Is it possible to use a form for both initial creation and updation based on a target url? For example, if a user goes to http://localhost/create/new can I have a flex form with empty input fields be shown, but if a user goes to http://localhost/update/1 can I have the same flex form, but with input fields filled in be shown instead?
Also, I have 3 forms that take the SAME data and have essentially the same format; can I have a parent form from which I can derive the 3 forms, rather than having 3 separate applications for each form?
Yes, but you’ll have to code it. Either by having separate SWFs at the URLs you specified that do different things based on the URL variable handed in (not recommended) or by using something like the BrowserManager to control the URL display.
And yes you can create a parent form and derive different child forms from this. In MXML you’ll just create a component based off the ‘parent’. In AS3 you’ll create a component that extends the parent.
I’d question your path, though. When developing Applications, I recommend you try to get out of the HTML page / linking model. As one example, when was the last time someone asked you for a link to the excel formula editor [for example]?