Errata

Flash CS4: The Missing Manual

Errata for Flash CS4: The Missing Manual

Submit your own errata for this product.

The errata list is a list of errors and their corrections that were found after the product was released. If the error was corrected in a later version or reprint the date of the correction will be displayed in the column titled "Date Corrected".

The following errata were submitted by our customers and approved as valid errors by the author or editor.

Color key: Serious technical mistake Minor technical mistake Language or formatting error Typo Question Note Update

Version Location Description Submitted By Date submitted Date corrected
Printed
Page xiv
1st paragraph

The correct spelling of Josh's last name is Buhler

(it currently reads Buehler)

Nan Barber
 
Mar 12, 2009  Sep 01, 2009
1
Section 2.3.1.2. Pencil tool

Step 4 says, "Click the stage and drag to draw a little face, hands, and feet similar to the ones in Figure 2-12." 2-12 is a duplicate of 2-11 - no face/hands/feet.

Also, making "page number of error" a mandatory field on this errata page doesn't apply when you're browsing this book through Safari Online, so I'll enter any other errata as "page 1"...

Note from the Author or Editor:
The wrong fig was used for 2-12. It is a duplicated of 2-11.

Orland Outland  Jan 04, 2009 
Printed
Page 11
2nd paragraph

On the very last line, "ActioScript" is quite apparently wrong! :3

Note from the Author or Editor:
ActionScript misspelled in para 2

Michael Poplin  Sep 22, 2009 
Printed
Page 54
In "Taking Advantage of Templates" sidebar: 2nd column, 2nd line

"...you get some vague overall hints on what the templates to do and how to modify them..."

I believe that that should be "...you get some vague overall hints on what the templates do and how to modify them..."

The word 'to' in the first instance is an error. Yes?

Note from the Author or Editor:
Delete the bracketed word in the phrase "...you get some vague overall hints on what the templates [to] do and how to modify them..."


Brendan McEnaney  Dec 06, 2008  Sep 01, 2009
Printed
Page 67
Figure 2-12

The picture in Figure 2-12 is the same as the picture in Figure 2-11. On page 66 item 4. it says to "Click the stage and drag to draw a little face, hands, and feet similar to the ones in Figure 2-12." Figure 2-12 does not display a stick figure with face, hands, or feet.

Note from the Author or Editor:
Fig 2-12 Is incorrect. It should be replace with author's fig titled stick_face.tiff

Carolyn Nevlud  Aug 24, 2009 
Printed
Page 74
Step 2 second paragraph

Definitions of SEND TO BACK and SEND BACKWARD are swapped

Note from the Author or Editor:
Page 74, last two bullets should read:

# Send to Back. Moves the selected object to the very back of the stack.

# Send Backward. Moves the selected object back one level in the stack.

Anonymous  Dec 10, 2009 
Printed
Page 124
Step 1

There's confusion in the MissingCD filename. The note mentions "mask_guide_begin.fla" while Step 1 mentions "spotlight_begin.fla"

The short term solution is to make sure both the same file with both names appears in the MissingCD.

The next edition solution is to change Step 1 to read:

" 1. Open the file make_guide_begin.fla..."

Chris Grover
Chris Grover
 
Feb 11, 2009  Sep 01, 2009
Printed
Page 127
Step 18

Sentence "Flash saves the movie clip symbol and brings you back to your main timeline."

Should read: "...brings you back to the symbol timeline."

Chris Grover
Chris Grover
 
Feb 11, 2009  Sep 01, 2009
Printed
Page 131
Step 4, first sentence of explanation

In the sentence..."As you drag the sign, a line with little round points appears marking the motion across the sage..."
Should be "...across the stage..."

Note from the Author or Editor:
Page 131, step 4, last word in first sentence should be:

stage

Gordon McKnight  Dec 10, 2009 
PDF
Page 152
In the Gem in the Rough section, at the end of the 2nd paragraph

after it is written , head to the

The next line begins with - For drop-down menu ....

The sentence lacks continuity I?m not sure where I should head to ?

There should be at a minimum a period.

Note from the Author or Editor:
In both the print and pdf editions para in the sidebar is chopped off . The end of the second para should read:

Then, in the ?Find and Replace? window that appears, head to the "For" drop-down menu and select the item you want to find. Your choices include Text, Font, Color, Symbol, Sound, Video, and Bitmap.

Jim Clegg  Jan 16, 2010 
Printed
Page 213
"Specifying Common RGB Colors" chart

All "Red" values are incorrect.

Values should be:

0 0 0 Black
255 255 255 White
255 0 0 Red
0 255 0 Green
0 0 255 Blue
255 255 0 Yellow
0 255 255 Cyan
255 0 255 Magenta

Note from the Author or Editor:
All the numbers in the red column are incorrect the numbers. Looks like some printer's codes or something got mixed in there.

0 0 0 Black
255 255 255 White
255 0 0 Red
0 255 0 Green
0 0 255 Blue
255 255 0 Yellow
0 255 255 Cyan
255 0 255 Magenta

Anonymous  Dec 31, 2008  Sep 01, 2009
Printed
Page 263
paragraph 1.5

I am not so sure that CS4 comes with the templates listed in the book. I think it only comes with the Advertising category.

Note from the Author or Editor:
On page 263, remove the bullet paragraphs that begin "Photo Slideshows" and "Quiz"

Anonymous  Feb 07, 2009  Sep 01, 2009
Printed
Page 365
4th Paragraph

Cannot find file building_implode.flv in the "Missing CD" page

Note from the Author or Editor:
The file "building_implode.flv" is on the page for Flash CS3 The Missing Manual. A copy or link should also be placed on the page for Flash CS4 The Missing Manual.

Anonymous  Mar 07, 2009 
Printed
Page 367
Step 7

"7. Click Continue..." should be "7. Click Next..."

Note from the Author or Editor:
Step 7 should read:

Click Next (Continue on a Mac)to move to the next Import Video step.

Gordon McKnight  Dec 10, 2009 
Printed
Page 368
Step 9

"9. Click Continue." should be "9. Click Next." (for Windows)

Note from the Author or Editor:
Step 7 should read:

Click Next (Continue on a Mac) to move to the next Import Video step.

Gordon McKnight  Dec 10, 2009 
Printed
Page 433
first paragraph, first line

First line should read:

"The event listener, catOutListener..."

instead of...

"The event listener, catOverListener..."

Note from the Author or Editor:
First line should read:

The event listener, catOutListener, is very similar...

Conor Rafferty  Jun 22, 2009 
Printed
Page 445
point 1 at bottom of page

bullet point refers to file playing_cards.fla but this does not exist, instead should refer (again) to playing_cards_begin.fla.

Note from the Author or Editor:
Second to last line should read:

...brows to playing_cards_begin.fla

Conor Rafferty  Jun 23, 2009 
Printed
Page 446
Paragraph after step 5

"The second line of code shown in step 5..." should be "...shown in step 4..."

Note from the Author or Editor:
1st sentence, last para on page 446 should read:

The second line of code show in step 4 adds card1 to the Display List...

Gordon McKnight  Dec 10, 2009 
Printed
Page 449
Code listing just below figure 13-5

Reference to Card1 and Card2 should be PlayingCard1 and PlayingCard2 to align with code on previous pages and the sample file provided.

Note from the Author or Editor:
Example should read:

1 var card1:Card1 = new(PlayingCard1);
2 var card2:Card2 = new(PlayingCard2);

Jim Harrison  Dec 17, 2009 
Printed
Page 470
2nd last line

signature (or "Formal description" as its used here) of addChildAt is incorrect. Needs to be:

addChildAt(child:DisplayObject, index:int):DisplayObject

Note from the Author or Editor:
Second to last line on the page should read:

Formal description: addChildAt(child:DisplayObject, index:int):DisplayObject

Anonymous  Jun 25, 2009 
Printed
Page 471,472
SwapChildren(), SwapChildrenAt()

The explanation paragraph for these 2x functions seems to imply that the objects are swapped in terms of their x and y positions AS WELL as their z-order.... "swaps the position of two display objects in their display object container. This also changes the visual stacking order..."

These functions ONLY affect z-order, not x and y coords or any other properties. I was confused by this till I looked up the Adobe documentation and got clarity.

Note from the Author or Editor:
On both pages, change:

This also changes the visual stacking order...

to

This changes the visual stacking order...

Conor Rafferty  Nov 19, 2009 
Printed
Page 477
bottom of page, step 5

last line says "actions: Frame 25"

should say "actions: 25"

Chris Grover
Chris Grover
 
Feb 11, 2009  Sep 01, 2009
Printed
Page 479, 480
pg 479, Step 4 & ActionScript code on pg. 480

Flash Sample File Error for Chapter 14, file: stop_go_begin.fla

This error pertains to the ActionScript coding found in Chapter 14: Controlling Animation, on pp. 479 & 480. The problem is on pg. 479 step 4 which refers to 'stutzBearcat.stop();' and on pg. 480 ActionScript code lines 2 and 11, also referencing the stutzBearcat instance. The problem, the sample file did not name the stutzBearcat instance, hence at compile time error(s) will be generated.

To rectify:

1) First you must unlock the stutz layer
2) Select the stutz bearcat instance on the stage
3) Name the movieclip stutzBearcat in the properties window
4) As a good practice, relock the stutz layer.
5) Test your movie

Note from the Author or Editor:
This error will be fixed by correcting the MissingCD file.

Scott Leitstein  Dec 22, 2008 
Printed
Page 483
bullet points 1 and 2

The text expects the sample file to have three layer, but the sample file only has two. The "labels" layer needs to be created by hand.

Note from the Author or Editor:
Missing CD file needs to fixed by adding a "labels" layer

Conor Rafferty  Nov 20, 2009 
Printed
Page 491
bottom, Step 3

Last sentence on page reads "On the stage, you see the three buttons shown in Figure 14-13." That fig doesn't show the buttons. Change to "14-12"

Chris Grover
Chris Grover
 
Feb 11, 2009  Sep 01, 2009
Printed
Page 505
first bullet "enabled" at top of page

Unnecessary comma -
"If this value is, false..." should be "If this value is false..."

Note from the Author or Editor:
First bullet, first sentence should read:

If this value is false, the button won't work.

[The word "false" should be ital.]

Gordon McKnight  Dec 10, 2009 
Printed
Page 514
In second Note

Refers to a companion Flash document for this section. It's called component_index.fla. So far I have not found this file.

Note from the Author or Editor:
Second note on the page. Should change the filename component_index.fla to:

component_index.zip

Jan M  Feb 03, 2010 
Printed
Page 517
In the table at the botom of the page, in the "Expected Value" column

"a stringy of characters" should be "a string of characters"

Note from the Author or Editor:
2nd row, 2nd column should read:

a string of characters

Gordon McKnight  Dec 10, 2009 
Printed
Page 554
2nd last paragraph (para above "Note:")

The text says: "ActionScript has a class called TextField that's the basis for Static Text, Dynamic Text and Input Text".

...This is incorrect. TextField class cannot be used to represent Static Text. Instead use the StaticText class!

Note from the Author or Editor:
Should read:

ActionScript has a class called TextField that's the basis for Dynamic Text and Input Text

Anonymous  Nov 21, 2009 
Printed
Page 561
second to last sentence on the page

"For example, this statement that assigns the HTML coded string..." should be "For example, this IS THE statement that assigns..."

Note from the Author or Editor:
Drop the word "that" from the 2nd to last sentence. Should read:

For example, this statement assigns the HTML coded string to the txtBanner text field.

Gordon McKnight  Dec 10, 2009 
Printed
Page 562
Second to last paragraph

"...basic understanding of CSS to use it Flash." should be "...use it with Flash."

Note from the Author or Editor:
This typo is actually the second to last sentence, not the second to last para. Should read:

You need to have a basic understanding of CSS to use it with Flash.

Gordon McKnight  Dec 10, 2009 
Printed
Page 570
Second sentence in second full paragraph

Unnecessary comma -
"First, of all,.." should be "First of all,..."

Note from the Author or Editor:
Actually the 2nd sentence in 2nd full para. Should read:

First of all, you're creating a new variable and providing a variable name ptNear.

Gordon McKnight  Dec 10, 2009 
Printed
Page 571
in first bullet point "subtract()"

misspelled -
"differnceOfPoints = ..." should be "differenceOfPoints = ..."

Note from the Author or Editor:
The first example on the page 571. Should read:

differenceOfPoints = ptFar.subtract(ptNear);

Gordon McKnight  Dec 10, 2009 
Printed
Page 594
"Separate potentially troublesome elements" paragraph

"Putting all your labels into a separate layer (named "layers") and all your sounds into a layer (named "sounds") is a good idea, too."

-> surely the author means "labels" rather than "layers" (in the first set of parentheses) as a suggested name for the layer ?

Note from the Author or Editor:
Change to "...separate layer (named "labels") "

Conor Rafferty  Jan 24, 2009  Sep 01, 2009
Printed
Page 623
last line of last paragraph

(see the box on page 623) should actually read (see the box on page 625)

Note from the Author or Editor:
Last sentence on pages should read:

see the box on page 625.

Trevor Barrett  Jan 02, 2010