Can I still use ActionScript 3 as a scripting language in the timeline just like before?

The answer is YES. If you are used to the previous coding style and you do not want to type things so "formal" like Java or C, you can do things in the original style. Here is a quote from the LiveDocs:

Because of ActionScript's roots as a scripting language, ActionScript 3.0 OOP support is optional. This affords programmers flexibility in choosing the best approach for projects of varying scope and complexity. For small tasks, you may find that using ActionScript with a procedural programming paradigm is all you need. For larger projects, applying OOP principles can make your code easier to understand, maintain, and extend.

Of course, you need to change things to the new syntax, and learn the new language elements. For example, MovieClip.moveTo(x,y) is now changed to MovieClip.graphics.moveTo(x,y), MovieClip._x is changed to MovieClip.x, etc. This needs time, and that's why Adobe is now releasing Flash 9 Alpha for uers to warm-up.

For me, I would say if you are a complete newbie in programming, or if you are mainly a designer who only need to script sometimes, then you may focus mainly on the new syntax and new language elements of AS 3 when reading my tutorials. However, if you already know some AS and you also have some programming basis, I would suggest you to learn the "formal" OOP codings. Moreover, you can code AS 3 and create swf without Flash (e.g. use Flex SDK instead) if you know the OOP.

Download file for this tutorial

An example using ActionScript 3 as a scripting language in the timeline

Using tutorial 3 as an example, I will convert the following code into the usual scripting-language-style.

1. Open a new document in Flash and at the 1st frame open the AS panel.

2. Make sure you choose AS 3 in the left-upper corner. This can facilitate your coding.

3. Type in the following code and output the swf and you are done:

Pretty simple, isn't it? There are no words like package, public, private, class, etc. if you use AS 3 as a scripting language, therefore it maybe good for programming newbie. But for those who already know AS, learning the new OOP syntax isn't that difficult, right?