How to create Flex button with pulsing effects?

You can create simple Flex button using MXML tag or actionscript but many times you need more on real world project. You can assign some kind of animation or pulsing background to normal Flex button. But to do that you have to create the effects in Flash. Now you have to import that into Flex but do that you need to do the following

1. First create Animation.swf Flash file. It has effects you want to assign to Flex button.

2. Animation.swf contains symbol name. Now you create simple actionscript class call Assets.as

public class Assets{

[Embed(source='assets/animations/Animation.swf#square')]
public static var animation_icon:Class;

}

3. Make sure you have "square" symbol or any other name symbol in Flash file. That symbol will have animation or effects you want to assign to flex button.

4. Now in your Flex or actionscript code where you have created button assign the effects like this

button.setStyle("icon",Assets.animation_icon);

5. You can remove the effects using following

button.styleName = (any normal button style you want to see);

Now you can see the animation or effects in Flex button.

Enjoy.

Do you need additional framework for Flex 3 or 4 development?

I am of strong opinion that you don't need any additional framework for Flex 3 or 4 development. If you follow codebehind in Flex development with custom event handling solve lot problems you try to handle with additional framework (e.g. famous PureMVC & Cairngorm)

more later..

Flex Builder internal error - Right click to find more information

If your project compile perfectly fine one day and next day you get "Flex builder internal error: Right click to find more information" check out following link from Adobe.

Adobe Link for error


Basically chances are very high you might have added new file or changes where you have blank switch statement.

switch(case){

}


You can remove it or add default and project will compile again. Small things but makes life tougher sometime.

Enjoy.

Error #2044: Unhandled IOErrorEvent:. text=Error #2035: URL Not Found

If you see the above error don't waste much time but debug your application from start point i.e. s:Application (flex 4) or mx:Application (flex 3) and see if you have any custom preloader. If you have provided wrong url it will fail.

Otherwise make sure your images are in right path basically it is URLRequest (url--> problem)..

Enjoy

Never apply CSS while to textarea using styleSheet property

var myCSS:StyleSheet = new StyleSheet();
TextArea.styleSheet=myCSS;


Instead of attach to TextArea add CSS related code to HTML code.

i.e.

TextArea.htmlText("html tag with css class just like your normal HTML")

will work in all type of browser and scenario where you are fetching RSS feed into TextArea (which will get reloaded every time you have new feed)


Enjoy.

FocusManager getIndexOfNextObject in Flex Application

mx.managers::FocusManager/getIndexOfNextObject

Error means FocusManager is looking for mxml component to set focus, when hit tab from flash object and fun part you don't have any mxml component to set focus.

Here is the trick create mx.button component and setStyle to null. It will invisible and focus manager can find the component to focus. Now application won't crash or hung.

myButton.setStyle('skin', null);

(mx:Button skin='{null}' )

.myButtonStyle {
skin: ClassReference(null);
}

(mx:Button id="myButton" styleName='myButtonStyle')

Enjoy.

Dynamically resize nested Flex List with variableRowHeight

I was stuck recently with a Flex component that had a List with an itemRenderer. The itemRenderer contained another List with an itemRenderer. Now the problem with this is that the data had unique counts and the lists had variable row heights (variableRowHeight = true). The result was that containers would not dynamically resize enough to display the whole List. In other words, the List was clipped and vertical scroll bars were displayed.

Sounds familiar to me when I had same problem as above developing comment component. I found solution in following blog

1. Link to the reference blog


2. You can also visit another blog post with good example for same problem

Bryan Bartow


Hope that helps.

Dynamically change height of TileList

You have to adjust rowCount of Tile List to make height according to data at runtime. In below example if column count is 1 you rowCount="data.length()". Now data can be XML children.length() or array.length or any data length.

[mx:TileList id="_videoList" rowCount="{data.length()}" updateComplete="changeHeight"]

You can also updateComplete if you have column count more than 1.

private function chanegHeight():void{
var rc:int = Math.ceil(data.length() / _videoList.columnCount);
if (_videoList.rowCount!=rc) _videoList.rowCount = rc;
}

Cheers,
Nehul

Auto justify text use mx:Text

If you want auto justify for text in

[mx:Label truncateToFit="true" text="xyzx"]

use [mx:Text]

line break in text="hello\nworld"

XML error while connecting Flex 4 to Java using BlazeDS 4 in Flash Builder

You might face of the following error while creating data service using BlazeDS.

=========================
ERROR: XML parse error: Error on line 1 of document: cvc-elt.1: Can not find the declaration of element ‘model’. Nested exception: Can not find the declaration of element ‘model’.
=========================

In that case make sure you download latest BlazeDS 4 nightly build. Once you unzip the file you will get war file. Just dump that with different name under Tomcat/weapps directory. You have to copy files from lib directory into existing application webapps//WEB-INF/lib directory.

Building Flex 4 application for BlazeDS 4 Remoting destinations using Flash Builder 4

Everybody knows Flex 4 has great features like connecting to different backend using BlazeDS or PHP, ColdFusion, LCDS or HTTPService/Web Service.

Now you can create Flex 4 UI without doing single line of code. First you have to get the following software

1. Flash Builder 4
2. BlazeDS 4 or nightly build is fine
3. MySQL server
4. Create schema and table.
5. Create Java Class to get data from MySQL. Also create public method with return type as List(Object) so you can bind them to Flex DataGrid easily.
6. JDK 1.6 installed.
7. Tomcat 6 installed.

Please note you will have more complex things to do in real life so just take above as exercise.

1. Create Flex Project in Flash Builder and select J2EE as backend and select BlazeDS.

2. Setting BlazeDS 4.
After you copy your blazeDS.war into tomcat/webapps directory go to webapps//web.xml and make changes to RDSServlet part as following

{param-value}false{/param-value}

3. You have to set your destination in tomcat/webapps//flex/remote-config.xml

Please make sure you have Java class name in tomcat/webapps//WEB-INF/classes directory.

4. Select "Data" --> "BlazeDS" from Menu option of Flash Builder. In new window it will show you destination name i.e. {servicename} from step 3. Click on checkbox next to it and click on "Finish" button.


5. After that drag DataGrid component in Flex Project using Component view. Still in Component view right click on DataGrid and select "Binding Data" option. It will prompt you to select service and method name. If you have more than one method select one you want more combobox.

After that everything is done by Flash Builder.

RUN You application to see data populated in datagrid without single line of coding in Flex 4.

You can also create free form i.e. (mx:Form) for the same method call on destination. If you have method call findAll() for users or anything else it will create form with option to hand pick required field for edit, update or delete operation.


Enjoy,
Nehul

Migrating from Flex 3 to Flex 4

One of the simple trick and very important one is to add following line in Flex compiler. Right click on Flex project name from Flex 4 & select "Properties" option (last one). In open window click on "Flex Compiler" and following line at the end.

-compatibility-version=3.0

After that compile your application and you can see Flex 3 apps migrated or compiled in Flex 4.

If you have CSS issues at this line in your Flex code.



@namespace "http://www.adobe.com/2006/mxml";



PS: Adobe is going to release Flex 4 sometime end of March 2010 or April 2010, so it almost about the time you should to start thinking of converting your existing Flex 3 apps into Flex 4.

Flex 4 has simplified State declaration and make it very easy to implement. I think it is worth the efforts to convert even if your existing one works fine.
Cheers

Internet Secuiryt 2010 Virus removal solution

Two step or one up to you

1. Boot computer in safe mode (Press F8 while rebooting)

2. In safe mode you can remove sucker from "program files/Internet security 2010" folder.

3. Now install Malwarebytes from http://www.malwarebytes.org/, which will remove this junk virus right away and you free.

I ask you to do safe mode if virus doesn't allow you to install any software.


Manual Remove or verification that virus is removed.
===================
Internet Security 2010 manual removal:
Kill processes:
IS2010.exe 41.exe winlogon86.exe winupdate86.exe

Delete registry values:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\IS2010
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "Internet Security 2010"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "winupdate86.exe"

Unregister DLLs:
winhelper86.dll

Delete files:
IS2010.exe 41.exe winhelper86.dll winlogon86.exe winupdate86.exe Internet Security 2010.lnk

Delete directories:
C:\s
C:\Program Files\InternetSecurity2010\
====================

Enjoy

How to apply for greencard for visting parents as a US citizen

NOTE: NO PERSONAL COMMUNICATION. PLEASE POST YOUR QUESTIONS ON BLOG.

I-693 (after 90 days of stay of parents in US)

Got both Medical Examination by a INS approved doctor in the vicinity.

==================
I-130 (1 application form for each parent & 1 copy of all the documents - hence total of 2 applications + docs)

Copy of Parent Birth Certificate
Copy of Parent Marriage Certificate
Fees for each parent ($355 right now going on)
Copy of My Naturalization/Citizen Certificate
Copy of Parent I-94 card - both sides
Copy of parent old or new passport (include all non blank pages)
Copy of My U.S. Passport

==================
I-485 (1 application form for each parent & 1 copy of all the documents - hence total of 2 applications + docs)

Check Latest Fees. Fees for each parent.
Copy of My Naturalization/Citizen Certificate.
Make sure you write the visa number correctly in the application form. It's on visitor visa stamp in passport.
2 Color photos of each parent write the name on the back with a pencil
Copy of My Passport
Copy of my Birth Certificate
Copy of Parent Birth Certificate
Copy of Parent Marriage Certificate
Copy of Parent I-94 card - both sides
Copy of Parent old & new passport with all non blank pages
Parent Medical Exam - I 693
G - 325,I - 130, I 864
Copy of siblings Green Card if you have any present in U.S.

==================
I-864 Affidavit of Support (1 application form for each parent & 1 copy of all the documents - hence total of 2 applications + docs)

Copy of I130
Copy of My Pay Stub for last 6 months
Copy of My Employment Certificate
Copy of My Birth Certificate
Copy of My Passport
Copy of My Naturalization/Citizen Certificate
Last Three years tax return (got to near by IRS office to get copy if you don't have)
Copy of last 2 years W2's
Copy of last 2 months bank statements
Copy of Assets - Copy of my 401K, Copy of My ETrade and Copy of My Home Equity Papers. It is optional to declare it if you are above poverty line as mention in form I-864P.
My wages are above the poverty line so I did not have to fill out family support documents.
There is no fee for this application :-)
==========================
I-131 OPTIONAL (Not required to file unless your parent want to travel outside US while I-485 is pending)

I-131 Advance Parole (1 application form for each parent & 1 copy of all the documents - hence total of 2 applications + docs)

I filed this with 485 application so No Fees :)
Letter for each parent as to why they need to leave the country on advance parole.
Copy of Parent I-94 card - both sides
Copy of parent old & new passport
2 Color photos of each parent - write the name on the back with a pencil
==========================

G-325 (1 application form for each parent hence total of 2 applications)

No Fee
No document need to be attached.

==================================

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS: (happen in 2010)

Relax they will only ask you question related to your case. Mostly name change, birth or marriage certificates translated but not very clear. They want to see the original that's it.. unless you are hiding something...

1. oath
2. show passport and citizen certificate
3. why you did not apply together -130 / 485 (applied separately not knowing we can do it together..no problem here)
4. original birth certificate
5. name change supporting documents
6. explain in India most of the time name is different during naming ceremony but change to real name and it is consistent till date.
7. I-94 taken
8. did you help someone to enter illegal in US - NO
9. fraudulent = illegal - NO
10. show birth certificate of petitioner
11. how many children
12. birth date of petitioner

==========================================

END RESULT: Green Card application approved.

Special Thanks to Alok Patel's original blog.

============================================

Path to Citizenship:

Simple process if you are applying after staying in US for 5 years on green card (please check if you are eligible on USCIS website)

1. Form N-400

2. Filing fee check in the amount of $680.

3. Two passport photos.

4. Copies of applicant's Permanent Resident card.

After you send your application to USCIS

1. They call for fingerprinting.

2. Interview in person.

3. Oath ceremony

You are done with citizenship process.

==============================================



ABOVE INFORMATION IS TO HELP OTHERS. I AM NOT LAWYER OR TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY OF ADVICE POSTED.