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Flash MX 2004 Games : Art to ActionScript

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23<br />

Using <strong>Flash</strong> Communication<br />

Server<br />

If multi-user connectivity is where you want <strong>to</strong> go then there is an easier way than the one featured<br />

in the previous chapter. The <strong>Flash</strong> Communication Server has all the robustness and <strong>to</strong>ols that<br />

you will ever need and what’s more the development version is free. In this chapter we are going<br />

<strong>to</strong> look at downloading, installing and configuring the <strong>Flash</strong> Communication Server and then<br />

creating a simple application <strong>to</strong> show it in use.<br />

Where do I get it?<br />

At the time of writing the main download page at Macromedia’s website is<br />

http://www.macromedia.com/downloads/<br />

If you scroll down the page you will find <strong>Flash</strong> Communication Server; choose the ‘Try’ option,<br />

which will take you <strong>to</strong> a registration or login page and from there you can choose the version<br />

that suits your platform, Windows, MAC or Linux. This chapter focuses on the Windows version<br />

running on a Windows 2000 machine with IIS installed. Windows is the only platform available<br />

where you can author applications and run the server. Authoring is available on both MAC<br />

and Windows while the server is available on both Windows and Linux. Unfortunately Internet<br />

Information Services (IIS) are not available on Windows XP Home, but they are highly recommended<br />

when creating server-side solutions. You can run <strong>Flash</strong> Communication Server without<br />

IIS, but you will not be able <strong>to</strong> run any server-side scripting. To add IIS <strong>to</strong> a computer that is able<br />

<strong>to</strong> run it but where it is not yet installed:<br />

1 Place the Windows 2000 Professional CD in the drive.<br />

2 Select ‘Add/Remove Programs’ from the Control Panel options.<br />

3 Select the ‘Add/Remove Windows Components’ but<strong>to</strong>n.<br />

4 Make sure that the check box for ‘Internet Information Services’ is checked.<br />

5 Once installed configure IIS by selecting ‘Administration Tools’ from the Control<br />

Panel.<br />

6 Double-click the ‘Personal Web Manager’ option.<br />

Installing <strong>Flash</strong> Communication Server<br />

Having downloaded <strong>Flash</strong> Communication Server simply run the ‘exe’ <strong>to</strong> install it <strong>to</strong> your machine.<br />

You will be asked for a user name and password so that you can maintain the server. Once installed<br />

360

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