MACROMEDIA FLEX-GETTING STARTED WITH FLEX, Начало работы, Страница: 11 / 86

About Flex 11
Flex application characteristics
One of the most common applications using Flex lets users perform product selection and
configuration. The user works through a process to configure the features of a product, views or
inspects the configuration, and then proceed through the steps required to complete a purchase.
Many types of web applications are appropriate for development in Flex. Some of the
requirements of these applications, and how Flex supports these requirements, include
the following:
Cross-browser compatibility
Web applications should run the same on all browsers and
platforms. By standardizing on Flash Player as the client environment, you are guaranteed a
consistent user experience on all platforms and browsers. For more information, see
“Developing
applications for Macromedia Flash Player” on page 10 .
Client data collecting
Collecting user input is one of the most common uses for web
applications. Flex supports forms, and all common form elements, to let you create rich and
dynamic user experiences. Flex forms include hooks to the Flex data modeling and data validation
mechanism, and the ability to identify required input fields. For more information, see
Chapter 6, “Using Layout Containers,” in
Developing Flex Applications .
Client-side processing of user input, including filtering and data validation
Flex data
management, which includes data models, data validators, data binding, and data services, lets
you separate data representation from the way it is viewed by a user. Typically, this design pattern
is called Model-View-Controller, or MVC. Flex also provides a powerful way to validate data and
pass data between user interface controls and external data sources with little or no server
interaction. For more information, see Chapter 31, “Managing Data in Flex,” in
Developing Flex
Applications .
Multistep processes Many applications present the user with a process that includes a
sequence of steps or decisions that require user input. For example, completing a registration form
or checkout form often requires multiple steps to complete.
Ideally, you want your users to be able to navigate through multiple steps on a single page without
losing the context of where they are in the process, and without losing any of the previous
information that they have already entered. Flex supports the development of these applications
by capturing state information, supporting browser Back and Forward buttons using the History
Manager, and providing a set of user-interface controls designed explicitly for handling
procedural data. For more information, see Chapter 7, “Using Navigator Containers” and
Chapter 26, “Using the History Manager,” in
Developing Flex Applications .
Information management using master-detail lists A common design pattern for web
applications is to display a list of items, and to let the user explore an item in a detailed way, while
leaving the other items unopened. This pattern is referred to as a master-detail list. A master page
typically lists database records and corresponding links for each record. When the user clicks a
link, a detail page opens that displays more information about the record. Flex supports master/
detail lists through several different controls, including the DataGrid control. For more
information, see Chapter 2, “Using Controls,” in
Developing Flex Applications .