Import Themes using Adobe Exchange Manager

1. Creating a Theme using Adobe Extension Manager The main purpose to test AEM is to show that  theme created using AEM gets automatically placed at the Standard Location and can be directly applied to the Application without importing.

-          Using AEM, first we import product i.e. Flash Builder aka Gumbo.

-          Then we have an mxi file which includes the css file along with a metadata file and a preview file.

NOTE:

• Ensure that all the files that are being included in the mxi are present at the same location as that of mxi.
• The destination path is $Flexbuilder/Theme Folder Name
• $Flexbuilder is basically the variable name set for the path in XManConfig.xml in Cofig folder of FlashBuilder.
• The user needs to know that he has to use this variable $Flexbuilder followed by the name of theme folder.

-          Go to File Menu -> Package Extension
Here we select the mxi file that we have already created.

-          Selecting the mxi

-          If done, we get the message extension package has been successfully created.

-          File- > Install Extension

-          Select the mxp created.

-          On accepting the disclaimer, we can see it showing up selected on AEM.

-          Go to C:\Document and Settings \username\Application Data\ Adobe\ Flex Builder\ Themes here you can see the installed extension

-          The same theme can be seen in the UI of Themes and can be selected.

Herewith attaching a sample theme for you to test. It has an mxi file and the paths of the file which you can package.

Incase you face any issue in setting up or creating the theme you can post your query i’ll get back to you right away.

Some more help related info will be posted soon here!

Flex Builder Beta out on Adobe Flash Labs

First and foremost as a part of  “Adobe Flash Platform” rebranding strategy Flex Builder is now Flash Builder

Flash Builder 4  Beta is available on Adobe Labs.

http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/flashbuilder4/

Among number of exciting features the ones i’ll talk about here are DCD : Data Centric Development and UI Support for Themes.

Lets discuss talk about DCD

As the name suggests, DCD helps the web developers to build Flex Apps that are connected to various backends such as PHP, ColdFusion, BlazeDS, LCDS, HTTP Services and Web Services.

After creating the project the entire app with connection to database can be completed in just 3 steps-

• Service Wizard – entry point to DCD to connect to the service
• Configure Return Type – as the name suggests set the return type of the function if not strongly typed. This is essential when the FB needs to invoke the operations and set the output returned by the operation and create AS VOs.
• UI Authoring – Binding this configured operation to a component say a Data Grid, Advanced Data Grid or list etc.

Lets create a simple workflow to begin with:

Aim: To create a CF Server Project and connect to your database say books to populate a grid to see all the books in the database

1. Create a basic flex application using CF Server Type

2. connect to data/services through services panel

3.select ColdFusion

4. select generate sample CFC – doing this a sample CF File gets generated with all the basic CRUD operations

5. Enter RDS Credentials in order to have permission to access the server

6. Now the sample CF File is ready which the user can edit. As the aim is to populate a data grid with all the books available under the database. Edit the getAllItems function with all the essential modifications i.e. DSN, table name etc.

7.Now back in the Data/Sevices Panel, right click on operation – getAllItems to configure the return type.

8. enter the custom data type name.

9. Now once the return type has been also configured, switch to Design View.

10. drag and Drop a data grid onto Design View.

11. Drag this operation GetAllItems on the Data Grid.

12. Doing so the operation is bound to the DG. For more switch to Source View and check out the code generated.

13. Just save and run.

Your basic CF App connecting to DB to get all books details is ready

This is just the simplest workflow to give you an idea about how amazingly DCD can make accessing to DB easy and quick.

Try exploring more and look out for more updates here

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Now the Second Exciting and Jazzy feature I’ll talk about is Themes

In Flex builder 3 now Flash Builder we always bundled Themes for the user to apply to his projects. However there wasnt any UI support. The user could apply theme through Additional Compiler Arguments.

Doesnt it sound too much of an effort !!!

One of the jazziest feature of Flash Builder is THEMES

The features provided under Themes are:

1. Apply SDK Bundled Themes

2.Import new Themes

3.Find more Themes

4.Create Themes in Adobe Exchange Manager and apply themes in FB without having to import the same

To get more info on how to create Themes through AEM [Adobe Exchange Manager]and how to create themes for Spark Components look out for this section.

Till then Adieus!!