D.Context3D;

    import flash.display3D.Context3DProgramType;

    import flash.display3D.Program3D;

   

    import starling.textures.Texture;

    /**

     * ...

     * @author winxalex

     */

    public class GradientShadowFilter extends FragmentFilter

    {

       

        private var mShaderProgram:Program3D;

       

        private static var recStageWidth:Number=NaN;

        private static var recStageHeight:Number = NaN;

       

        /**

         * Fragment constants vectors

         */

        private var fc1:Vector.<Number>

        private var fc2:Vector.<Number>

       

        private var _axisX:Boolean;

        private var _lightToDark:Boolean;

       

        private var _spreadOffsetX:Number=0;

        private var _spreadOffsetY:Number = 0;

       

        private var _xCenter:Number = 0.5;

        private var _yCenter:Number = 0.5;

        private var _radial:Boolean;

       

       

        /**

         * 

         * @param    axisX

         * @param    dir

         * @param radial (radial or rectangle shadow) 
         */
        public function GradientShadowFilter(axisX:Boolean=true,lightToDark:Boolean=true,radial:Boolean=false):void
        {
            fc1 =new Vector.<Number>(4,true);
            fc2 = new Vector.<Number>(4, true);
            fc2[0] = 1;
            fc2[1] = 2;
            fc2[2] = 0
            fc2[3] = 0;
           
            _axisX = axisX;
            _lightToDark = lightToDark;
            _radial = radial;
        }
       
       
        public override function dispose():void
        {
            if (mShaderProgram) mShaderProgram.dispose();
            super.dispose();
        }
       
        protected override function createPrograms():void
        {
                var vertexProgramCode:String =
                "m44 vt0, va0, vc0 \n" + // 4x4 matrix transform to output space
                "mov v1, vt0 \n" + // move position to v1
                "mov op, vt0 \n" +//move position to output
                "mov v0, va1 "; //move color to output
               
           
            var fragmentProgramCode:String = 
                "tex ft0, v0, fs0 <2d data-blogger-escaped-clamp="clamp" data-blogger-escaped-linear="linear" data-blogger-escaped-mipnone="mipnone">  \n" + // read texture color
           
                "mov ft1, v1 \n" + 
               
               
                (_radial ?        
                 "sub ft1.x, ft1.x, fc1.x \n" +// subtruct current x from _clipX 
                 "div ft1.x, ft1.x, fc1.z \n" + // transfer x in clip region from 0-1 (x-_clipX)/_clipWidth
                 
               
               
                 "sub ft1.y, ft1.y, fc1.y \n" +// subtruct current y from _clipY 
                 "div ft1.y, ft1.y, fc1.w \n" + // transfer x in clip region from 0-1 (y-_clipY)/_clipHeight
                 
                 (!_lightToDark  ?
                   "sub ft1.x, fc2.x, ft1.x \n"
                : "sub ft1.y, fc2.x, ft1.y \n" // change direction
                ) +
                 
                 (!_axisX ? 
                 "sub ft1.y, ft1.y, fc2.w \n" +//  Ycenter position (default:0) 
                 "mul ft1.y, ft1.y, fc2.y \n" // y*2  => half height
                :
                  "sub ft1.x, ft1.x, fc2.z \n" +//  Xcenter position (default:0) 
                  "mul ft1.x, ft1.x, fc2.y \n" // x*2  => half width
                )+
               
                 
                 
               
               
                           
                "mul ft1.y, ft1.y, ft1.y \n" +// y^2
                "mul ft1.x, ft1.x, ft1.x \n" +// x^2
                "add ft1.z, ft1.x, ft1.y \n" +// x^2 + y^2
                "sub ft1.z, fc2.x, ft1.z \n" +// flip shadow direction
                "mul ft0.xyz, ft0.xyz, ft1.zzz\n" 
           
               
           
            : //RECTANGLE
               
               
            // X - GRADIENT
            (_axisX ?
                "sub ft1.x, ft1.x, fc1.x \n" +// subtruct current x from _clipX 
                "div ft1.x, ft1.x, fc1.z \n" + // transfer x in clip region from 0-1 (x-_clipX)/_clipWidth
                (_lightToDark ?
                "sub ft1.x, fc2.x, ft1.x \n" // change direction
                : "") +
               
                "mul ft0.xyz,ft0.xyz, ft1.xxx\n" //make x gradient
                     
             // Y - GRADIENT
             :
                "sub ft1.y, ft1.y, fc1.y \n" +// subtruct current y from _clipY 
                "div ft1.y, ft1.y, fc1.w \n" + // transfer x in clip region from 0-1 (y-_clipY)/_clipHeight
                (_lightToDark ?
                "sub ft1.y, fc2.x, ft1.y \n" // change direction (1-y)
                : ""
                ) +
               
                "mul ft0.xyz,ft0.xyz, ft1.yyy\n" //make y gradient
               
            )
            )+
             
             
               
                //uniform color
                //"mul ft0.xyz, ft0.xyz, ft2.www\n" +
               
                "mov oc, ft0";
           
          
           
            mShaderProgram = assembleAgal(fragmentProgramCode,vertexProgramCode);
        }
       
       
        override public function render(object:DisplayObject, support:RenderSupport, parentAlpha:Number):void 
        {
            if (isNaN(recStageHeight)) recStageHeight = 1 / object.stage.stageHeight;
            if (isNaN(recStageWidth)) recStageWidth = 1 / object.stage.stageWidth;
           
           
           
           
            fc1[2] = ((_spreadOffsetX +object.width) * 2 * object.scaleX)* recStageWidth ;//_clipWidth
            fc1[3] =  ((_spreadOffsetY+object.height) * 2 * object.scaleY) * recStageHeight ;//_clipHeight
           
            fc1[0] = (2*object.x * recStageWidth)-1;//_clipX
            fc1[1] = (2*(object.stage.stageHeight-object.height-object.y) * recStageHeight)-1 ;//_clipY with switch of y direction
           
                   
            fc2[2] = 0.5;
            fc2[3] = 0.5;
           
           
            super.render(object, support, parentAlpha);
        }
       
        protected override function activate(pass:int, context:Context3D, texture:Texture):void
        {
            // already set by super class:
            // 
            // vertex constants 0-3: mvpMatrix (3D)
            // vertex attribute 0:   vertex position (FLOAT_2)
            // vertex attribute 1:   texture coordinates (FLOAT_2)
            // texture 0:            input texture
           
            context.setProgramConstantsFromVector(Context3DProgramType.FRAGMENT, 1, fc1, 1);
             context.setProgramConstantsFromVector(Context3DProgramType.FRAGMENT, 2, fc2, 1);
            context.setProgram(mShaderProgram);
        }
        /**
         * typical values between -width and +width
         */
        public function set spreadOffsetX(value:Number):void 
        {
            _spreadOffsetX = value;
        }
       
       
        /**
         * typical values -height to height
         */
        public function set spreadOffsetY(value:Number):void 
        {
            _spreadOffsetY = value;
        }
       
        /**
         * values: 0 : 1 (0 mean center default:0.5)
         */
        public function set xCenter(value:Number):void 
        {
            _xCenter = value;
        }
       
        /**
         * values: 0 : 1 (0 mean center default:0.5)
         */
        public function set yCenter(value:Number):void 
        {
            _yCenter = value;
        }
       
    }

}

Usage:

dO = addChild(new Image(Texture.fromBitmap( new StarlingBMP(), false )))
            dO.x = 130;
            dO.y = 140;
            dO.filter = new GradientShadowFilter(true,false);

GradientShadowFilter(dO.filter).spreadOffsetX = -50; //use width-50 px for spreading of shadow

GLSL to AGAL Convertor tool

2012-11-10T12:30:00.002-08:00

Great thx to Tom Krcha annoucing glsl2agal library with which I was able to reward my laziness to convert GLSL code to AGAL and play with it.

In most GLSL programs you would find on net would contain just main function so you should declare variables
uniform vec2 resolution;
uniform float time;
uniform sampler2D tex0;

This link would help you with variables types.

Јava Script your company future strategic goal??????????????

2012-09-16T07:15:00.002-07:00

I swear that I would speak the truth nothing but the truth so help me God. Of course that always would be different point of views but I'll try to use as much facts as possible.
At start I want to underline that I've been programming JS in notepad in times when FrontPage or Dreamweaver or some other web design tools wasn't existing in order to make move thoose static HTML tags and make them "dynamic html". And I agree that technology was advance in that time. Today????? Future isn't bright with the such advicers that take compromise to go back for lack of their knowledge and vision. Strategy could be based only on the checked information and news should be tracked. For example Apple first restricted submission to Apple Store only to application developed thru its tools
but then, after seeing Droid taking the market, abandon the restriction. Now many tools offer creation of Apple content not just Adobe Air but Unity3D based on C#, Titanium based on JS, Corona based on Lua,....

Now I could see enormous effort in conversion and injecting steroids in JS.
Yes Action Script is ECMA based as JS but Action Script has the power OO language for long time while 90% of JS developers write spaghetti code like this

function(param1,function(param3,param4,function(param5),param6......
{

or not follow any patterns or good practice of programing,

Comparing to Action Script, Flash for years had Tweeners,Animated Charts
Patterns, Classes, Biniding (backbone.js), Localization, ModelViewControl (3 generation), UI components ExtJS, unit testers and profilers... and why all of this should be recreated in JS???
I could also blame Steve Jobs sending the first poison arrow.
But most to blame is on Adobe and their amateur decision makers.
The power of Flash was that you can draw something and give functionality right away. Next expected was drawing 3D and giving functionality. We all expect future of live codding (changing the code and see changes in the player), going forward and backward in time, to see live onion skin (display object position/shape in time)....

For years I couldn't see any major difference in releases Flash CS3,CS4,CS5 and CS6 with JS toolkit gave me feel that I'm using AS1(onPress :)) for making banners and exporting in JS. Did we pass that Flash, when Flash was good for banners, years ago?. Seem Adobe losing ground to JQuery with such innovation.
Drastic decision was also they announced canceling development of Flash Builder IDE and Flex SDK
Well before that they were frameworks and well after that there are even better frameworks. Flex SDK isn't thrown away but serious guys are working on it under Apache license and they got from starting Flex SDK 4.5 to 4.8. Even Adobe after announcing abandoning, released 4.6 version and Flash Builder 4.7 IDE beta. Will they continue producing Flash Builder IDE(Integrated Developement Environment) doesn't mater when outthere, there are even better IDE like FDT, Flash Develop, InteliJ based Flex ...and new star Realaxy. Worst is if they stop supporting Flash Player?

You think Flash is dead and now all should JS.
Let see what you get with this new but old technology.

EXECUTION SPEED & FILE SIZE: In JS Google team or other code optimizers, packagers (zippers) or browser producers could improve their browser parsers in order to gain faster download and execution speed of several thousand lines of code in serious apps.
Someone would say doesn't matter when now we all have optic-fiber connection and super computers, but even then as engineer isn't logical to use resources to push wooden cart on highway instead of using them for some future invented vehicles.
What about readability and updatability of that optimized, packed code? What about of time of zipping and unzipping? Why we are compile code and create binaries when size and parsing of text files (.js) is better solution!?

COMPATIBILITY: Here come the CEO's technological adviser's statement that JS is compatible with everything even with mobiles.
Partly true. Lot false.
There are several things why this is not true.
First NO BROWSER never was and wouldn't ever follow be 100% compatible with W3C standards let say HTML5 currently. There may reasons why which I won't to elaborate now. Even in browser version of same producer, difference are so big so you need to write code to handle not just browser type but also same browser versions.
Here comes redundancy of code when you have same code that handling browser with every framework you engage into your project.
And top of that your code wouldn't be compatible with the next version of browsers.
Then comes good news your web site would be viewable on mobile devices. Partly true. Even we assume that web browsers and mobile browsers are 100% clones, what is the benefit of that your web site is visible but simple not usable in same way in browser.For example websites were designed for using with mouse and not with finger touch and all those fancy moves. So not compatible, when you need to have to use jQuery and jQueryMobile for addressing different device. And why big companies like Yahoo and Facebook offer right away native application(APPLICATIONS NOT WEB SITES) for your device and why they not let you to use your mobile browser???

Flash player had backward compatibility and user would have 90%(maybe this is 95% or more but I'm satisfied with 90% compared to experiences of writing HTML/JS/CSS for every major browser) same experience in all major browser.
Yes, Flash player is discontinued from mobile devices( anyway Flash could show full power on low hardware mobiles then and was hard to exploit specific device options) but you can develop application using Adobe AIR technology. You can use full power of Flex RAD(Rapid Application Development) practices into you main content and target with the same effort target Android,IOS,BlackBerry,Windows,MacOs...Plus you can extend toward specific device functionality using Adobe Native Extension and write native code.

DEPENDENCY: First dependency is of your OS. (text)
... Second dependency is of your browser. Third dependency is installed programs and plugins.

~~target WEB: No JS gives same user experience as Flash sites.~~
~~target Desktop(Mac,Win...): I've never seen JS standalone applications. In Flash your browser based app would work as standalone without problem reducing the cost of development.~~
~~target IOS:~~
target Android:

At the end if you think that you become dependent in some way installing Flash Player pluggin did you get dependent also when you install Garmin(for you training device), Java applet or other pluggins in your web broswer. Why you then feel dependent of?

GAMES: To find JS games are so rare as needle in the haystack. Even with the introducing to canvas lack of quality visual IDE, game engines and frameworks, constant browsers crashing, performance and being not visual attractive make JS far from favorite game development environment.

3D: Use of third dimension thru JS is possible for ex. with Three.js(by Mr.Doob former Papervision 3D guru) and it's based on WebGL. But even it works on Chrome and could be enabled in FireFox, the owners of technology Microsoft, have sealed its future stating they would not continue developing or support in its browsers e.g IE.
In Flash Player many graphics cards are supported offering 3D across browsers and mobiles. Frameworks like Starling gives great performance by utilizing use of GPU to UI and Games.

SEO:

REALTIME APPLICABILITY: I didn't encounter so far pure JS based streaming solution or real time data transfer.There were some tries to make HTML/JS Video players but saw Youtube back to Flash Player and Apple made custom video application that jump out when you browse and want to see video. I'ven't seen something made in JS in comparation to Adobe Live Data Cycle.

JSON: Main data transfer JS format is way outdated when many formats today offered ,like AMF, faster and class object transfer. Libraries like AMFPHP and ZendAMF, FlourineFX(.NET) or Java AMF allows seamless/realtime OO communiction with backend.
Someone would say "SignalR" and I couldn't find here Eureka just another muscle injection.

CONSTANT BEHAVIOR: Freedom of dynamic scripts (a.k.a prototyping) as JS means freedom in syntax creation, but that not mean artistic freedom. With that freedom library's creators can use $,#,_ to make some functionality which looks cute as art and in saving file size and speed up codding, but as developer with every new library you need to learn new syntax and new way of use. Sometimes I feel like I'm into new script/language not in JS cos of so called freedom to design library. Pain!.
One JS GURU told me take backbone.js it fits 80% to original JS syntax and AngularJS about 15%, Fits? So today top libraries jQuery,AngularJS ... parse HTML + there enhancing syntax (part fitting - part new language) into JS, minimized in 1000 ways , which then would be parsed AGAIN! by browser. Hell not logical.

UNIFICATION: This is great thing. JS thruout the programming world. Great! But in the ideal world and with some universal purpose strong language, and definitely not with 15 year old script concept.

RIDING ON THE NEW WAVE WITH YOUR OLD IRONING BOARD:
I also couldn't describe all of Action Script Gurus who waste 10 years of their life, now are writing JS tutorials Lee Brimelow, try to convert their components to JS like Keith Peters, try to convert their multiplayer server Collin Mock (50,000lines of code!!!!)...., create JS frameworks alike Action Script so developers can easy transfer to JS like Grant Skinner other then turncoats, call me stubborn to new turn into bright web future, if you like, but I could see all of this as step backward and reinventing the 15 years old wooden wheel as some kind of advance,which we all need to follow and to be your company future

strategic goal.

I would like to add to the list Thibault Imbert here ,after he been assigned to HTML dev team, he said he Flash is his heart but TypeScript and new ECMA is almost good as AS.

Workers At Starling

2012-09-14T16:39:00.000-07:00

I need to move from original idea to put some heavy BitmapData manipulation and upload to GPU in BackWorker and draw in MainWorker, cos didn't found way to share context or native texture thru AMF channel, so I let just original regeneration of displayBitmapData on the BackWorker. Now problem was how to pass BitmapData to AMF. AMF require classes to have constructors with default values and to implement IExternalizable interface in order to handle complex data types. BitmapData Class doesn't comply to both and solution is to transfer from back to main by use of ByteArray.

If you plan to use with Texture.uploadFromBitmapData you need to encode (JPG,PNG...) in order that Loader.loadBytes to be able to load bytes from ByteArray and recreate BitmapData. Also good cos less bytes would go over the channel.

I was stubborn and wanted to use uploadFromByteArray.
I saw some guy was talking on Starling forums about Texture.uploadFromByteArray but found out that even in Starling 1.2 isn't supported. So I added this function to Texture.as to fill that gap.

    /** Creates a texture from Byte array.
        * */
        public static function fromByteArray(data:ByteArray,width:int,height:int, byteArrayOffset:uint,miplevel:uint=0,
                                            optimizeForRenderTexture:Boolean=false,
                                            scale:Number=1):starling.textures.Texture
        {
            var origWidth:int = width;
            var origHeight:int = height;
            var legalWidth:int = getNextPowerOfTwo(width);
            var legalHeight:int = getNextPowerOfTwo(height);
            var context:Context3D = Starling.context;



            if (context == null) throw new MissingContextError();

            var nativeTexture:flash.display3D.textures.Texture = context.createTexture(
                legalWidth, legalHeight, Context3DTextureFormat.BGRA, optimizeForRenderTexture);


            nativeTexture.uploadFromByteArray(data,byteArrayOffset,miplevel);


            var concreteTexture:ConcreteTexture = new ConcreteTexture(
                nativeTexture, legalWidth, legalHeight, false, true,
                optimizeForRenderTexture, scale);

            if (Starling.handleLostContext)
                concreteTexture.restoreOnLostContext(data);


            if (origWidth == legalWidth && origHeight == legalHeight)
                return concreteTexture;
            else
                return new SubTexture(concreteTexture,
                    new Rectangle(0, 0, origWidth/scale, origHeight/scale),
                    true);
        }

While creating native texture in the code, you can see that format Context3DTextureFormat.BGRA and BitmapData is ARGB, so it need conversion before placing into ByteArray

for ( var j : int = 0 ; j < displayBitmapData.height; j ++ ) {
                    for ( var i : int = 0 ; i < displayBitmapData.width; i ++ ) {

                    //memory is ByteArray

                        memory.writeUnsignedInt((displayBitmapData.getPixel32(i,j) & 0x000000ff) << 16 | (displayBitmapData.getPixel32(i,j) & 0x0000FF00) | (displayBitmapData.getPixel32(i,j) & 0x00FF0000) >> 16);

                        }

You need also to watch that your BitmapData is size of power of 2.

Download: source

Using Bitmap Data filters in Starling

2012-08-04T07:42:00.001-07:00

Fire test application based on Starling in Firefox 14 shows 30fps

In the past Adobe attract designers to flash offering them Bitmap effects using filters Blur, Displacement, Perlin and so on... without need to understand what is going behind (e.g copymem, rdmem, pointers...). And ofcourse people have found way to access it Azoth and Apparat. When Flash moved from CPU to GPU and AGAL now we kind of back to assembler. Its great. Ups what about the other guys(designers) then shader gurus. Should we now all write Perlin, Displacement ... shader program in order to got benifit of GPU speed and have 60fps??? Should not Adobe do same abstraction as what was done at introduction of BitmapData???

I was so foolish and want to use BitmapData effect from CPU and draw them on GPU. Yeah I know that uploading BitmapData to GPU every frame is costly operation and not how we suppose to do, but I don't want to spent month writing shader to achive same effect(I didn't want to make texture atlas cos I want generic fire not looping fire). It would be good if I could make let say 60 textures and while looping thoose I could async download changes into texture slots(Update 07.08.12: Workers might help) that are already shown and not sync in onEnterFrame. But never the less increase in performance is obvious.

Fire test application based on Starling in Flash Player shows 45-58fps

Source: Download

Decorator Pattern in Action Script partII (Games)

2012-07-21T09:59:00.000-07:00

Please check Decorator pattern part I.

In order we not overwhelm all decorators in extended classes (create less foot print) with the functions that aren't used in them(for example we have some decorator that doesn't allow magical ehancement, so what for would be function getFireResitance() subclassed from some class in hierarchy), we extend base from Proxy class.(Can be done with some other pattern inside this one also)

public class ArmorDecorator extends Proxy implements IArmor {
    private var _armorToBeDecorated : * ;
    private var _type : int ;
    private var _container:Sprite;


    public function ArmorDecorator( decoratedArmor : * ){
      _armorToBeDecorated = decoratedArmor;

    _container = new Sprite();

    //add decoratedArmor to display list
    _armorToBeDecorated.getParent().addChild(this._container);
       }

       //if Decorator doesn't have functionality required would ask wrapped decorator or component for it.
       override flash_proxy function getProperty(name:*):*
       {
            return _armorToBeDecorated[name];
       }
       //if Decorator doesn't have functionality required would call from wrapped decorator or component .
       override flash_proxy function callProperty(name:*, ...rest):*
       {
        // trace("callProp", name,this[name]);

           return _armorToBeDecorated[name].apply(null,rest);
       }

Source: Download (without visual component)

Decorator Pattern in Action Script (Games)

2012-07-10T15:42:00.001-07:00

Sometimes ago I have interview with Wooga and although that I expected that they have 1.000.000 Euros annual income as the guy who interview me advertizes, I didn't expect so low level attitude, everything in order to underestimate me as human and developer. Even he is Genius or whatever, he isn't allowed to enforce such attitude of little people as you and me.....
One of the interview questions were about familiarity with Decorator pattern(auf Deutsch Dekuaaatoooohhrhhrhr). Let not get me wrong I myself have basic knowledge of German languages but I've also learned in my home and school education about decency, which doctor House The Interviewer has missed to acquire as foundation of all his ingenuity.
But...let's continue...

Theory(source: WIKI)
"The decorator pattern can be used to extend (decorate) the functionality of a certain object at runtime, independently of other instances of the same class, provided some groundwork is done at design time. This is achieved by designing a new decorator class that wraps the original class. This wrapping could be achieved by the following sequence of steps:

Subclass the original "Decorator" class into a "Component" class (see UML diagram);
In the Decorator class, add a Component pointer as a field;
Pass a Component to the Decorator constructor to initialize the Component pointer;
In the Decorator class, redirect all "Component" methods to the "Component" pointer; and
In the ConcreteDecorator class, override any Component method(s) whose behavior needs to be modified.

This pattern is designed so that multiple decorators can be stacked on top of each other, each time adding a new functionality to the overridden method(s).
The decorator pattern is an alternative to subclassing. Subclassing adds behavior at compile time, and the change affects all instances of the original class; decorating can provide new behavior at run-time for individual objects.
."

This especially useful with OO languages that cannot create classes at runtime a.k.a Reflection, in which group Action Script belongs.

There are lot of theory out there, people have written tons of theory examples of coffe and icecream, but let use pattern in real life scenario and compiling to flash display list logic.

"decorating can provide new behavior at run-time for individual objects."
For example you have hero in your game that starts with basic armor( HideHelmet,SteelShield,HideBody)
so hero's armor is decorated like this:

 hero.armor= new HideHelmet(new SteelShield(new HideBody(new Cloath));

But what if hero found SteelBody which is better then HideBody (you decorated you armor with better defense) or you have magically enhanced HideHelmet (decorated your helmet with enhancement new behavior to give to hero magical resistance for example) , Decorator patter comes as good solution

hero.armor.removeArmorPart(Armor.ARMOR_HELMET);
hero.armor.removeArmorPart(Armor.ARMOR_BODY);

  hero.armor= new ArmorMagicEnhancment(new HideHelmet(hero.armor),new Resistance(10,15));
      hero.armor = new SteelBody(hero.armor);

"The decorator pattern can be used to extend (decorate) the functionality of a certain object at runtime,..."
Which component we are planning to decorate at runtime decorating here? The Armor !

package com.example{
 
  import flash.display.DisplayObject;
  import flash.display.DisplayObjectContainer;
  import flash.display.Sprite;
 
  public class Armor extends Sprite implements IArmor {
     
      public static const ARMOR_SHIELD:int=1;
      public static const ARMOR_BODY:int=2;
      public static const ARMOR_HELMET:int=4;
     
      private var _hasShield:Boolean=false;
      private var _hasHelmet:Boolean=false;
      private var _hasBody:Boolean=false;
     
      public function get hasBody():Boolean
      {
          return _hasBody;
      }

...

We are creating Armor Decorator class in order to decorate armor. Component got wrapped around decorator class adding new functionality.

package com.example{
 

  import flash.display.DisplayObjectContainer;
  ///!!! Don't extend ArmorDecorator from Armor (you would use decoupling of decorator from component decorating) Abstract class not available in AS3
  public class ArmorDecorator extends Sprite implements IArmor {
    private var _armorToBeDecorated : IArmor ;
    private var _type : int ;
    public function ArmorDecorator( decoratedArmor : IArmor ){

//"In the Decorator class, add a Component pointer as a field;" - we have pointer to armor(_armorToBeDecorated)

  


    _armorToBeDecorated = decoratedArmor;
     
      //add decoratedArmor to display list
      _armorToBeDecorated.getParent().addChild(this);
       }

"In the Decorator class, redirect all "Component" methods to the "Component" pointer "

   
    override public function getDefence (  ) : Number {
      return _armorToBeDecorated.getDefence() ;
    }

 public class ArmorMagicEnhancment extends ArmorDecorator {
     
    private var _resistance:Resistance;
    private var _type:int;
    private var _armorToBeDecorated:IArmor;
    public function ArmorMagicEnhancment( decoratedShild : IArmor,resistance:Resistance ){
      super (decoratedShild) ;
     
      _armorToBeDecorated=decoratedShild;

//Adding "state" = if armor is magical enhanced => add glow

      


Sprite(_armorToBeDecorated).filters=[new GlowFilter(0xFF00FF)];
     
      _resistance=resistance;
    }
   
    override public function removeArmor(type:int=0):IArmor
    {
        //if type!=0
        if(type)
        {
            //if this type should be removed
            if(getType()==type)
            {
                this.parent.removeChild(this);
                return _armorToBeDecorated.removeArmor(type);
            }
           
            _armorToBeDecorated=_armorToBeDecorated.removeArmor(type);
            return  this;
        }
        else
        {
            this.parent.removeChild(this);
            return _armorToBeDecorated.removeArmor();
        }
    }

In another decorator on top of basic decorator we can add additional decorations(extend and add new operations, behavior and states)

package com.example{
  
  import flash.display.DisplayObjectContainer;
  
  import flashx.textLayout.elements.OverflowPolicy;
  
  public class HideHelmet extends Helmet {
    
    
    public function HideHelmet( decoratedArmor : IArmor ){
      name = "HideHelmet";
      super (decoratedArmor) ;
      
        
    }
    
    //we are adding some different behavior 
    override public function getDefence (  ) : Number {
      return super.getDefence() + Settings.HIDE_HELMET_DEFENCE ;
    }
   
  }
}

Hero is entity whose armor we are decorating during run-time.

 package com.example{
 
  import flash.display.Sprite;
 
  public class Hero extends Sprite {
    private var _armor : IArmor ;
  
    public function Hero(  ){
    
    }
    
    public function get hasBody():Boolean
    {
        if(!_armor) return false;
        return Armor(_armor.getParent()).hasBody;
    }

...to be Continue(part 2 )

Download source

Override mx_internal function Error 1004

2012-06-23T05:08:00.000-07:00

If you need to override mx_internal function you will encounter Error 1004.

If you include in header would work for call of mx_internal namespace function or variable
~~import mx.core.mx_internal~~
~~use namespace mx_internal;~~
but in override, wouldn't work.

You will find online Adobe employee Jedi for Adobe Highcouncil have registered bug(2010 and in current year is 2012 Flex SDK 4.6) and advice, that in 99% wouldn't work , "to remove override key word".
Above would fool compiler but would throw run-time error of incompatible override signature.
Now pull you hair.

After not having any hair I found out solution:

public namespace mx_internal = "http://www.adobe.com/2006/flex/mx/internal";

            override mx_internal function updateOrientationState():void
            {

                //super.mx_internal::updateOrientationState();


            }

Gesture, Accelerator and Geolocation simulator (Flex mobile)

2012-06-21T17:27:00.001-07:00

Have you notice new so necessary simulator for mobile development in Flash Professional CS6.

Most of us were waiting lengthy packaging and deploy to device in order check some of the gesture or acceleration, and after finding stupid bug redoing the whole thing again. Or use some rudimentary free simulator thru socket servers or local connection, or pay for libs like gestureworks. Finally polished simulator by Adobe as air app(using away3D and not Proscenium???) which also creates socket server and option to ADL(Air Debugger launcher) -Xsimulation ,known only to Lee Brimelow and Thibault Imbert, :) to force ADL to connect to Simulator.

Why couldn't use it with Flash Develop or Flash Builder. Damn. :)))

Download and install Flash Professional trail. You can find simulator app in your installation folder
ex "E:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Flash CS6\Common\Configuration\Simulator\simcontroller.exe"

Run the Simulator
"E:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Flash CS6\Common\Configuration\Simulator\simcontroller.exe" -once -lang en_US -port 7842

Run ADL from command prompt:
ex adl.exe application.xml -Xsimulation 7842

Whoolla you can use simulator in your application.

You are too lazy. Me too. Lets edit Run.bat in Flash Develop IDE mobile application template

Create and add SimController.bat into bat folder. Change reference, pointing to your SimController instalation folder.

Next find out how we can pass Xsimulation as application.xml tag in Flash Builder somewhere somenamed somehow HO HO HO
Update: 25.09.12
Flash Builder 4.7 allows ADL custom compiler params.

If you like this please click +1;

Native extension template Flash Develop IDE

2012-04-28T10:39:00.000-07:00

Open your extension.xml and setup your native library name and path to your class in native code that extends FreExtension as initializer and id which would be used to create and identify context. Extension.createExtensionContext

Open bat/Setup.bat to set path to your FlexSDK with AIR.(AIR 3.0 or above)

You could use bat/Certificate.bat to create key to sign your native extension.

Open main entry ActionScript class and code it. (Template would auto generate it for you)

Run PackageSWC.bat. It would create swc of your interface towards native code (.jar or .a,...file) and unpack library.swf in the platform folders.

Copy your native code inside platform folder.

Update 28.08.12
If you have resources(drawable,layout,strings...) in you Android Java project, copy them in extlib->Android-ARM->res folder so they be packed into the ane.
Run PackageAne.bat. It would create your native extension swc and unpack in "ane" folder.

If you want to add more classes beside Main.as to your swc you should edit conf/swcConfig.xml

and add to path-element new tag with your class name (MyNewClass.as).(* def this need improvement maybe some batch to read content of "src" and change xml)

*Update 29.05.12
Extract the template downloaded from below link into Projects folder of your FlashDevelop installation.
ex. E:\Program Files\FlashDevelop\Projects

*Update 22.08.12
In other project where you will use created native extension from above:
1. Create folder "extdir"
2. Copy Multitouch.ane folder and Multitouch.swc inside
2a. Right Click on the Multitouch.swc -> Add to Library
2b. Right Click on the Multitouch.swc -> Options->External Library
3. In Run.bat add -extdir "extdir"
adl -screensize %SCREEN_SIZE% -XscreenDPI %SCREEN_DPI% "%APP_XML%" "%APP_DIR%" -extdir "extdir"
The above is for Debug and Release. If you want to package:
1.Create folder "ane"
2. Copy Multitouch.swc (rename it to .ane)
2. Copy Multitouch..ane
3.In Package.bat add -extdir "ane"
call adt -package -target %TYPE%%TARGET% %OPTIONS% %SIGNING_OPTIONS% "%OUTPUT%" "%APP_XML%" %FILE_OR_DIR% -extdir "ane"

*Update 28.09.12 Template Packager.bat updated, "res" and "ane" folder added for packed .ane file.

*Update 09.05.13 .
1. added -platformoptions flag in command line and platformoptions.xml in iPhone-ARM folder, so additional frameworks and libs can be defined in linkeroptions
2. changed IPhone-ARM folder name to iPhone-ARM.
3. changed IPhone-ARM extension.xml to iPhone-ARM fixing problems with packaging under IOS.

download Tweets by @Winx_Alex

Starling Framework Extension (Games)

2012-04-16T10:06:00.000-07:00

"Starling is a port of an iPhone Development Framework named Sparrow written by Gamua that lets developers take advantage of the hardware capabilities of coding for OpenGL, but are abstracted to Classes and APIs that are familiar to ActionScript developers."

But why should I use iPhone Development workflow? Why should we use Texture packager and tools alike to export all our swf animations to huge bitmap called TextureAtlas?

Is this Flash way?
Why should I load 2.28MB picture in memory for 20 frames instead 30KB something swf or swc? What about if I want to scale it. Should I create and load Atlas for every size I've.

What about if I embed swc or swf with animation vector data and use it to create texture's bitmap data when ever I need and with size I need. I've develop this logic for AnimatedClip and can be 99%(*) applied with Starling.MovieClip too, so would be good to check my previous post.

(see embedded CreatureRageMode.swf and included CreatureNormalMode.swc)

public static function getMovieClipTextures(name:String,preserveColor:Boolean=false,processFilters:Boolean=true):Vector.
        {
            
                        
             if (sTextures[name] == undefined)
            {
                
                var data:*= new Assets[name]();
                
                _stage.addChild(data);
               sTextures[name] = generateTextureFrames(data);
                _stage.removeChild(data);
            }
            
            return sTextures[name];
        }

Standard 2D MovieClips are added to stage, frames converted to Textures and removed. Textures are used for creation of Starling.MovieClip.

*as you can see Starling.MovieClip should be tweaked for pivots and using different size bitmaps in different frame.

Source: download

2012-02-26T11:32:00.000-08:00

I've been busy lately, in spare time was reviewing one good book.

https://www.packtpub.com/adobe-flash11-stage3d-molehill-game-programming-beginners-guide/book
Despite I've quite experience with Papervison3D redoing and enhancing original library support of Open GL from Flash 11 player changed things alot. You probably wouldn't code low level very often (probably when creating custom shaders and particals thru AGAL) but you would use high level libraries like Alternativa, Away 3D...
You can fill the gaps of your 3D knowledge with this book as I did and also learn how above libs work under the hood. Book give some optimization tips for best performance and information of advance topics . Good thing is that learning of Stage3D goes thru building of example game.

Fuzzy Library 1.0.2

2012-02-15T14:14:00.000-08:00

rule = new FuzzyRule(
function():Number
                        { 

//IF MEDIUM AND LOW 
return    fuz.AND.call(null,
                                              fuz.inputFuzzymanifolds.Distance_to_Target.memberfunctions.Far.degreeOfMembership,
                                           
                                            fuz.inputFuzzymanifolds.Ammo_Status.memberfunctions.Low.degreeOfMembership
                                   )
                                 
                        },
                    //THEN UNDESIRABLE
                        fuz.outputFuzzyManifolds.Desirability.memberfunctions.Undesirable
                      );
                     
         fuz.addRule(rule,false);

More...

SVN

Facebook Application Development with Graph API Cookbook

2011-11-24T12:36:00.001-08:00

Find good discounts on this and other books.

How to Morph (manipulate vertices) Proscenium Stage3D Molehil

2011-11-05T10:12:00.000-07:00

In Procenium you can't do something like this

(i-th v-vertex of some mesh)

v[i].x=0.5

v[i].y=0.5

v[i].z=0.3

as you would do in some others frameworks.

The above code in basic tough would mean creation of buffer for one vertex and upload modification into GPU. What about you need to modify many vertices (or all) of the mesh as you will do in the morphing???

After creation of the MeshElement from MeshData local buffer with 3 sets of data is created and uploaded VertexBuffer3DHandle.uploadFromVector(I couln't understand why is internal when uploadFromByteArray is public) and to GPU.

Indices Set - contains indices of the vertex info in vertices setset ex. index[0,1,2...]=30,10,12 ...

inx ex. 30 means 30-th group of vertices set actually vertexSet[30 * stride]

Vertices Set -contains vertex info for every primitive in successive order as defined
in primitive's index vector
.... v30posX,v30posY, v30posZ u30,v30,v30normXv30normY,v30normZ,...(stride=8)

Joints Set -...(think which vertices are connected to which joint)

Idea was changing the content of the verticesSet and upload to the bufffer.
You could obtain copy Indices Set and Vertices Set thru MeshUtils.getCopy but I didn't find way to change their content. Other problem was there is no information about vector indices inside Vertices Set used so you know which value inside vertices set belong to which vertex. Luckily I found local structure created during proccesing of MeshData of type IndexHashMap(simple but powerful packing) which actually contain just that information and expose it to subclasses.
            v[3]=[0,12,29..] // 3-th vertex is involved into face 0,12 and 29...
As much Adobe tried go more on speed and make easy for designers (of course no one want to reinvent the wheel), seems framework is very close by my opinion ,especially when you need for example create your custom MeshElement and MeshElementData or its super classes like MeshPolylistElementData, from one side from the other side back to writing assembler to make particles (of course for custom shader but let's write binary for other cases it will be more easy :)) when we have high level languages)

Update 05.01.12.
      I found reference of this post on one Japanese blog about better solution by creation and removing MeshElements with every vertex change as cleaner solution. I agree (similar thing is done in my MD2 importer) but influence to performance is very big and sometimes thing must be ugly :))
Source

How to cook Flash Facebook games and social application (Tips and tricks)

2011-11-04T02:00:00.000-07:00

As Facebook lack of good documentation and also support of Adobe is somekind of open project I find useful to write few tips that will save you time and headeches.

Tip1: Avoid using obsolete technologies

FBJS
RestAPI
FBML

and tones of google trashy old tutorials. This is very hard as Facebook changes are very often (lately I found that have changed auth.statusChange event status from not_connected to not_authorized) but investing in legacy technologies in only if you desperate . This tips might be obsolete too so be careful and read what is newest.

Tip2: HTML container page

Its not enough to download and included FlashFacebook swc API's . FlashFacebook API's are using ExternalInterface for communication to JS. If you check Facebook documentation 99% of examples not telling to include JSDK js to your html page:

< script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js" type="text/javascript" >

don't forget to put this layer inside body tag.

< div id="fb-root" >

in you swfobject.js code you should have(one is used by IE and one for FF):

var attributes = {};
attributes.id = "qol";
attributes.name = "qol";

Tip3: What and where work

Most of things work in AIR but not in web application.

Facebook.init("YOUR_APP_ID", onFacebookInit);

onFacebookInit

would not fire local or localhost so you need to upload online host on which your Facebook app settings point to then change DEBUG configuration to debug from online

protected function onFacebookInit(success:Object, fail:Object):void {
if (success) {

}else{

Facebook.login(onFacebookLogin);

}

Facebook.login

if you are logged and authorized app would do nothing
if you aren't logged would open login dialog (then if you not authorized application would open permission dialog)
if you are logged and not_authorized app would open permission dialog
every of above situation if successful would trigger onFacebookInit too

Tip4: Invite friends

Facebook.ui("apprequests",{message:"Join Quest of Legends Game",picture:"http://www.google.com/intl/en_com/images/srpr/logo3w.png",description:"Quest of legends is very addictive...",caption: "Quest of Legends"},onFriendsHandler);

-message (required)

- to: '499802820,499802852'....users id's (omitting it mean everyone)

Tip5:Buy credits

works only if you access your html page containing swf thru http://apps.facebook.com/YOUR_APP_ID/ as canvas page

Facebook.ui('pay', {credits_purchase: true }, onFacebookCreditsPurchase );

Tip5:Track user status

If you not track if user is still logged or not or something happen your game or app might blow so its good you listen for this event:

Facebook.addJSEventListener("auth.statusChange", statusChangeHandler);

protected function statusChangeHandler(result:Object):void {
            if (result && result.status) {

                switch (result.status) {
                case "connected":
                    isLoggedOn = true;
                     trace ( "User is logged in and authorised our application.");
                break;
            case "not_authorized":
                isLoggedOn = false;
                           trace "User is logged in but has not authorised our application.");
                break;
            default:
                  Facebook.login(onFacebookLogin);
                    isLoggedOn = false;
                trace( "Status Unknown.");
                break;
                }
            }
        }

Tip6:Publish status/feed

woudn't work if you aren't logged

Facebook.api("/me/feed",submitPostHandler,{message:text},"POST");

Recently I encounter one great book on very hot topic and it was honоr that reviewing is being granted to me . Cooking games and social application of Facebook!!!. ~~I'm still reviewing it but~~ found very useful for someone want to learn to use of Facebook API's fast and in deep, and what is most important is that realtime situations are covered with example source code.

So I warmly recommend it.FaceCookbook

Collada DAE to Proscenium ActionScript Export Stage3D Flash11

2011-10-30T13:26:00.000-07:00

XML that X stating for exchange is well known format of exchanging files between different systems, programs and worlds. Thru Collada specification and its xml file format .dae users could exchange 3D files created in diffrent 3D environments like Maya, 3D Max, Blender, Daz and so on... and this exchanging file format got supported in Procsenium as well.
Having simple running animation of woman model having 51777 vertices in my DAZ exported .dae file, file reach 6.5MB (excluding all unnecessary and unsupported things like morphs) + 1.15MB jpg textures. By zipping DAE file I decrease it to 1.19MB (maybe some packing methods like built in Proscenium LZH would return even better results) but also increase the size of main.swf file, now containing the compression libraries and additional time to for unzipping. Also parsing of text file isn't avoided. All in all parsing of such big .dae (text files) takes a lot to time so I couldn't find logic in using DAE files by many developers in production phase. So lets underline again word EXCHANGE. By my opinion as clearly stated we should use .dae files for exchange and inside the Flash platform swf,swc as we would use .max files in 3DMAX or .obj files in WAVEFRONT...
Being stubborn myself and want to prove the concept to other developers I built little AIR application that can preview .dae files and export then as .as .

with options, texture files to be embed or loaded for external source. By using embed option (model+bones+animation+texture files) I succeed in getting export of 3.44MB swf size loading in less then 5s.
Exporter can create ActionScript files:

-Model.as that is planned for raw inclusion in your project.
-Model.as that is planned as external swf/swc and then loaded in main.swf. (6.5MB .dae was 4.5MB swf)
swf doesn't contain Proscenium.swc so duplication of Proscenium.swc requred inclusion in main.swf is avoided with bit loss of creation speed using getDefinitionByName function.
Model.as in both cases could have source for loading textures or to embed them

There lot of space of improvements and upgrades like using ByteArrays or BinarySerialization to pack model data inside .as.
Next:
Option of generation of relative texture urls is in plan and prevention of duplication of embedlinks. (Currently manual fixed)
Reduce decimals like this 0.35814398527145386 to 6 digits think its enough?
I wish to hear your toughs or at least support so I can provide more to the community and my 3 weeks day night effort isn't futile.
Someone said saying "Great model!". (I wonder if this is a showcase) :))))).

Source(+ air installation)
Test project file

Import BVH BioVision motion Proscenium Stage 3D Flash11

2011-10-24T12:58:00.000-07:00

In order to do some custom animation or use external motion(animation) files you need to understand how animation works in Proscenium.

!!! Click twice on the buttons <-temp solution (No loader wait for load)

AnimationController - controls animation timeline and contain animation tracks.

    animationController = new AnimationController(name + "AnimationController");

    if you do

     animationController.time=0.5;

it will jump to 0.5s in time.

Sampler - gives interpolated output value based on sampler function, time(keyframes) and input values. All samplers have times vector with incremental time values in which transformation happen - actually KEYFRAMES.

_times=Vector[0,0.5,0.78,..]

and input values in different format depends of type of sampler you use and transform element you plan to target.
SamplerNumber, SamplerBezierCurve gave single output number value so can be used with trasformations like TransformElementTranslate,TransformElementRotate,TransformElementScale
and SamplerNumberMatrix3D giving matrix as output so should be used with TransformElementMatrix

            //create Sampler
            sampler = new SamplerNumber(_times, inputValuesVector);

Warning only SamplerNumber, SamplerMatrix3D, SamplerBezierCurve are functional the others aren't implemented yet.

AnimationTrack - binds sampler output to target source's transformation elements not to scene node transform directly.

   //create Track
            track = new AnimationTrack(animationController, sampler, targetSource);

SceneNode contains transform steak which contains transform elements.

    node.transformStack = new TransformStack();
                 //bone.transformStack.push(new TransformElementMatrix("transformElementID", matrix));
                bone.transformStack.push(new TransformElementRotate("rotateX"));
                bone.transformStack.push(new TransformElementRotate("rotateY"));
                bone.transformStack.push(new TransformElementRotate("rotateZ"));

//targetSource is string in format
   // if transformElement is TransformElementMatrix "node.name/transformElementID"
        // if transformElement is TransformElementRotate "node.name/transformElementID.ANGLE"
   // if transformElement is TransformElementTranslate planned to translate X "node.name/transformElementID.X"
      // if transformElement is TransformElementTranslate planned to translate Y "node.name/transformElementID.Y"
        // if transformElement is TransformElementTranslate planned to translate Z "node.name/transformElementID.Z"

//Connect transform steak with node transform
   Attribute.connect(bone.transformStack.attribute(Transformer.ATTRIBUTE_TRANSFORM), bone.attribute(SceneNode.ATTRIBUTE_TRANSFORM));


//add track to controller
            animationController.addTrack(track);

In onAnimate loop (enterframe) playback of time happen (of course calculating interpolated transformation samples, applying of transformations to the targets and re-render)

override protected function onAnimate(t:Number, dt:Number):void

{

if (!_initialized)

return;

for each (var animationController:AnimationController in animations)

{

animationController.time = (t % animation.length) + animation.start;

}

You can also animate node by appending translation,rotation:

override protected function onAnimate(t:Number, dt:Number):void{

myNode.appendRotation(angle,arroundWhichAxes);//Vector3D.Y_Axis <--- arround y axis

myNode.appendTranslation(translationx,translationy,transaltionz);

}

Source

MD2 Model loader Proscenium framework Stage3D API (Flash11)

2011-10-13T16:29:00.001-07:00

          Proscenium is experimental framework as Adobe says. Used to very user friendly PV3D,Away3D and Alternativa frameworks +plus they are opensource, found Proscenium at least different approach. I expected that black box would be on top of ability of vertex manipulation. Not far far above restricting developer freedom to Adobe's ideas how things should go. Main problem with all big companies and the King is that, they rare walk between people. As a project manager I would listen people's chat/ideas/forums then draw development direction instead thinking that we are the smartest and we are only untouchable politics creators. I could now enter into discussion of clumsy Adobe's tweeners to libraries as Tweener and TweenLite and signals compared to dispatch event system... As is obvious that I don't want restriction (restricted to load DAE,OBJ..) files. I wanted to load Quake2 MD2 as very useful in games, when you don't need complex models with bones and skinning, but cheaper,easy to create, with animation several moves and low number of polygons("low" in past wasn't too low :))

In short to build loader you need to extend ModelLoader class with already binary and text loader helper and event handling mechanism ....
When item is loaded you use loader.model.addTo(sceneNode) function from ModelData and returns ModelManifest.
ModelManifest is document containing info of loaded bones,meshes,animations,materials...
     Magnificent addTo function do everything so find out this approach less customizable for example if you want to init SceneMesh.userData during creation of the mesh not after adding on scene.
It create materials,meshes,bones,nodes??? from MaterialData,MeshElementData,BonesData,SceneNodeData create model manifest and add all nodes and subnodes to scene.
After parsing of data this strucutre should be created
        ModelData
                         ->SceneNodeData
                                                      ->MeshData

First we define types of vertex inputs or properties. Position,Texcoord,Normal

meshData.addVertexInput(new Input(Input.SEMANTIC_POSITION, "positions", 0));

meshData.addVertexInput(new Input(Input.SEMANTIC_TEXCOORD, "texcoords", 1));

meshData.addVertexInput(new Input(Input.SEMANTIC_NORMAL, "normals", 2));

//indices 0,1,2 specify
how array of primitives would be filled with vertex values( x1,y1,z1,u1,v1,w1, nx1,ny1,nz1

add sources to of the Inputs

meshData.addSource(new Source("texcoords", new ArrayElementFloat(texcoords), 2));

// index 2 mean that data in texcoords would be read by pairs texcoords=[u1,v1,u2,v2,u3,v3....num_texcoords pairs

meshData.addSource(new Source("positions", new ArrayElementFloat(positions), 3));

// index 3 mean that data in position would be read by tripples texcoords=[x1,y1,z1, next tripple x2,y2,z2...num_vertices

meshData.addSource(new Source("normals", new ArrayElementFloat(normals), 3));

Create MeshElementData

var polylist:MeshElementDataPolylist = new MeshElementDataPolylist(meshData, meshData.vertexInputs,num_primitives, primitives, null, vcount, "MeshElementDataPolylistDoll", "materialName");

//primitives array containing vertex position, texcoord, normal, index triples
//ex primitives=[0,1,2, 0,2,3...
//ex. 0,1,2 => 0 is index inside vertex position array, 1=> is index inside texture cords array, 2=> index inside vertex normals postion

//vcount is array showing how many vertices in primitives array make primitive(face/polygon).(index>3)

//ex. vcount=[3,4,3,4,3,5...] so first primitive is formed of 3 groups of ( x1,y1,z1,u1,v1,w1, nx1,ny1,nz1)

And workhorse is MeshElementDataSource that extends MeshElement process and puck all data and source of vertices, normals and texcoords to structures and buffers ready for AGAL Compiler.
How we can access vertices(and structures containing data) so we can apply some transformation???
To expose them we need to extend MeshElementDataSource or MeshElementDataPolylist so I can access vertexSources and vertexIndices??? Ofcourse vetex positions and normals should be calculated before putting inside this structures.

override protected function initModels():void
{
//super.initModels();
var md2Model:String =
//"../res/models/"+
//"doll.md2";
//"box.md2";
//"spos_body.md2";
//"spos_weapon.md2";
//"spos_body.md2";
"tris.md2";
_md2Loader = new MD2Loader(md2Model );
_md2Loader.addEventListener( Event.COMPLETE, completeEventHandler, false, 0, true );
}

protected function completeEventHandler(event:Event):void

{

var loader:MD2Loader = event.target as MD2Loader;

var manifest:ModelManifest = loader.model.addTo(scene);

_mesh = manifest.meshes[0];
...

As half of Proscenium lean towards handling Collada files it is important to check Collada specification.

Many thanks to my friend Tim Knip for quick 3D tips and creator of extraordinary Collada library .

You will also need Proscenium framework from Adobe site.

Source

Flex4 Custom Validator (Compare and Multifields)

2011-04-23T13:16:00.000-07:00

I've been not satisfied by Adobe example of making custom validators making model object when you need to compare 2 or more fields. For example you want to compare password fields or you want to compare several string fields not duplicating same StringValidators. I found on net lot of hacking solution but not one clean.
So after spending several hrs exploring how Validators are functioning and found that grail was "listener" parameter. Seal source param by overloading it. Create sources field to accept sources involved in validation.
By switching the listener switch source of error listening.

package components
{
import flash.events.IEventDispatcher;

import mx.core.mx_internal;
import mx.events.FlexEvent;
import mx.events.ValidationResultEvent;
import mx.validators.IValidatorListener;
import mx.validators.StringValidator;
import mx.validators.ValidationResult;
import mx.validators.Validator;

import spark.components.TextInput;

public class CompareValidator extends StringValidator
{
private var _sources:Array;
private var _actualTriggers:Array;
private var _emptyErrorMessage:String="No value to compare with ";
private var _compareErrorMessage:String="Comparation equality failed";
private var _minmaxErrorMessage:String="Length of value should be between min and max";

public function CompareValidator()
{
super();

}

public function get actualTriggers():Array
{
return _actualTriggers;
}
[Bindable]
public function set actualTriggers(value:Array):void
{
_actualTriggers = value;
}

[Bindable]
public function get compareErrorMessage():String
{
return _compareErrorMessage;
}

public function set compareErrorMessage(value:String):void
{
_compareErrorMessage = value;
}

[Bindable]
public function set sources(value:Array):void
{

removeTriggerHandler()
_sources = value;
_actualTriggers=_sources;
listener=_sources;
addTriggerHandler();

}

public function get sources():Array
{
return _sources;
}
override public function get source():Object
{
return null;
}

override public function set source(value:Object):void
{

}

/**
* @private
*/
private function addTriggerHandler():void
{
if (_actualTriggers)
for each(var trigger:IEventDispatcher in actualTriggers)
trigger.addEventListener(FlexEvent.VALUE_COMMIT, triggerHandler);
}

private function triggerHandler(e:FlexEvent):void
{
validate();
}

/**
* @private
*/
private function removeTriggerHandler():void
{
if (actualTriggers)
for each(var trigger:IEventDispatcher in actualTriggers)
trigger.removeEventListener(FlexEvent.VALUE_COMMIT, triggerHandler);
}

override public function validate(value:Object=null, suppressEvents:Boolean=false):ValidationResultEvent
{

if (required)
{
var errorResults:Array = doValidation(null);

// Validate if the target is required or our value is non-null.
return handleResults(errorResults);
}
else
{
// We assume if value is null and required is false that
// validation was successful.
var resultEvent:ValidationResultEvent =
new ValidationResultEvent(ValidationResultEvent.VALID);

if (!suppressEvents && enabled)
{
dispatchEvent(resultEvent);
}
return resultEvent;
}
}

override protected function doValidation(value:Object):Array {

// Clear results Array.
var results:Array = [];
var comparationValue:String;
var stringResults:Array;

if(_sources)
{
for(var i:int=0;i<_sources.length;i++){

comparationValue=String(_sources[i][property]);

results=super.doValidation(comparationValue);

listener=_sources[i];

if(results.length){
this.dispatchEvent(new ValidationResultEvent(ValidationResultEvent.INVALID,false,false,_sources[i].id,results));

}else if (!compareWithRest(comparationValue)){

results[results.length]=new ValidationResult(true,"","",_compareErrorMessage);
this.dispatchEvent(new ValidationResultEvent(ValidationResultEvent.INVALID,false,false,_sources[i].id,results));

}else{

this.dispatchEvent(new ValidationResultEvent(ValidationResultEvent.VALID,false,false,_sources[i].id));

}

}
}

return results;
}

private function compareWithRest(comparationValue:String):Boolean
{
var result:Boolean=true;

for(var i:int=0;i<_sources.length;i++){
if(_sources[i][property]!=comparationValue) return false;
}

return result;
}

}
}

package components
{
import mx.controls.TextInput;
import mx.events.FlexEvent;
import mx.events.ValidationResultEvent;
import mx.messaging.FlexClient;
import mx.olap.aggregators.MinAggregator;
import mx.validators.CreditCardValidator;
import mx.validators.StringValidator;
import mx.validators.ValidationResult;
import mx.validators.Validator;

public class MultiStringValidator extends StringValidator
{
private var _sources:Array;

private var _actualTriggers:Array;

public function MultiStringValidator()
{
super();

}

public function get actualTriggers():Array
{
return _actualTriggers;
}
[Bindable]
public function set actualTriggers(value:Array):void
{
_actualTriggers = value;
}

[Bindable]
public function set sources(value:Array):void
{

removeTriggerHandler()
_sources = value;
_actualTriggers=_sources;
//listener=_sources;
addTriggerHandler();

//this.subFields=["firstNameTextInput","lastNameTextInput"];

}

public function get sources():Array
{
return _sources;
}
override public function get source():Object
{
return null;
}

override public function set source(value:Object):void
{

}

/**
* @private
*/
private function addTriggerHandler():void
{
if (_actualTriggers)
for each(var trigger:IEventDispatcher in actualTriggers)
trigger.addEventListener(FlexEvent.VALUE_COMMIT, triggerHandler);
}

private function triggerHandler(e:FlexEvent):void
{
validate();
}

/**
* @private
*/
private function removeTriggerHandler():void
{
if (actualTriggers)
for each(var trigger:IEventDispatcher in actualTriggers)
trigger.removeEventListener(FlexEvent.VALUE_COMMIT, triggerHandler);
}

override public function validate(value:Object=null, suppressEvents:Boolean=false):ValidationResultEvent
{

if (required)
{
var errorResults:Array = doValidation(null);

// Validate if the target is required or our value is non-null.
return handleResults(errorResults);
}
else
{
// We assume if value is null and required is false that
// validation was successful.
var resultEvent:ValidationResultEvent =
new ValidationResultEvent(ValidationResultEvent.VALID);

if (!suppressEvents && enabled)
{
dispatchEvent(resultEvent);
}
return resultEvent;
}
}

/* override protected function get actualListeners():Array
{
if(listener && listener is Array) return listener as Array;
if(_sources)
return _sources;

return [];
}*/

override protected function doValidation(value:Object):Array {

// Clear results Array.
var results:Array = [];
var comparationValue:String;
var stringResults:Array;

if(_sources)
{
for(var i:int=0;i<_sources.length;i++){

comparationValue=String(_sources[i][property]);

stringResults=super.doValidation(comparationValue);

listener=_sources[i];

if(stringResults.length){

this.dispatchEvent(new ValidationResultEvent(ValidationResultEvent.INVALID,false,false,_sources[i].id,stringResults));

}
else{

this.dispatchEvent(new ValidationResultEvent(ValidationResultEvent.VALID,false,false,_sources[i].id));

}

results=results.concat(stringResults);

}
}

return results;
}

private function compareWithRest(comparationValue:String):Boolean
{
var result:Boolean=true;

for(var i:int=0;i<_sources.length;i++){
if(_sources[i][property]!=comparationValue) return false;
}

return result;
}

}
}

Multidimesnional Vectors Arrays

2011-03-23T10:02:00.000-07:00

Creation of multidimensional vectors(arrays) is painful and slow process.
1D I - vector (length)
2D IxJ -matrix (width x height)
3D IxJxK - quader (width x height x length)
4D IxJxKxM - quader of quaders (width x height x length x time)
...
Especially when you don't have some function like var vector:Vector.=new Vector.(5,3,4) which will create 3D vector 5x3x4; (Matlab has... and some other languages)
In Action script3 you can create for example 3D vector(5x3x4) width x height x length:
like below:

var m:Array=new Array(new Array(new Array(new Array(),new Array(),new Array(),new Array(new Array(),new Array(),new Array(),new Array(new Array(),new Array(),new Array(),new Array(new Array(),new Array(),new Array())),
//
new Array(new Array(new Array(),new Array(),new Array(),new Array(new Array(),new Array(),new Array(),new Array(new Array(),new Array(),new Array(),new Array(new Array(),new Array(),new Array())),
//
new Array(new Array(new Array(),new Array(),new Array(),new Array(new Array(),new Array(),new Array(),new Array(new Array(),new Array(),new Array(),new Array(new Array(),new Array(),new Array()))
//
new Array(new Array(new Array(),new Array(),new Array(),new Array(new Array(),new Array(),new Array(),new Array(new Array(),new Array(),new Array(),new Array(new Array(),new Array(),new Array()))
//
new Array(new Array(new Array(),new Array(),new Array(),new Array(new Array(),new Array(),new Array(),new Array(new Array(),new Array(),new Array(),new Array(new Array(),new Array(),new Array()))
);

//even with way using brackets like

 m=[[[],[],[]...]
m[0][0][1]=1;
trace(m[0][0][1]);

its long way too. Using auto resizing vectors as Array is, isn't memory efficient. For example Array reserve 10 memory locations. If you are using 2 you have 8 empty but reserved location. If you start using 11 locations, it will be allocated another 10 memory locations. Restricting Array to fixed size we would manage memory better. But creation of 3D vector of 5x3x4 size would need initialization loops and make creation lengthy. New loop for every dimension on top of the rest. Also creation of lot of objects with "new" consume even more time and memory.

var i,j,k;

var mainArray:Array=new Array(5);

for(i=0; i<5 data-blogger-escaped-array="" data-blogger-escaped-fill="" data-blogger-escaped-for="" data-blogger-escaped-i="" data-blogger-escaped-j="" data-blogger-escaped-k="0;k<4;k++)" data-blogger-escaped-mainarray="" data-blogger-escaped-new="" data-blogger-escaped-pre="">

Using not typed vectors(a.k.a Array) would slow down processing even further, cos AVM need to check type of element with every access. We could use typed Vector instead of Array with defined length and fixed flag set to true but still we need to initialize with loop for every dimension.
var d1:Vector.> = new Vector.>(5*3*4,true);

//follows loop initialization
...



Access to element of d1[i][j][k] is very clean but it is slow. AVM access d1[i] then search of property of "j" of unnamed vector then k of unnamed vector and so on. 
Some processing speed could be achived accessing dimensions like:
var d2=d1[i];
var d3=d2[j];
var value=d3[k];


VectorEx class solves all this problems. To create 3D(5x3x4) vector with integers:
var vector:VectorEx=new VectorEx(int,5,3,4);

 VectorEx use assembler trick of making multidimensional vectors with one-dimensional vector and quick shifting index math to access other dimensions in it.
trace(vector[0][1][2]);//you can use this clean way but
//using getElementAt is much faster 
trace(vector.getElementAt(0,1,2));
vector.setElementAt(55,0,1,2);//s
trace(vector.getElementAt(0,1,2));

Source: Download