Spent the last 20 minutes trying to figure out how to return the primary key back to Flex from an SQL insert command in ColdFusion. Turns out to be a really easy thing to do.

private function insert_ResultHandler(event:ResultEvent):void

Jason Bartholme posted a great list of AIR Resources on his blog that will keep you busy for days. Topics include Getting Started with AIR Tutorial section, a collection of sample AIR applications as well as a list of articles and blog links.

Over the last few months I’ve been learning ColdFusion and the more I learn the more I’m amazed at how powerful and easy it is to use. I used to use php for server side code but after reading so many articles on how Flex and ColdFusion works so well together I had to see what all the buzz is about. I’m now convinced that the combination of ColdFusion and Flex is the next best thing since sliced bread for RIA development!

One of the things that makes this combination so powerful is the integrated LiveCycle Data Services ES that is installed with ColdFusion 8. The Data Messaging, Flash Remoting and Publish Subscribe features of LCDS make complicated things that you never thought would be possibile in a browser, possible. I know alot of these services have been around for awhile (formally Flex Data Services) but with the release of ColdFusion 8 and Flex 3 it’s faster and easier to take advantage of these great features. And Really when you think about it, ColdFusion and Flex are both Adobe products and since the birth of Flex the ColdFusion team has made it there goal to make ColdFusion the easiest language you can use to build Flex applications… and they succeeded!

In my mind there is no better way to go when it comes to client-server communication for Rich Internet Applications.

Check out the Coldfusion Developer Center on the Adobe.com to learn more about this great combination.

You can also download and use the Developer Edition of Coldfusion 8 for free and get started right away.

Heres a list of some handy shortcut keys that can help speed up your development time in Flex Builder.

Ctrl-F11: Run
F11: Debug
Ctrl-Alt-Down: Repeat current line
Alt-Up: Move line (or selection) up
Alt-Down: Move line (or selection) down
Ctrl-Click: Go to definition (also F3)
Ctrl-D: Delete line
Alt-/: Word completion (cycles through possible matches)
Ctrl-Up: Scroll up
Ctrl-Down: Scroll Down

Here is a list of keyboard shortcuts that are useful when editing code.

Here is a complete list of available keyboard shortcuts.

Here is a MAC version shortcut keys(by joshbuhler)

Here is a Eclipse/FDT version shortcut keys(by betriebsraum)

Taken from ntt.cc

ImageCropper is a free component written by Paul Whitelock for Adobe Flex that allows an image to be cropped by adjusting the position and dimensions of a cropping rectangle that overlays the image.

ImageCropper may be configured to constrain the cropping to an aspect ratio. For example, defining a cropping rectangle with a width of 200 pixels and a height of 100 pixels and then enabling the aspect ratio constraint will result in the cropping rectangle maintaining a 2:1 aspect ratio as it is resized.

ImageCropper works with a BitmapData Object or a URL that points to an external image. There are also lots of options for customizing the look of this component, and since the souce code is included this makes a great base for extending it into a custom component for your site.

Well done Paul!

Image Copper is licensed under the MIT License and is available as a free download Here

MediaMaster is a very cool Flex app that allows you to store and stream your digital music collection online. You can stream your music to any computer as well as a broad range of mobile phones, and internet-connected living room devices. I took some time and uploaded a few song and they sound great!

They support mp3, AAC (aka M4A) or WMA file formats. Any music with DRM will not work on the site though.

There currently is no limit on the amount of music people can store on their servers. While their in Beta you can upload as much as you want, and they say they will keep it for you forever!

One thing you can’t do is download and burn your music but I can see why as that may cause some problems with the record companies, on the other hand you can turn your play lists into a public Internet radio stream!

The Adobe Media player is the latest creation to be release on the AIR runtime from Adobe. The media player allows the playback of streamed, downloaded or locally stored content in the adobe Flash format.

One of the things that makes this media play special is the ability to subscribe to television shows and other online video content and then automatically receive new episodes of the shows as they become available.

Some major Networks have added to the list of providers including CBS, MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon & more.

HD Content is also available thanks to the H.264 standard video support in Flash Player 9. You can even watch HD in full screen!

Adobe also announced Adobe TV, which is a free online video resource that provides information and tutorials on Adobe products!

Click here to learn more

Adobe announced that Flex 4, codenamed Gumbo, is now beginning active development. The product plan is not yet complete, but a few themes are under consideration.

• Design in Mind: provide a framework meant for continuous collaboration between designer and developer. Probably involves an additional component model that integrates with the existing Halo components.
• Accelerated Development: take application development from concept to reality quickly. Features could include application templates, architectural framework integration, binding improvements.
• Horizontal Platform Improvements: features that benefit all application and user types. Features could include compiler performance, language enhancements, BiDi components, enhanced text.
• Broadening Horizons: expand the range of applications and use-cases that can leverage Flex. Features could include finding a way to make the framework lighter, supporting more deployment runtimes, runtime MXML.

Beta 1 is set for late 2008 and the Final Release in 2009.

Can’t wait to see what Adobe comes up!

Read more at Adobe Open Source

Linux developers can now get there hands dirty in this prerelase version of Flex Builder 3, although many of the features in Flex 3 are included in the Linux release, there are several features that are not yet included.

Adobe has not yet announced a release date for the Flex Builder Linux. The user feedback from this prerelease will be used to determine required features, so if you have requests be sure to file them in the bug database.

Get Your copy at the Adobe Labs Website

This is a great little AIR app that shows the power of bringing the Web to the desktop.  

The Google Analytics Reporting Suite has a host of features that help you understand how your website is performing and where you can improve. From tracking your visitors, referrals and campaigns to viewing your AdWords ROI metrics, the Google Analytics Reporting suite is a must-have for every web business.

Check it out on the Adobe Exchange