MXML is a proprietary markup language used in Adobe Flex to build user interfaces for Rich Internet Applications. It is used alongside ActionScript for program logic and CSS for formatting. MXML applications are compiled into SWF files to be viewed in Adobe Flash Player. While its future is uncertain with HTML5, MXML remains an effective tool for creating complex web and desktop applications.

1. Adobe’s MXML
by Robert Barry
Saturday, July 30, 2011

2. What is MXML?
MXML is a proprietary
interface-markup language
primarily used in the Adobe
Flex framework ,along with
ActionScript and CSS, and
is used to layout user
interfaces.
Image from: http://help.adobe.com/en_US/FlashCatalyst/CS5/Using/
WS46537afc5008d12d-22e1d8812381cd77f5-7fff.html
Saturday, July 30, 2011

3. What is MXML?
MXML is used to create user interfaces, and
is used in conjunction with Adobe
ActionScript, which is employed to buld the
program's logic. The 2 languages are then
complied into a .swf file for use in Adobe's
Flash player.
Saturday, July 30, 2011

4. Who uses MXML?
MXML is primarily used by web designers and
developers to create Rich Internet Applications
in the Adobe Flash format, and requires the
Adobe Flash player.
Saturday, July 30, 2011

5. Who uses MXML?
Flex has also been used
to create desktop
applications, including
the popular “TweetDeck”,
a program created to
manage multiple social
networking sites.
Image from:http://www.tweetdeck.com/desktop/
Saturday, July 30, 2011

6. History of MXML
MXML was developed by the Macromedia
company in 2004 as a declarative mark-up
language for building interfaces. Macromedia
was later bought by Adobe in 2005, and they
have since integrated MXML into other
frameworks.
Saturday, July 30, 2011

7. A “Hello World” MXML Sample
The following code is an example of a simple “Hello
World” application.
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- mxmlHellowWorld.mxml -->
<s:Application xmlns:fx="http://ns.adobe.com/mxml/2009"
xmlns:mx="library://ns.adobe.com/flex/mx"
xmlns:s="library://ns.adobe.com/flex/spark">
<s:layout>
<s:VerticalLayout/>
</s:layout>
Sample image from: http://
help.adobe.com/en_US/flex/
using/ <s:Panel title="My Application">
WS2db454920e96a9e51e63e3d <s:Label text="Hello World" fontWeight="bold" fontSize="24"/>
11c0bf5f39f-7fff.html </s:Panel>
</s:Application>
Code sample from http://help.adobe.com/en_US/flex/using/WS2db454920e96a9e51e63e3d11c0bf5f39f-7fff.html
Saturday, July 30, 2011

8. A “Hello World” MXML Sample
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- mxmlHellowWorld.mxml -->
<s:Application xmlns:fx="http://ns.adobe.com/mxml/2009"
xmlns:mx="library://ns.adobe.com/flex/mx"
xmlns:s="library://ns.adobe.com/flex/spark">
<s:layout>
<s:VerticalLayout/>
</s:layout>
<s:Panel title="My Application">
<s:Label text="Hello World" fontWeight="bold" fontSize="24"/>
</s:Panel>
</s:Application>
•XMLNS:fx - refers to top-level ActionScript elements
•XMLNS:mx - namespace for MX components
•XMLNS:s - refers to Spark components
•Spark is the most recent MXML vocabulary, while MX is still used for older applications
•MXML uses CSS property names for formatting text.
Saturday, July 30, 2011

9. The Future of MXML
With the imminent arrival of HTML5, the
future of Flex, Flash, and MXML are
uncertain. Adobe’s Flash platform still
provides solutions that are better for certain
complex problems than HTML5 and
JavaScript. Today there are many companies
who are hesitant to change to a new, still
unproven platform after investing millions into
developing Adobe MXML and ActionScript
applications.
Saturday, July 30, 2011

10. Conclusion
Adobe’s MXML in Flex is a powerful tool for
creating advanced internet and desktop
applications. It is a simple XML vocabulary
that, combined with ActionScript and CSS,
can create impressive and immersive web
sites and programs. Even with an uncertain
future, MXML will be employed
for a long time to come.
Saturday, July 30, 2011

11. Web Samples
IBM ILOG Elixir World Factbook Dashboard
NASDAQ Market Replay (watch video)
Screenergy.com
Philips Lighting
Saturday, July 30, 2011

12. Bibliography
•"Introducing the MXML and ActionScript Languages | Adobe Developer
Connection."Adobe. Web. 30 July 2011. <http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flex/articles/
fcf_mxml_actionscript.html>.
•“About MXML.” Adobe Systems. 15 April 2010
<http://help.adobe.com/en_US/flex/using/
WS2db454920e96a9e51e63e3d11c0bf5f39f-7fff.html>
•"Open Source Framework, Web Application Software Development | Flex." Adobe.
Web. 30 July 2011. <http://www.adobe.com/products/flex/>.
•"MXML." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 16 February 2011. <http://
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MXML>.
Saturday, July 30, 2011

13. Adobe’s MXML
by Robert Barry
Saturday, July 30, 2011