acromedia Flash is a proven platform for delivering rich multimedia content over the web. Flash's most recent version also adds support for transmission and receipt of XML, a common language for sharing information between disparate systems. While many developers still use Flash merely for animation or emphasis, XML support in Flash 5 makes it a true thin client for n-tier applications. In this article, you will learn how to create a simple XML/ASP-based appointment calendar application for a web site. As users select calendar dates, the application displays all the appointments for that day, without requiring a page refresh. Using XML as a common interpreter, you can develop a back-end and middle-tier application totally isolated from a rich-media front-end. Before you read the article, you may want to try the application. You can access a running demo of the Flash calendar application at http://demo.mrev.com/flashcal (see Figure 1).
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Introduction 
XML Appointments 
Retrieving Appointments from the Server 
Flash/Server Communication 
From Flashy to Functional 
