Description:
This comprehensive guide discusses the many built-in and third-party Xtras, or add-ins, that are available for extending the capabilities of Macromedia's products. After an overview of Xtras, the author teaches you about the types that are used in Director, FreeHand, and Authorware. He also provides an overview of Xtras available for Backstage, Extreme 3D, SoundEdit 16, Fontographer, and xRes. The subsequent chapters list more than 450 Xtras, along with version number, author, description, cost, supported apps and platforms, distributor, and (often extensive) usage guidance. The Xtras are well classified and include those for MIX (Macromedia Information Exchange) and other file-exchange functions, pixel filters, sprites, ActiveX, scripts, network scripts, XObjects, transitions, and authoring tools. There are also sections on command, palette, and Xtra Tools Xtras for FreeHand; server Xtras for Backstage; light and material shader Xtras for Extreme 3D; sound-effect and sound-generator Xtras for SoundEdit 16; movie and cast library Xtras for Director; and Macromedia Common Scripting (MCS) Xtras for FreeHand. An appendix provides an overview of the architecture of Macromedia Studios, the suites that include a variety of Macromedia's products to accomplish digital-media creation and editing tasks. Another appendix provides background information on building an Xtra. The included cross-platform CD-ROM offers demonstration versions of Macromedia products and of more than 100 Xtras. --Kathleen Caster
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