Special Edition: Using Macromedia Director 8 (with CD-ROM)

Editorial Review:

Special Edition Using Macromedia Director 8 is a comprehensive guide to creating and publishing Director movies. This book provides in-depth explanation of the complex features of Director and Lingo, as well as power tips and techniques to maximize the features and tools. In this book you'll find complete coverage of Director 8, from advanced issues such as Lingo scripting and multi-user applications to the hot new features of the latest release. New feature coverage includes more efficient sprite editing with the context-sensitive Property Inspector, increased control of cast members (sorting by name, date, type, size) through the Cast Manager, vector drawing tools that add illustration capability, and special imaging effects and Transition Behaviors to add pizzazz and drama to applications.

When a program reaches version 8, and a book its fifth edition, somebody is doing something right. In the case of Special Edition: Using Macromedia Director 8, both Macromedia and Gary Rosenzweig are doing the right things by improving the popular multimedia creation tool, and the means to learn how to use it.

Director 8 has numerous new features, which build on its already vast feature list. While Macromedia's manuals are good, a book like this really helps get a beginning or intermediate user up to speed, and introduces new features to experienced users. A short summary lists the new features in the introduction, but they are highlighted also throughout the course of the book via "New To..." sidebars.

Whether you are new or old to Director, Special Edition: Using Macromedia Director 8 is a concise and complete reference. Broken down into 11 main sections--starting with "Director Basics" through "Basic Lingo," "Authoring in Director," "Using Director to Create Professional Applications," and on to "Advanced Topics," which includes creating Java applets--this massive volume is well documented and illustrated. Filled with sidebar tips, code snippets, and screen shots, it explains virtually every Director 8 feature in detail.

As a bonus, the CD-ROM includes two complete and complex unprotected Director projects that are just waiting to be examined, poked, prodded, and otherwise reverse-engineered. Of course, the CD-ROM also contains a vast array of other goodies, like a trial version of Director 8, a sprite library for creating animation, and most of the files and projects that are used throughout the book.

If you never have used Director before, this might not be the right book for you. Although it does start with some basic features, it goes through them quickly. But, if you have some experience in it or you're looking to get up to speed, this handsome reference is money and time well spent. --Mike Caputo

Customer Reviews:

Avg. Customer Rating: 3.5 / 5.0

Hard to find exactly what you need:

I started reading this book right after "Sams Teach Yourself Macromedia Flash 5 in 24 Hours," and what a disappointment it was. I expected tutorials and step-by-step illustrations. Instead, I got vague hints as to what Director can do (minus examples and pictures). Looking for how to do those things was a daunting task. This book is badly organized. In fact, the author says that information on how to publish your Director file can be found in Chapter 2, Chapter 9...etc. Things are not exactly in one place.... more info

Not good for quick reference.:

Found this book unhelpful for quick reference to specific problems that needed to be solved. Recommend the Quickstart publisher book for better reference while building. I will still keep it for lingo references in back. Comes with a CD.

Not for newbies:

Want to know how to stop a movie from looping? Not here. How about getting transitions to run smoothly? Nah.

If you haven't a clue what Director is about - walk away; this book will not help you. It assumes much too much of the reader. On the other hand, once you have some idea of the Director paradigm and have made a movie or two, then I would add this to your bookshelf.

Has Multiuser examples but no 3D:

I read some of the director books and found no book that covered all. This book covers multiuser server what was the most important part to me. Its the only book that has some information about it. The examples worked fine - all was even a bit easier than the author explained. like i neednt to have 2 machines to test my application. The book doesnt cover 3D and no QTVR. I think its well writen and not too much talk about "What is a variable" even if u r a programmer like i am.

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