Designing a UI - Layout

In this section, you will learn how to use Flex's built-in MXML components and containers as well as ActionScript 3.0 to layout your application.

• "Components" (also called controls) are interface widgets that are either part of the Flex framework or are created using ActionScript 3.0. Examples include: Button, TextInput and Label
  • You'll mostly use the built-in components and containers, but you can build your own.
  • The language to use for most layout purposes is MXML.
  • Use ActionScript 3.0 for custom components or specialized behavior
  • Make use of the Flex Component Explorer application to see what the components do as well as view code code samples.
• "Containers" are layout tools that position the interface widgets or data in the application. Examples includes: Application, VBox, Canvas
  • Use Flex Builder's design view to lay out child components.
  • Containers provide a hierarchical structure that lets you control the layout characteristics of child components.
  • There are two types of containers: layout and navigator.
  • Components defined within a container are called children of the container.
  • At the root of a Flex application is a single container, called the Application container