Flash :: Importing Strings Into A Text File And Converting Them In The Movie For Use.

Retriveing Date Variables From Text File/ Converting Strings To Dates
Hi,

I'm trying to read date variables from an external text file. I'm using the LoadVars method and it is working fine for regular string variables. I'm running into trouble trying to convert some of those strings into date variables so I can compare the current date to the targetDateX variable from the text file. I'm working on a countdown timer for a list of different times/dates. It will display the time left until the first event, then after that event the time left until the second event. I'm running the code in a for loop and everything is working except being able to convert the string with format (yyyy,mm,dd,hh,mm) into a date variable- I've attached a sample of where I'm having trouble.

Thanks in advance for any help! :)

Attach Code

var targetDateX:String = "targetDate" + i;
//sets a variable targetDateX equal to the variable targetDate(i) so that you can read it from the text file
var targetDateA:Date = new Date (this[targetDateX]);
//attempting to set it into a date format
trace (this[targetDateX]);
//returns the variable stored with the name targetDate(i) in the text file
trace (targetDateA);
// returns 'Invalid Date'

Edited: 11/09/2008 at 12:45:04 PM by wyattr1

[F8] Converting Text Strings To Characters
I want to create a movie clip that selects a random text string from an array and then animates that string as it follows a motion guide. The path of the string is going to have multiple 90 degree bends, however, and I want the text strings to smoothly follow the bend and be oriented to the path. I think the strings will have to be broken down into individual letters (characters) to follow the bend.

I think I can write the code to have the movie clip select the string, fade it onto the stage and begin moving it along the guide (although if anyone has suggestions for this I'd be happy to hear them).

My main question is how to break the text string into individual characters to follow the curve?

I need to do this for a few hundred words so it needs to be an actionscript 2 file that will work for any text string called from the arrays

Thanks for the help.

Importing A Text File Into A Movie
Is there a way of importing the contents of a *.txt file into a Flash movie?

Importing External Text File Into Movie Symbol
I'm trying to import text from an external TXT file into a movie instance. The Dynamic text box works fine in the main timeline, but will not load the text into the movie symbol.

The movie symbol has a dynamic text field calling one of the variables in the text file. The action for frame 1 of the symbol is

loadVariablesNum ("testfile.txt", "this");

This works in the main timeline, but not in the movie instance. Any ideas what I might be doing wrong?

Comparing Strings Of XML File And Text File In Flash
Here is my code:

var words:Array = new Array();
var wordsLoader:XML = new XML();
wordsLoader.ignoreWhite = true;
wordsLoader.onLoad = function(success) {

if (success) {
parseWords();
} else {
trace('Sorry dude');
}
};
wordsLoader.load("words.xml");

function parseWords() {
if (wordsLoader.firstChild.nodeName == "gamedata") {
var rootNode:XMLNode = wordsLoader.firstChild;
for (i=0; i<rootNode.childNodes.length; i++) {
words[i] = rootNode.childNodes[i].firstChild.nodeValue;

}
}
return(words);
}

var myText:String;
loadText = new LoadVars();
loadText.load("codetext.txt");
loadText.onLoad = function(success) {
if (success) {
// trace(success);

for(i=0; i<words.length; i++){
trace(words[i]);"<br>"
var mytext:String;
mytext = words[i];
var code:String;
code = this.code;
trace(code);
if( mytext == code){
trace('SUCCESS');

}

}
}
}

two strings 'code' and 'mytext' are not gettin compared...
need help..

Converting Strings
How would I convert a text string into a useable equation?
So if I have a user input into variable equation
be x+5, how could I make it so
Code:
y = equation
is the equivalent of
Code:
y = x+5
and not
Code:
y = "x+5"

**Converting Strings To Numbers?
Hiya,

Im using the loadvars object to hold all the txt variables loaded from a txt file. One of the variables is a number, but being in a txt file flash see's it as a string. So naturally I access the varaible <LoadVarsObject.txtvariable>, and at the same time pass it as an expression param to the Number() function to change it, as
below.

Code:
var flashvaraible = new Number(LoadVarsObj.txtVaraible);
But when I run the movie I get output saying 'Nan' for flashvariable.

Anyone know what Im doing wrong?

**Converting Strings To Numbers
Hiya,

Im using the loadvars object to hold all the txt variables loaded from a txt file. One of the variables is a number, but being in a txt file flash see's it as a string. So naturally I access the varaible <LoadVarsObject.txtvariable>, and at the same time pass it as an expression param to the Number() function to change it, as
below.

Code:
var flashvaraible = new Number(LoadVarsObj.txtVaraible);

But when I run the movie I get output saying 'Nan' for flashvariable.

Anyone know what Im doing wrong?

Converting Strings To Numbers
Hi. Something's weird whenever I'm trying to convert a number with a 0 in front. For instance

y = "0435";
trace(Number(y));

gives me 285!!! What's wrong? Is it interpreting it as a hex number or something? How do I fix this? I guess I have to strip off all leading 0's? Or is there a simple solution to this? Thanks.

~j

Converting Strings And Numbers
hey,

If anyone can help i would appreciate:

I am trying to convert a number from inches to feet so

distanceInInches = 140;
distanceConvertedToFeet = distanceInInches/12;

then i want to get the decimal point and separate out the two values

when i trace for the split

trace(distanceConvertedToFeet.split('.'));

it comes back undefined... does it have something to do with numbers and strings?

Help would be greatful!
thanks

Converting Strings To Variables . . .
I have a bunch of data stored in a text file and I no problem getting it into flash . . . the problem is when I check one of the variables for numerical values:

Code:
if (mrate1 = 5){
star5._visible = true;
}else{
trace("this isn't rated 5");
}
mrate1 DOES equal 5:

(in the text file)

Code:
&mrate1=5
However, regardless of what number I enter in the "if" equation, it always just assumes the expression is true.

Can someone tell me how to make it see the 5 as a numerical 5 and not as the number 5 (text)? At least I think that's what's going on lol.

Converting Strings To Functions
I'm creating an advanced calculator in AS3 and I need to know how to do this. If the user types reimann_zeta(3) into the input text box it sets "input" to "reimann_zeta(3)" (string). How do I get flash to treat the string as the pre-defined function reimann_zeta and execute it?

Converting Integers To Strings
Hi all,

I'm trying to convert an integer value into a string so that I can then manipulate the individual characters and am having problems! My current code is something like the below:

---------------------------------------------------
_global.hundreds = 0;
_global.tens = 0;
_global.units = 0;
_global.tenps = 0;
_global.unitps = 0;
_global.credits = "";

var money = 542.19;
var credStr:String = "";

credStr = money;

_global.credits = credStr;
---------------------------------------------------

I don't know if it's necessary or not, but I used local variables to pass the information into the _global variable as I wasn't sure if I could specify the data type in a _global variable?!

Suffice to say, this isn't working. It doesn't seem to want to convert the number into a string whatever I do!

FYI the following code is what is supposed to happen to the string once it is converted:

---------------------------------------------------
if (_global.credits.length < 6) {
if (_global.credits.length == 5) {
_global.credits = "0"+_global.credits;
}
else if (_global.credits.length == 4) {
_global.credits = "00"+_global.credits;
}
}

var fc:String = _global.credits.charAt(0);
var sc:String = _global.credits.charAt(1);
var tc:String = _global.credits.charAt(2);
var fc2:String = _global.credits.charAt(4);
var sc2:String = _global.credits.charAt(5);

fc++;
sc++;
tc++;
fc2++;
sc2++;

_global.hundreds = (fc);
_global.tens = (sc);
_global.units = (tc);
_global.tenps = (fc2);
_global.unitps = (sc2);
---------------------------------------------------

I have tested this by passing the value in as a string in the first place and it works perfectly - so it's just the conversion where I am not getting this right :(

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks, Richard

Edited: 06/13/2007 at 06:36:10 AM by tricky_ricardo

Converting Strings To MovieClips..
I am creating a map that highlights certain states relative to the person selected. The movieclip that needs to be highlighted is in the XML with other information.
My Problem:I am trying to pull out a variable in my XML that is actually a movieclip directory to put into my TweenLite. I can trace the directory, i.e. enfFrame_mc.missouri_mc, but when I try to pull it out it is a string and will not convert. Any one have any tips on how to do this a snippet of code is below:

Code:
var colorState:String;

colorState = String(xmlData.pic.hmstate[targetThumbs]);

trace(colorState);

TweenFilterLite.to(colorState, 1, {type:"Color", colorize:0x3366ff, amount:1});

Converting Strings To Numbers Without Concatenating
Hello,

I want to separate a string and convert it to a number. I thought Flash could switch vars by reestablishing them using strict data typing. I want to add two vars. Instead it is concatenating them.

Code:
var myNum:Number =10;
var string:String="d1";
var charactersArray:Array = string.split("");
var m:Number= charactersArray[1];
trace("M= "+m);//M= 1
myNum+=m;
trace(myNum);//returns 101 should be 11;

Converting Random Numbers To Strings
how do I go about converting a number into a string.

I have tried String(num);
that doesnt seem to be working. I need to use this string as such: duplicateMovieClip(name, "I need the converted num to string here", dep);
Can someone help me out - show how to convert it and how I use that converted text as an argument above.

Converting Swf File To Broadcast Quality Movie File
I'm using a Patrick Jansen effect in flash and if I try to export it the way I usually do for movie credits - ie export to quicktime - all I get is a grey box. The only way I can get the movie into a quicktime file correctly is to save the file as an swf then use "swf and flv player" to export each frame as a tif then recompile in quicktime.
Is there a program that will convert the SWF to quicktime in one go and keep the quality? It's for a movie, so I need it very high res.
thanks in advance,

(mac os x 10.4.9 G5 dual 2ghz, internal 250 and 350hd, external 500gb, 4gb ram)

Importing Strings With Spéçîål Characters
Hello again to those who were here when I was last. .

Small question: has anyone come across an easy way of importing accented characters within strings imported from external text files (i.e. via URLRequest)?

I have thought of making a RosettaStone.as class that will change "&&accA", for instance, into "à", etc., but did not want to waste my time if there were an easier method.

Damn crazy continentals want a site written in French .

Converting An Number In A Text File To A Variable
I'm tried this a hundred ways, and can't seem to get it to work. I'm trying to get my flash file to read a number from an external text file (in form: &var0100=4&) and have the flash file go to a specific frame number based on this variable. This code works if I import it into a text file, but I can't get it to take what's in the text file and convert it to a variable. Here's my following code:

totalprojects = new LoadVars();
totalprojects.load("rmptext.txt");
totalprojects.onLoad = function(right) {
if (right) {
trace("done loading");
total.Number = this.var0100
if (Number(total) < 5) {
projectmovie.gotoAndStop(2);
}
else {
projectmovie.gotoAndStop(3);
}
}
else {
trace("not loaded");
}
};
stop();

Converting A Slide Show Into A Movie File
How can I take a slide show (with several frames) and convert it into a movie?

Converting A PDF To A Flash FLA File Without Converting To An Image First?
Basically, I'm building a digital catalogue that runs off a CD and uses a Flash 'page turning component' to display the pages. Certain pages will have links that use Flash's Fscommand call to open Word and Excel documents.

Has anyone got any bright ideas of how to Convert a PDF to a Flash FLA file without converting to an image first?

I know I can open a PDF in Photoshop, save as a PNG or JPG and then import this into Flash, however the quality isn't brilliant. If you use a hi-res image, then you get a hi-res file size...

Currently, the best way I have found, is to open the PDF in Illustrator, then export it as a SWF. Illustrator converts all text to shapes and you end up with a small SWF, yet great quality when displayed in larger sizes. As I'm currently using a page turning flash component that loads SWF files, I need the quality to be good for the 'Zoom' function.

I've found an Illustrator script that will do the hard work via a 'batch' process, so I can take a 100 page PDF and convert the whole lot to 100 SWF files while I drink tea and 'look busy' and read a magazine, but the problem I have is that I need to add a layer of buttons to several of the SWF files to add a little functionality....

I do have a SWF to FLA decompiler which does a good job, however because Illustrator turns everything into shapes, the decompiler does the same and you end up with thousands of files in the library.... Plus there are a lot of error messages when the file is first loaded...

Many layers are masked, (for some reason without a fill), so if you publish the decompiled file straight away, you just get a blank file. Once you go through and fill the masks needed, it shows when you publish, but this really is a lot of work and I've had a few pages that show when you open the SWF file, but don't show when the SWF is called into the page turning file.... Hmmm....

So in short, I'd like to take a PDF and convert it to a FLA file, add a layer of buttons and publish as a SWF file....

Anyone got any 'Pearls of Wisdom'?

Clere
Clere Print

Importing An AVI And Converting To FLV
I'm trying to create an .flv file from an avi movie... When I import the avi I run through all the video options, Flash goes through the process, but I'm left with only the player controls and no movie when viewing the swf file.

Am I missing something? Is there a better format other than avi to import into Flash?

Thanks for any help or suggestions.

Converting Text To Movie Clip
I'm having trouble converting text or anything I make in flash into a movie clip. If I make the same thing in Photoshop, add it to the library, I can make it work, but this adds a lot of time.

Simple Example: trying to make text fade in or out, the text just shows up as 100%, if I do the same text in Photoshop, save it as a jpg and bring it over, it works fine. Am I missing something?

Thanks for anyhelp...I have checked other fourms, can't seem to find anything that I'm not already doing....

Importing Text From A .txt File
I have a scrolling text box in my flash movie, on several frames that can be accessed by nav buttons in my movie. What i want to know is how do you import text from a text file, say text.txt, into the scrolling text box. I dont want to have to edit the movie each time i add new content and want to be able to update the flash movie, just by editing the text in the text file. Does anyone know how to do this? Import text from a text file?

ps. In Flash 5

Thanks

Importing Text File
I want to import a text file of guest book entries, but I cant seem to figure it out. Can someone direct me to a GOOD tutorial or simular? Each entry will have two variables (comment and persons name).

Thank you for your time

Importing Text File
I know I have asked about this before, but I am just not getting it, can anybody direct me to a good tutorial on how to import a basic .txt file. No php files or nothing, just a basic text file.

TIA

Walter

Importing A Text File
Can anyone tell me how I can use an External text file
to be read from Flash in an input box? But I also want
to be able to format the text with html code, is it possible?
Ive seen other sites with it and I dont know how they did it.

So I am trieng to do this..
Flash TextBox Reads > text.txt
in text.txt have <B>welcome</B> then change colors and everything.

I am getting sick of jamming my code on one line

Importing Ext Text File
Trying to get external text file to load in Dynamic text box. Problem turning large amount of HTML text into URL encoded text. Any help on creating a long text file? Do I have to use URL encoded text? Embedding the text within AS slows MX way down, so prefer to use external file. Thanks in advance.

Importing Text From A Txt File
I am importing text from a txt file into a array, the elements of which are fed into a number of dynamic text boxes. Am using the follow code to do this:

files = new Array();
lv = new LoadVars();
lv.onLoad = function() {
fl = this.filelist;
files = fl.split(",");
c = files.length-1;
};
lv.load("question1.txt");

The text file includes + and % characters and when the files are imported into the array and put in the text boxes in flash these characters disappear. Can anyone explain why and how i can prevent this? Thanks

Importing Text From TXT File
I'm importing text into Flash using:

ActionScript Code:
loadVariables("textfile.txt")

which works wonderfully in most cases although I'm working on a project that requires an "&" character, which in this scenario is also used to end text strings.

Is there a way to designate the ampersand as a character instead of a closing cue? (I've already tried using "&" to no avail.)

Thanks,
Nick

Importing Mp4 Into Flash 8, Converting To FLV
I just finished taking a Flash Video class where I understood I could import an MP4 and convert in to an FLV using encoding tools that come with Flash Professional 8. However, I opened a new FLA just now and tried to import an MP4 (File -> Import Video), Flash would not recognize the sample MP4 I have sitting on my desktop.

I downloaded a demo copy of On2 FlixPro and it did recognize the MP4, is converting it to an FLV as I write this.

Did I misunderstand about importing MP4s into Flash 8 Professional? Is it in fact not possible. Or might there have been something I didn't do or didn't do correctly before importing? If so, what might it have been?

Thanks in advance.

Importing An External Text File?
Need a bit of help with this one. Been going round in circles for a few hours.

Ive got an external file called text.txt (in the same folder as the swf)

In the Flash movie ive got a button and a text field.

When you click the button, I want the contents of text.txt to appear in the text field.

Cheers.

Importing An External Text File
I need to import an external text file into a varible in actionscript. Basically, so I can change output text in flash by only editing the .txt file.

Rundown:

myinfo.txt

needs to be imported into

textbox (one of my varibles in actionscript)

_______________________________________________

Could someone type up some syntax I could use to do
this. Help would be much appreciated.

Importing Text From External File?
Can anyone give me a basic explanation on how to use actionscript in a text box to load text from an external source aka a .txt file or something?

LoadVars() I understand will do this but I'm not sure how to set it up.
Any thoughts would be helpful

(simple) Importing Text File
Hi all,

Ok I am attempting to import a text file via loadVariables.

This is the code I have so far :

Code:
// Frame 1
FileLoaded = 0;
loadVariables ( "test.txt" , 1 );

// Frame 3
if (FileLoaded == 0) {
a4 = FileLoaded;
gotoAndPlay(2);
}

//Frame 4
a1 = Item1;
a2 = Item2;
a3 = Item3;
a4 = FileLoaded;
stop();
and a text file of :
&FileItems=3&Item1=1&Item2=2&Item3=3&FileLoaded =1

Since this is for test purposes, I have dynamic text fields on the stage named a1, a2, a3, a4

When I Ctrl+Enter it runs, no complaints, but the FileLoaded is always 0.

What did I do wrong?

Vince

Importing A .txt File From Another URL Into A Dynamic Text Box
I was browsing through the tutorials and found this which is exactly what I need.
---------------------------------------------
To include a text file, html file, XML file, etc from a different server/domain - only a simple script is needed. In the Flash movie you would have something like this:

loadVariablesNum("GetFile.php",0);

You would also have a dynamic text box named 'Results'. After calling the script this text area would be populated with the information at the URL your requesting. Here's the script:

<?php
1) $URL = "http://www.somesite.com/Data.txt";
2) $fp = fopen( $URL,"r");
3) $Results = fread($fp, 800000);
4) fclose( $fp );
5) print "Results=$Results";
?>
----------------------------------------------

My problem is the instructions are for Flash 5 and I have Flash MX and I am a complete novice to Flash, period. I want to include news from a news program in my Flash site. The news is ever changing so I know that a dynamic text box is required.

If someone could further explain how to do this in Flash MX, I would be super grateful.

Where does the loadvaribles go and where does that script go? The simplest way you could tell me would be best.

Thanks so much

Importing Array From Text File
Hi all,

I'm trying to import an array from a text file

the array is written as such

myArray=[a,b,c,d,e,f,g]

when I "LoadVariablesNum" it loads the variable as, I think, a string. ie if you then trace myArray.length it gives 15, which is the number of characters including brackets and commas.

can anyone tell me how to import the thing properly?

thanks in advance

Problem Importing .text File
Hey, has anyone got any ideas for what I might be missing here...

I've instructed my flash site to import and display the contents of a variable from a .txt file and when I press Ctrl-Enter to test it out in Flash MX it works fine, I can see the words that have been imported from the txt file.

However, when I go to preview in HTML, my dynamic text box no longer shows up any of the words from the text file. Any help asap would be much appreciated.

Cheers
Pete

Problem With Importing Text File :/
Hey,
I am making my flash site editable via text files. I have successfully imported a text file with just text, but when I want to import a text file with a table in it, nothing shows up. Can flash not recognize tables, just text? Please reply.

Importing Flash With Text File?
hello, i have got a program that can make some cool lookin text effects, but the problem is, i cant play the swf file without the text document it comes with. How can i import the swf file into flash so i can edit it and view it? i can view it in the flash player but how can i IMPORT it, cause to play it, like i said, it needs the text file, and i cant import the text file.

the text file looks like this - &label600=Matrix&constructor=[type Function]&__proto__=[object Object]&globalsound=[object Object]&freeze=&url=http://www.violent-se7en.tk&urljumpto=www.violent-se7en,tk&loop=0&loaded=1&effect=600&colorbackgroun d=0x000000&colortext=0xEF0000&line1=Violent Se7en&line2=&line3=&line4=&line5=&x1=5&x2=5&x3=5&x 4=5&x5=5&y1=150&y2=150&y3=150&y4=150&y5=150&vol=11 0&s1=100&s2=100&s3=100&s4=100&s5=100&bg=&frameto=f ive

-im pretty sure i copied it all-
If u can follow my question, plz reply and help. i need to eb able to open this file in flash so i can edit it and export it as a avi.
thx

Importing Content From A Text File
We can import a text file's content to flash using

variable name= content for example (the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog)

Is it possible to import content from text file without giving the variable name in the begining.

If yes please let me know how.

Thanks
Salim

Importing Info From A Text File
How do you import text that is stored in a .txt file from flash?

[Help] Importing More Than One Variable From A Text File.
Hi, is there anyway to load more than one variable froma text file.
EX:
myvar="fff"
var2=""
Thanks.

Importing A Text File Into Flash MX
Hello big world that lies beyond my front door

Can anyone point me in the right direction please - how do I import external text files into Flash MX

thanks...................................

Importing Lines Of Text From Txt File
Hi, I have multiple lines of unformatted text in a ordinary text-file looking something like this:

First line of text
Second line of more text
Third line of even more text
Last line of example text

What I was wondering was if there is a way for flash to import the lines separately and save them in strings created on the fly.

Note: I know that this is much simpler done in xml but since I want it to be as user-friendly and as easy to update as possible I would like to avoid any kind of mark-up.

Thanks

Importing (and Analyzing) A Raw Text File
I have to import a (long) text with that structure (this is the 5 first lines of the text)
The text will be often updated, so I can't edit it..it should be imported as it is

Code:

[Category]
item1=big / red
item2=thin / blue
item3=big / blue
item4=thin / yellow
I've understood that in Flash I must use the LoadVars() object:

Code:

loadText = new LoadVars();
loadText.load("test.txt");
loadText.onLoad = function() {
trace(this)
};
If I import the text like that, here's the result in the output window:

Code:

%5BCategory%5D%0D%0Aitem1=big%20%2F%20red%0D%0Aitem2%3Dthin%20%2F%20blue%0D%0Aitem3%3Dbig%20%2F%20blue%0D%0Aitem4%3Dthin%20%2F%20yellow&onLoad=%5Btype%20Function%5D
So, my question is:
How should I proceed to have that properly filtered and put in an array?

Thanks very much!

Importing An Array From A Text File?
Hi All

is it possible to import an array variable from a text file?

lets say i have

myarr=[["dave","jones",20],
["steve","smith",30],
["bob","wilkes",15]]

now could i have a text file with just the delimited values then import that into flash some how to build up the array?

I know i could do it like
name1=dave&sur1=jones&age1=20&name2=steve....etc.. .

but then the text file just looks harder to manage than the array itself

Does anyone know of a way of just being able to read in comma delimted data or am i asking too much?

regards

Harvey

Importing Arabic Text From An XML File
Importing text from an XML file to appear as text in Flash works in English, however if the text I want to import is in Arabic, when I test the movie there is no text at all.

Is there some particular syntax to preface the Arabic text?

I'll want to import text from XML in other languages too. (French)

I'd cut and pasted some Arabic text into the XML file that displays pictures and text in the "slideshow.fla" (http://www.adobe.com/support/flash/applications/jpeg_slideshow_xml/jpeg_slideshow_xml03.html)

Substituting Arabic text for English text, editing the XML file with Dreamweaver.

Any ideas as to how I might achieve my objective of importing Arabic text into Fash?

I'd started developing my prototpe in Macromedia Director 7, and then Director MX, but I have not found a suitable Arabic font that I can embed that will allow me to display Arabic fonts in Adobe Director. I have the Arabic text in a Word document.

I've dicovered that my Flash MX Pro and Dreamweaver both support Arabic fonts, but I want to import text from an XML file.

I'd prefer using cast libraries and cast members, but I don't know of an equivalent in Flash to what I'm comfortable with in Director.