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Adobe Flex 2 overview

Getting started

Licensing and pricing

Flex and Flash

Flex and Ajax

Flex Data Services Express

Flex 2.0.1

  • What’s new in Flex 2.0.1?
  • Where can I download the Flex 2.0.1 updaters/installers?
  • If I am currently running Flex Builder 2, can I safely install the 2.0.1 update release without interrupting any of my projects?
  • If I am currently running Flex Builder 2 for Windows, can I trade-in my Windows product for the new Macintosh 2.0.1 product?
  • Does Flex 2.0.1 require an update to the Flash Player?
  • If I download a trial version of Flex Builder 2 will I need to apply the Flex Builder 2.0.1 updater?
  • Will Flex Builder 2.0.1 be available in other languages?
  • Are OEM bits available for Flex 2.0.1?
  • How do I get the Flex Automation Package needed to use Mercury Quick Test Pro for functional testing?

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    Adobe Flex 2 overview

    What is Adobe Flex 2?
    Adobe Flex 2 is a complete, powerful application development solution for creating and delivering cross-platform rich Internet applications (RIAs) within the enterprise and across the web. It provides a modern, standards-based language and programming model that supports common design patterns and includes an Eclipse™ based development environment; advanced data services; and a fast, enterprise-class client runtime based on the ubiquitous Adobe Flash Player. Flex enables enterprises to create engaging, interactive, expressive applications that dramatically enhance user experience, increasing customer satisfaction and user productivity.
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    What kinds of applications can be built with Flex 2?
    You can use Flex 2 to create engaging, interactive, expressive applications that dramatically enhance user experience, revolutionizing the way people interact with the web. For example, a data visualization application built in Flex can pull data from multiple back-end sources and display it visually. Business users can drill down into the data for deeper insight and even change the data and have it automatically updated on the back end. A product configuration application can help customers navigate the process of selecting or customizing products online. And a self-service application can guide customers through an address change or help employees complete an otherwise complicated multistep benefits enrollment.
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    What are the benefits of Adobe Flex 2 compared with Macromedia Flex 1.5?
    Flex 2 provides a more productive Eclipse based development environment, dramatically improved application performance, support for new classes of applications such as those that require real-time data push, and more fine-grained control over application look and feel. ActionScript 3.0 significantly simplifies programming, while Flex Data Services 2 provides a robust, productive solution for data-intensive applications, including automatic paging for large data sets, data synchronization, and more. Finally, any developer can obtain the Flex framework to begin development at no charge with the free Flex 2 SDK and utilize Flex Data Services Express to deploy smaller production applications also free of charge. Flex 2 brings easy, affordable application development to developers in any kind of organization working on any kind of project.
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    What is the difference between Flex Builder and Flex Builder with Charting?
    Flex Builder with Charting also includes a library of charts that developers can include in their applications by easily dragging them into the design workspace and connecting them to a back-end data source. This ability to add charts increases the visual richness of Flex applications.
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    Getting started

    What do I need to start building Flex applications today?
    The fastest, easiest way to get started is to use Flex Builder 2. Or, you can download the Flex SDK, which includes the Flex framework and compiler, enabling you to develop Flex applications using the IDE of your choice.
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    Do I need to install the Flex SDK if I use Flex Builder?
    No. When you install Flex Builder, you automatically get the Flex framework and everything you need to start building Flex applications today.
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    What kinds of Flex applications can I build using only Flex Builder?
    Using Flex Builder, you can create rich, easy-to-use applications using XML and web services. More data-intensive applications require Flex Data Services 2.
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    Do I have to use Flex Builder to build Flex applications?
    No. However, most developers will find it more productive to use the Flex Builder IDE to design their applications. But it is not required, and you can code in ActionScript in your development tool of choice.
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    How can Macromedia ColdFusion developers get started with Flex?
    Two important updates are available for Flex/ColdFusion development:
    ColdFusion Extensions for Flex Builder 2 will boost your productivity, letting you perform common coding tasks in a fraction of the time. Included are: a collection of powerful wizards that automatically generate code and applications; a Remote Development Services (RDS) module; and a Services Browser for web services and CFC introspection.
    ColdFusion MX 7 Updater 2 (ColdFusion MX 7.0.2) provides easy access to ColdFusion components from within Flex. The updater includes a new version of Flash Remoting, enabling CFC functions to be called from a Flex 2 application to provide simple access to all of the back-end services available from ColdFusion: database access, web services, POP/SMTP, file systems and more. Updater 2 also includes the new Flex Message Gateway that can be used within a Flex application to specify a ColdFusion event gateway as a destination for messages; similarly, a ColdFusion application can use an Event Gateway to send events to a Flex application. And finally, the Flex Data Services assembler—enabling the use of Flex Data Management Services with ColdFusion components (CFCs).
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    Licensing and pricing

    Can I get trial versions of Flex Builder and Flex Data Services?
    You can download a free trial version of Flex Builder 2 and start building applications today. You can also use a free, limited-production version of Flex Data Services Express 2. This version is production-use software that can be deployed only on a single, non clustered CPU. The Express license does not allow (1) the installation, use, or access of Adobe Flex Data Services Express software on more than one CPU; (2) the clustering of any CPUs or the use of load-balancing software or hardware; and (3) deployment of any unique application on multiple disconnected single CPUs, including kiosks and other such devices.
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    How are Flex Builder and Flex Data Services licensed?
    Developers can separately purchase Flex Builder 2, including the Flex framework, on a per-seat license model. As a result, for the affordable price of an IDE, a broad range of developers can start building rich Flex applications that connect to web services and XML, while enterprises with more complex integration requirements can take advantage of the data services and messaging capabilities available within Flex Data Services. Flex Data Services is licensed for use on the server in a CPU-based pricing model, although you can download a free, commercial limited-use version of Flex Data Services Express 2 for use on a single, nonclustered server.
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    What languages and operating systems does Flex 2 support?
    Flex 2 is available in English and Japanese. Flex Builder runs on Microsoft® Windows 2000, Windows XP Professional, Windows 2000 Server, or Windows Server™ 2003. Flex Data Services runs on Microsoft Windows 2000 Server, Windows XP Professional, Windows Server 2003, Red Hat® Enterprise Server 4, Solaris™ SPARC 9 and 10, or SUSE™ Linux® Enterprise Server 9 from Novell.
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    Flex and Flash

    How is Flex different from Flash?
    Flex and Flash have complementary strengths. Flash is the leading authoring tool for web developers, multimedia professionals, animators, and videographers who want to create rich interactive content. Flex 2 products enable more application developers to leverage the powerful Flash runtime to create data-driven RIAs. In addition, developers can use Flash and Flex Builder together to add rich interactive elements to a structured, Flex based application.
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    Can I run my Flex 1.5 applications on Flex 2?
    Applications developed using previous versions of the Macromedia Flex Framework can continue to run without change using Flash Player 9. Flex 2 utilizes ActionScript 3.0 and therefore will require a recompile if modifications are needed. Applications will also need to be updated to take advantage of the new features of Flex 2.
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    Which version of Flash Player do Flex 2 applications require?
    Applications developed with the Flex 2 product line require Flash Player 9. Developers can implement Flash Player Express Install to provide users who have Flash Player 6.0r 6.5 or later with a smooth, in-context upgrade to version 9.
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    Can I create content in Flash and use it in Flex?
    Developers using Flex Builder 2 can import multimedia and video produced in Flash Professional 8.
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    Does Flex 2 still include Flash Remoting?
    Yes. RPC Services in Flex Data Services 2 provide traditional Flash Remoting RPC-style service invocation and managed proxying for HTTP and web service requests.
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    Flex and Ajax

    Can I use Flex with Ajax?
    Yes. Flex 2 and Ajax technology complement each other well, and the FABridge helps you integrate rich Flex components with Ajax applications. The FABridge is a small, unobtrusive library of code that you can insert into a Flex application, a Flex component, or an empty SWF file to expose it to scripting in the browser. It is being released to the community under an open-source license. Learn more about the FABridge ›
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    What capabilities can Flex add to Ajax?
    Flash and Flex technology can augment Ajax to overcome chronic browser limitations in offline data access, audio/video, vector graphics, high-performance data exchange, and message-based publish/subscribe applications.
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    Flex Data Services Express

    What is Flex Data Services Express?
    Flex Data Services Express is a free, limited-production version of Flex Data Services 2 that allows the deployment of any single application on a single, nonclustered CPU. Developers can build and deploy one or more production applications that are deployed on a single CPU machine (defined as machines with only one processor) as long as no single application is running in production on more than one CPU.
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    Is Flex Data Services Express the developer edition of Flex Data Services?
    Flex Data Services Express can be used for development or production, provided applications are not deployed on more than one CPU. For shared development servers, Adobe sells a development server license.
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    What are the licensing restrictions on Flex Data Services Express?
    Flex Data Services Express can support more than one application per CPU, but no single application can be deployed on more than one CPU. Flex Data Services does not allow applications to be load balanced (using software or hardware load balancing) or clustered (using J2EE or any other kind of clustering or virtualization technology). In addition, Flex Data Services Express does not permit the deployment of any single application on multiple disconnected single CPUs, including kiosks and other such devices.
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    What is the definition of a "single application"?
    For the purposes of Flex Data Services Express licensing, an "application" is defined as both the SWF file that is downloaded from the server and the instance of Flex Data Services Express that is running on the server. Together, these make up the application. Developers can deploy as many individual applications as they want with Flex Data Services Express as long as each individual application is deployed only on a single physical CPU, subject to the clustering, load balancing, and kiosk restrictions previously mentioned.
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    Can you run more than one Flex application on a single CPU machine with Flex Data Services Express?
    Yes; however, any unique application can only run on a single CPU, with no clustering or load balancing.
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    Can Flex Data Services Express be run on development machines with more than one processor?
    Yes, an individual developer working on an application can run it on his or her workstation even if it has more than one CPU, provided that machine is not being used in production. This distinction was made because many developers have more than one CPU on their desktop workstation and to support best practices in separating development and production environments. A server development license is required for the use of Flex Data Services on a shared development server.
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    Is there a limit on the capacity of Flex Data Services Express?
    No, there is no capacity (connection, data throughput) limitation. The only limitation is on the number of CPUs to which an application can be deployed.
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    Why would customers use Flex Data Services Express?
    The intention behind the Flex Data Services Express license was to give developers easy access to a free version of the software to start to build their pilot, proof of concept, or small, non-mission-critical production solutions that could be deployed from a single, nonclustered CPU box.
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    Is there a per-application user limit for Flex Data Services Express?
    No, there is no user limit to applications built using Flex Data Services Express. The only Flex product with a concurrent user limit is Flex Data Services Departmental edition.
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    Does the per-CPU pricing for Flex Data Services pertain to "per CPU as in server" or "per CPU as in processor"?
    Per CPU as in processor. CPU is defined as a central processing unit in a hardware device, including devices accessed by multiple users through a network (for example, a server). A dual-core CPU is considered a single CPU for licensing purposes.
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    Is there a difference in functionality among Flex Data Services Express, Flex Data Services Departmental, and Flex Data Services Enterprise?
    No. From a feature and API standpoint, Flex Data Services Express is the same product as the Departmental and Enterprise editions. The only difference lies in the licensing restrictions detailed above.
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    Flex 2.0.1

    What’s new in Flex 2.0.1?
    Flex 2.0.1 includes new platform support for Flex Builder, a number of improvements to the Flex 2 SDK, and updates Flex Data Services correcting reported issues.
    • New Flex Builder 2 Platform Support
      - Macintosh, OS 10.4.7 on PowerPC and Intel processors
      - Eclipse 3.2 support for Mac and Windows Eclipse plugin
      - Compatibility with BEA Workshop 3.2.1 using both the Standalone and Eclipse Plugin (Windows only)
      - Compatibility with IBM Rational Software Architect 7.0
    • SDK Framework Additions
      - mx.modules package for large application support
      - Dynamic CSS stylesheet invocation at runtime
      - Automated functional testing support (included support for Mercury QuickTest Pro 9.1 –Windows only, requires FDS license)
    • SDK Tooling Additions
      - mxmlc can now directly embed fonts using FlashType support
      - ASDoc is now officially supported and included with the SDK
    • Flex Data Services Bugfixes
      - Flex Data Services 2.0.1 fixes a number of reported issues in version 2
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    Where can I download the Flex 2.0.1 updaters/installers?
    Download the Flex 2.0.1 updaters from the Adobe Flex Support Center.
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    If I am currently running Flex Builder 2, can I safely install the 2.0.1 update release without interrupting any of my projects?
    Flex Builder 2.0.1 is primarily a bug-fix release but also includes some minor feature improvements as well. You can safely install the 2.0.1 update without impacting any of your current Flex projects. This update will also maintain any settings that you have already established.
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    If I am currently running Flex Builder 2 for Windows, can I trade-in my Windows product for the new Macintosh 2.0.1 product?
    Yes. Customers who purchased the English language product via Adobe's Volume licensing program should email focorders@adobe.com. Please include the following information in your email: AOO Order#; Order Quantity; Organization name; End user and/or Ship to user ID #. Please allow up to 5 business days for a response that will include your updated serial number for Mac platform.

    Customers who purchased via the Adobe Store, please call Adobe Customer service and request a trade-in at the appropriate phone number for your region at: http://www.adobe.com/support/intlsupport.html. Customer Service will provide the download URL and a new Macintosh serial number to activate the product.
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    Does Flex 2.0.1 require an update to the Flash Player?
    No. Flex 2.0.1 continues to require Flash Player 9, the same as Flex 2 applications.
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    If I download a trial version of Flex Builder 2 will I need to apply the Flex Builder 2.0.1 updater?
    No. Effective January 4, 2007 all trial downloads reflect the updated Flex Builder 2.0.1 bits.
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    Will Flex Builder 2.0.1 be available in other languages?
    Yes. The initial release of Flex Builder 2.0.1 is only available in English; however a localized Japanese version will be available later this year.
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    Are OEM bits available for Flex 2.0.1?
    Yes. Flex 2.0.1 provides an OEM compiler zip and a PDF file with instructions for use. OEM bits are only available via Adobe OEM sales. If you are an existing Flex OEM customer or have an inquiry about become an OEM customer, please contact Adobe OEM sales at oemsales@adobe.com
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    How do I get the Flex Automation Package needed to use Mercury Quick Test Pro for functional testing?
    The Flex Automation Package facilitates automated testing of Flex applications using Mercury QuickTest Professional 9. It is available to all Flex Data Services 2 licensed customers, including both Department and Enterprise editions. A valid Flex Data Services serial number is required for installation. Please visit the Adobe Trial Download Center to download the Flex Automation Package.
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