What is Flash? How can it help with the UI for my ASP.NET app

[mb224]

Hi Guys:
OK ... I build complete ASP.NET apps with SQL Server backend ... and use html and aspx .. for my forms. My biggest probelm for my apps has been the UI presentation. Though I use tables and DIVs and datalist control to generate my menus and all ... I'm not always too happy with the UI presentation!!!!!!!!!!

Heard soo much about Flash ... how can Flash help me in building a better UI ... Is it easy to integrate with ASP.NET server side logic or forms .....

Where do I start? ... I've seen some free trial downloads from Macromedia site for Flash MX 2004 .. and Dreamweaver MX 2004 ..... which one should I download to start with? Is that the right direction?

Please help

 

[sostek]

Flash has much better menus, etc. and understands XML. It also has database connectors built into it for most of the more popular packages but I've only used it for MySQL.

 

[pixl8r]

You can tie flash to your .NET backend. You can get Flash Remoting and get this kind of functionality more directly (very expensive) or you can simply output XML and/or name value pairs from your .NET app.

So this would be a sample work flow:

Flash interface requests datagrid info from .NET backend (tied to SQL let's say)

.NET receives the request, applies the necessary logic, and queries the database.

.NET recieves the reply from the database in a dataset (for example) and outputs that dataset to XML to the .NET front end.

The Flash app reads the .NET front end XML and uses that data to create dynamic element(s).

Flash can also load name value pairs. So you could output parameters as name value pairs from .NET and load that info into Flash.

So the big question is WHY? Because Flash can do all of that without the user ever knowing it's going on. It always maintains state. User clicks a button and there is no postback. It all happens behind the scenes.

Hope that helps.

Wow JT that almost looked like you knew what you were doing!

 

[mb224]

Hmmm .. that sounds very helpful guys... so I guess Flash is kind of an "upscale version" of ASP.NET webforms .. sort of ... for better control or presentation of the front end, right?

Also my users will need Flash player installed locally to be able to view my Flash application screens, ... right?

So to build the Flash front end .... I use Flash MX 2004, right? ... (not necessarily Dreamweaver MX 2004 ? or do I need both?) For a starter ... which do you think I should begin with?...

 

[pixl8r]

MX 2004 Professional has a forms design mode. It's very easy for most developers to pick up and use. You will also want the data access tools that come with 2004 Pro.

Dreamweaver is not needed at all (unless that is what you are using to write your .NET stuff).

Wow JT that almost looked like you knew what you were doing!