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GeorgeT994
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How to read data into Adobe Flash and align it to look like it's column?

Jun 22, 2012 3:49 AM

I am trying to make an app which already exists but I am adding some improvements. I'll explain what this app does. It has server and client side. The client side adds data to the Access Database (Columns are Time, Name and Surname). On the other comp is an app which shows this data (I don't know if it reads a database or some other kind of file, but I made a database). I know that server side plays a Flash .swf file. This screen stays for about 30 seconds and then the app plays videos in installed video player (commercials, this comp is connected to a TV) for some time, and then the screen goes back to showing data.

 

I am 18 years old and I have very limited knowledge of Adobe Flash (I learned something in school). I completely made the client side app. Now I would like to how to create server side. My main problems are: how to connect Adobe Flash to database (Is it possible to transfer this data to any other file which can be connected to Flash?), how to read data from database to Flash and how to display it. I don't want to display the data in grid. In the app which already exists, every word is like a new text(tool in Flash) and it is aligned. Is it possible to add a loop which creates new texts and reads cell from database? How to refresh Flash screen?

 

I know this is an extremely complex question, but your help would be much appreciated. I made the client side in Delphi. If you need any other info or you don't understand something from my explanation, don't bother to ask. Thank you!

 
Replies
  • Currently Being Moderated
    Jun 22, 2012 5:12 AM   in reply to GeorgeT994

    You mentioned Access Database. Is this a Microsoft IIS setup? I'm asking because that's going to change the programming languages available if you use that server. Most here are most comfy with PHP but most IIS admins do not want to install PHP. You could use other Microsoft technologies like C#/ASP.NET/etc. Flash has no "direct connection" to a database. It needs a programming middleman or quite a bit of socket coding..

     

    And yes you can certainly make a bunch of TextFields and align them programatically. The trick of it, and what a datagrid would handle, is knowing the "maximum size" of any piece of data. The rest of the columns and rows will need to know that in order to properly align all the TextFields. This usually involves obtaining all the data, creating all the TextFields, measuring them all, getting the largest size and then positioning everything based on that information.

     

    DataGrids skins can be tampered with also. They come with the sort and display functionality but can be styled, perhaps to look transparent (like just a bunch of TextFields as mentioned).

     
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  • Currently Being Moderated
    Jun 22, 2012 5:06 AM   in reply to GeorgeT994

    You can transfer data back and forth between Flash and a aserver's database using PHP as the middleman.  If you search Gioogle using terms like "AS# PHP MySQL tutorial" (fillin 2 or 3 for the "#") you should be able to find something to help you along there.

     

    As far as adding new textfields and aligning them, it depends which version of AS you are using.  In AS3 you just use...

     

        var tField = new TextField();

        tField.x = some value to align it.

        addChild(tField)

     

    As far as refeshing goes, that would require removing any Textfields you added and recreating new ones just like you did the first time.  Again, it depends on the AS version you use.  In AS3, you can use removeChild()

     
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  • Currently Being Moderated
    Jun 22, 2012 11:50 AM   in reply to GeorgeT994

    You're welcome

     
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