Creating RSS Feed Applications in Flash

alpha7 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-01-2008, 09:28 PM

I want to learn how to create RSS feed reader applications in flash. Can someone point me in the right direction? So far my searches haven't turned up anything.

DotComBot · #2 (**permalink**) 03-01-2008, 10:36 PM

Somebody say Flash?

Guess that's my cue...

Hey Alpha7, If I am understanding your question correctly you want an application that can receive, read and display rss feeds from another site.
To effectively do this a couple of things have to be done to allow flash to read the data. As flash cannot read rss data, it must be set up to allow it to do so.
A basic rss reader is set up with what is called a SimpleRSS class. The application receives and parses the information and the SimpleRSS class provides the interface and displays the data.
For flash to be able to read it, it must first be converted to a flash recognizable format. XML is one of those. You can build an application which parses the rss data to xml and dynamically send that to a flash interface which can then read and display the data.
I'm probably making this sound more confusing, sorry. Basically what we are doing is changing one language (the RSS feed) into another (xml) that flash speaks. If you are interested in building an application like this, start here
This is set up for ActionScript 3.0 which is available in Flash CS3 (the newest) but can be done in AS2 as well, I believe you said you had MX? That is AS2.
If you have any questions or need further help, please let me know.
Hope that helps.

alpha7 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-02-2008, 07:44 AM

Yep, that helps a lot. Thanks again.

One more question though: How difficult is it going to be for me to continue using MX 2004? Am I going to run into lots of road blocks if I don't upgrade to the newest version?

DotComBot · #4 (**permalink**) 03-02-2008, 09:28 AM

I think MX is a great program and still does most of the things anyone wants to do with flash. The major difference between flash 8 (the last) and CS3 is the addition of ActionScript 3.0. Everything in flash is run with AS. With the release of AS 3.0, from a practical standpoint, not much changed. There is difference in the way some applications are written in flash but it doesn't effect the practical applications much at all. For now AS2 does almost everything AS3 will.
That being said, I would wait until the next release of Flash is released to upgrade. Since AS3 is still relatively new with flash (as is Adobe), things are still being worked out. I'm sure with the next release there will be applications and all kinds of brand new bells and whistles which will be great, the only drawback is you won't be able to use them without AS3 (and purchasing the newest version, of course).
So, my advice for anyone using MX2004 or Flash 8 and thinking about upgrading would be to wait for the next version, CS4 or whatever they call it, and you will be much happier with the purchase. This will ensure that Adobe is committed to the application and locked into it for at least a reasonable period of time.
Keep in mind that this advice is from someone that purchases the newest application of Flash exactly 1.4 milliseconds after it is released.

Some guys just have to have their toys.
Hope that helps.

alpha7 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-02-2008, 09:36 AM

If I knew Flash as well as you do, I would probably do the same.

Thanks for the feedback.

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