Flash :: Simple But Crucial Problem About Variable Types

Simple But Crucial Problem About Variable Types
Im working on a chess game replay system in flash, and in order to display comments on individual moves I am loading them from an external text file. Since one of the navigation buttons allows the game to skip to the last move I want to also recieve the number of the last move through this text file. After using loadvars all the comments are loaded correctly as strings but the variable for lastmove is not being recieved as a number. My ultimate question is whether there is a way to convert the text number into a real number which can be manipulated. If not, is there a simple way to load this data element individually as a number.

Simple But Crucial
very simple (BUT CRUCIAL!) question:
I have seen websites all in flash in a rectangle that covers 2/3 of the screen.
these I assume have been created fully in Flash (given that when I right-click anywhere on the screen it has the menu of "play, rewind, loop" etc).
However, I have seen other sites that use flash in say the menu bar but the rest is not. Are these websites designed in HTML and the flash menu bar file embedded into it? if yes, which is recommended for a beginner?
regards,

Sting Variable To Mc Path - VARIABLE TYPES
Hey all Im building a variable like this

var m = "_root.subNav.subNav" + i;

When I do a trace to find the var type it comes back as a string so my function wont execute thinking it is a string and not a path. Does anyone know how to fix this or change the variable type on the fly in AS 1.0? Ive tried:

var m =eval( "_root.subNav.subNav" + i);

But that came back undefined....
Thanks.

Variable Types MX
dose any body know if it is posilbe to find out what type of variable a variable is i.e is it an array, integer,string or boolean?

is there any thing like gettype() like in php?

Strings & Variable Types
I am becoming frustratingly familiar with variable types recently and have found that there may be another aspect that I am not sure how to deal with.

When I assign a variable in the main timeline:
lot001 = "on"; and then refer to the variable on a clip Event:
clipEvent
onClipEvent (load) {
if (_root.lot001 == "on") {
with ("_root.lots.lot001mc") {
gotoAndPlay ("on");
the mc works as I intended.

However, when I load the variables from an outside txt file. I can verify that the variable loads by populating a dynamic text field, but the statement :
onClipEvent (load) {
if (_root.lots.lot001 == "on") {
with ("_root.lots.lot001mc") {
gotoAndPlay ("on");
When loading variables into the movieclip instance 'lots' does not work.

I have tried making the variable in the txt field a number and removed the " " to make flash treat the variable as a number.

In any case thus far, it appears that the string from the txt variables is different than the evaluation I am doing in the if statement.

If anyone has any insight into why this is happening I would be extremely appreciative to learn what is going on.

Thanks
-Tim

Problem With Variable Types
i have some variables that are set by the user through input fields, after the value is input, i need to do some math with them but flash thinks they are strings so instead of adding them it concatinates them. I know theres a way to initialize variables of certain types but it has escaped me. Any help would be much appreciated!

Which Variable-types Have Best Performance
hello,

when i needed to use variables in nested loops (for example in frame-indipendent collision detection)
i always tried to to use only local variables in my function.eg.:

Code:
function calc(k,l){

var am = 10;
var x_am = k.xmov / am;
var y_am = k.ymov / am;

var rot_am = r_step / am;
var rel;
var l_a;
var k_a;
var d_x;
var d_y;
var rot
rot = l.rotation;
for (var i = 0; i < am; i++)
{
//
rot -= rot_am;
k.x += x_am;
k.y += y_am;
l_a = (rot > 0) ? rot : (360 - Math.abs (rot));
d_x = l.x - k.x;
d_y = l.y - k.y;

...snip

this usualy resulted in a fast performance.

is this still ok with AS3?

Are there some good AS3 tests regarding performance optimization?

thanks

Create Variable Types Dynamically
I wonder if it is possible in Flash to create variables dynamically.

I am using an xml file that feeds the Flash application. In this file I would like to declare the variables (actually class instances) and their type.

I have some AS classes, let's say Box.as (class Box).
So if in my xml file I had something like <var name="mybox" type="Box" />
in Flash I would like to create a variable named mybox which would be a type of Box.

I need this because I don't know beforehand the variables that are needed. These will be declared in this xml file.

The typical declaration is be
var myname:Box = new Box();

Can I do the same dynamically?

i.e.
function createVar(name, type)
{
var name:type = new type(); // compile-error
}

createVar("myname", Box);

Any help would be great.

Thanks

Declare Variable Data Types
From my understanding, there is no need to declare variables data type like String, Number, Array for it to function. For example:

var abc:String = "abcde";
var abc:Number = 1234;
var abc:Array = new Array();

We can write it in easier way and it is still working.

abc = "abcde";
abc = 1234;
abc = new Array();

So, what is the purpose and benefit to declare the variable specific data type?

Variable Types: Integers Vs Strings?
K so I got a number input from a input field and I guess that's in a string form, because when I add a number to that variable, I got the wrong answer.

input = 6
input + 1 = 61

Help me convert the input into an integer, so that I can use it in equations!

Problem With Converting Variable Types
Heya

I want to load variables from an external File.
-> loadVariablesNum("navparms.txt", 0);

In that textfile i have one Variable declared :
-> menupunkte = 4

In the debugger i see that the variable is loaded into the movieclip as STRING, but i need it as Number
debugger shows: -> menupunkte = "4"

so i tried this in the next line:
-> myvariable = Number(menupunkte);

But the debugger shows me a Zero in 'myvariable'.

In the AS-Reference i read that Number() will give back a Zero if the Parameter is undefinated.

What i'm doing wrong?

Thanks for Help

Referential Variable Types - .clone() Equivalent
hi

i come from a Java background so I am looking for an equivalent function in as2. I want to make a completely new copy of an array. so that the new variable isn't just a reference to the same source array.

in java you can use the clone() function that is present in any referential variable.

whats the equivalent?

thx.

Changing Variable Types In External .txt File
when i import the variables from a txt file, they are interpreted as strings and i need them as numbers.

/////////////////////////////////////////////
example from txt file:

num_1=100
&num_2=500

example from FLA file:

trace(this.num_1+this.num_2);
//traces 100500
//I want it to add to be 600

trace(typeof(this.num_1));
//traces "string"
//I want to turn it into "number"
////////////////////////////////////////////////

any help would be great. thx

C

General Action Script Question(involving Variable Types.
Ok, I got kind of a strange question.

Is it posible to set an variable to an MC using a string?
I want to be able to dynamicaly set a variable to an MC without using some huge if statement.

so like

Code:

var1 = 4;

MC_holder = "MC_" + var1;
so that MC_holder actualy holds the MC MC_4?

I hope I am not too off the deep end here. Any help would be great

Website Almost Done - One Crucial Problem.
Hey everyone!

Well me and my brother have successfully finished creating our first website for my cousin. This website will be used to showcase my cousins photos that she takes.

Anyways, everything is done and working except for one problem, that if not fixed, causes the website to be useless. Thats three weeks of hard work wasted!

Problem
Anyways, when you get to the website, click the gallery link at the top to go to the page which will display her photos. Now at the bottom left, click one of the catagories.

Notice, when the thumbnails load, they're all stretched out causing you to not be able to see them?

Sometimes they work as thumbnails and other times they mess up, and it really looks bad for the website and it only happens when you view that catagories for the first time. Once you click the next button and then the back button to view the first set, they look fine.

You'll see what I mean when you try the website.

Now whats supposed to happen, is that four loader components are there, and when a catagory button is clicked, the loader components loads a seperate picture each.

The components are 100x100 size each, and should display the jpg photos that size as well.

Though most of the time they dont

Anyways, the website can be viewed here. The domain is being set up, so for now I use a test one.

Thanks everyone!

Variable Take On Content Of A Root Variable And Not Its Path - Simple Please Help
Hi there ok my brain has died and fallen off somewhere , what i am trying to do is this:

l=0

l++

_root.advert= "_root.var" + l ;

then i have a text box on stage , dynamic, etc var: _root.advert
, vars are stored in a text file , vars are called, var1, var2 etc , text box needs to display variable contents, but at the moment it just says "_root.var1" etc and not the content s of var1 this is very simple problem but my brains dead please help.

-arran

If Variable=variable Simple Problem
Ok i'm having this problem;i have tried a lot of times to try to find what is wrong but could not;it looks pretty simple though but i'm a newbie;

here is the situation:
I have 2 buttons:
-Next page
-Previous page

a dynamic text box where i load an external text;it is called "contents"(the var).

my "Previous page" button works fine while i'm having problem with my "next page" button.

I use loadVariablesNum("../texts/"+pagenum+".txt", 0);
So that when i press on
next page" button;the pagenum is incremented and it loads 1.txt , 2.txt ,etc...(where in each text; "contents" variable is loaded).

I also use a variable(lastpage) so that to stop the "next page" button to go further than the last page.

I load the lastpage variable value from an external text too.

here is the code the "next page" button:

on (release) {
if (pagenum=lastpage) {
break;
} else {
pagenum = pagenum+1;
loadVariablesNum("../texts/"+pagenum+".txt", 0);
}
}

The "next page" button doesn't stop when pagenum=lastpage.

Any idea why? thanks in advance

HELP Simple Variable ?
How would I set variable NUMBER with value 1? Would it be NUMBER = 1. When I check the variable would it be NUMBER == 1? THANKS

Simple Variable AS
if (seven = Windows XP) {
gotoAndStop("Scene 3", 1);
}

I get an error on that because of the space between Windows and XP (It wants it to look like WindowsXP) I am using the System.capabilities.os string to determine the OS and it sets the variable as Windows XP, is there a way to make that work?

I tired:

if (seven = "Windows XP") {
gotoAndStop("Scene 3", 1);
}

and

if (seven = Windows+XP) {
gotoAndStop("Scene 3", 1);
}

Thank You,
-Dox'

Simple Variable
ok, this is probably a very simple question, but this is my first time actually working with some action script.

i put this on one of the background layers which makes the variable, xvariable, become the about_mc movie clip. for some reason this doesn't seem to work, though.

function() {
xvariable = about_mc;
}

when i use
on (release) {
_root.about_mc.gotoAndPlay(46);
}

on a button it works fine

but when i use

on (release) {
_root.xvariable.gotoAndPlay(46);
}

it does not work.

the reason for doing this is when you click on different buttons the value of xvariable will change to different names of movie clips. but can somebody tell me why the
_root.xvariable.gotoAndPlay(46); does not work. thanks.

Simple Variable?
I wish to simply define a variable let's say "x" equal to one. Upon click of a button I want to increase "x's" value by one. When "x" is equal to 15 [that's to say the user has clicked 14 times] I want a tell target to take over and do just that, tell target "monster" goto and stop next frame.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Simple Variable, Please Help
I have a video clip that I want to loop until a button is pressed, how do I go about this? I can't get variable function to work!
using MX, I state on the xth frame

if x=0 then goto and play 1; else play

(not the actionscript i've used, just my simplification)

but no response, it just plays all the way through,

any help would be much appreciated

Simple Variable ?
Basically I'm trying to move a MC to the right a certain number of pixels on rollover, and move it back left the same number of pixels on roll out, relative to a global varible I set. Well, setting the _x value in the funtion (to move it 100 pixels right let's say) as _global.box + 100 doesn't move it to the right 100 pixels. however, setting it to _global.box - 100 moves it to the left 100. why can you subract from the globals value but not add to it? An is there any way around it?

thanks for the help as always

Simple Variable Help
hi,

im loading a variable into a movie using the embed/param method
e.g. bond_intro.swf?Agent=001NA0

this works fine and produces 001NA0 in a dynamic text field...

the problem occurs when i try to use that variable again load some php e.g
loadVariables("http://www.mywebsite.com/Agents.php?Agent="+Agent, "");

it just does not want to use the variable... it works fine when i hard code it and use Agent = "001NA0" in the time line, but when i load it in from the embed / param tag it doesnt work

can i use anyother method or can you see what im doing wrong

thank you for your time

Charlie

Simple Variable Help
ok so i have been doin this all afternoon but i have hit a brick wall that should be simple. ok i have a movie clip that i have attached this code too...

onClipEvent (load) {
this._y = 0;
}
onClipEvent (enterFrame) {
if (this._y<janV) {
this._y += 5;
}
}

which moves the movie clip down by a distance of what ever the variable janV is!!

so no issues there then, however when i change the positive value to a negative, the direction changes however the movie clip does not stop it just keeps moving up and does not stop?? am i been real stupid?? Please help I am goin insane!!!

Cheers sam

Simple Variable Help
Hi.

I have this action script:

PHP Code:

trace("-------------------------
you are in the menu area now.");
frankAll.onEnterFrame = function() {
// we're trying to see at each frame (per second)...
    if (!this.hitTest(_root._xmouse, _root._ymouse)) {
    // if mouse rolls out of the gray background symbol
        _root.theContent.gotoAndPlay("fadeTo100");
        delete this.onEnterFrame;
        // we want to get rid of this CPU eating onEnterFrame function
        trace("-------------------------
you're out of the menu area");
        prevFrame();
        // and go to the previous frame.
    }
};

I need to have the same script run on "rogerAll", gilesAll" "adamAll" movie clips as well.

Instead of repeating all that script with the different instants names would i just create a variable with all those names and just enter the variable name at the beginning of that script?

If that's right could someone let me know how I'd write that action script.

Thanks

Julian

Simple Variable?
ok.. on frame 1 on my time line I set a variable:

jumpframe = "100";

Later in the time line I use the variable: gotoAndPlay(jumpframe);
when it hits that it goes to and plays from frame 100.. all is good

then I have a button inside a mc that I want to change the value of that variable to 200. (and another button that would set it to 300):

on(release){
root.jumpframe = "200";
}

When it hits the same gotoAndPlay(jumpframe); I was hoping it would then go to and play from frame 200 (or 300 depending on which button I clicked)

Basically, I'm trying to get the buttons to change the value of the variable, and not by increments like +5, but it's just not working.. I've spent a good 2 hours messing with different syntax and still no luck.

please help

thoughts?

Simple Variable Q
This is most likely the most dumb question asked here in ultrashock but... For some CRAZY CRAZY reason this isn't working

this does...

ActionScript Code:
loadMovie("form.swf", 1);

this doesn't... why?

ActionScript Code:
movieForm = "form.swf";
loadMovie(movieForm , 1);

I've also tried to set the movieForm variable into a string but no luck.

Thanks!

POST 700! weee

Need Some Help With A Variable Problem, It Is Simple
Im having a problem here with the variables, Im sure it is just a small problem, like one character in the wrong spot or something, but it is driving me nuts!
The plan is to click one of the buttons, they all jump to the next frame and play the same animation on the timeline, but when it gets to the end of the animation there is this actionscript. Also when the button is clicked it sets the variable value.
The variable name is buzz, the possible values here are presser or about. The problem Im having is that once I have gone to one of the movies and come back, I click on a different button and it goes to the previous one again!!!
This is the code on the last frame

{if (buzz == presser) ;
loadMovieNum ("press.swf", 2)};
{if (buzz == about);
loadMovieNum ("about.swf", 2)};

Problem With Simple Variable
Simple Problem ;(

Does anyone know, why the Variable "Targeto" is empty in the else case?! If I trace the value of "Targeto" it is 20 at output "V1", and in the else case it is empty by tracing "V2"...

This is the script:
-------------------

Targeto = 20;

trace ("V1:" +Targeto);

ifFrameLoaded (20) {

if (Targeto == "First") {

tellTarget (_root) {gotoandStop(20);}
tellTarget (_root.Controller) {gotoAndPlay (100);trace ("Restart");}

} else {

tellTarget (_root) {gotoandStop(20);}
tellTarget (_root.Controller) {gotoAndPlay (20);trace ("SessionStart");trace ("V2:" +Targeto);}
}

}

Mikka

Simple Variable Problem
if (section == group) {
gotoAndPlay ("group");
} else {
if (section == company) {
gotoAndPlay ("company");
} else {
if (section == services) {
gotoAndPlay ("services");
} else {
if (section == portfolio) {
gotoAndPlay ("portfolio");
} else {
if (section == contact) {
gotoAndPlay ("contact");
} else {
if (section == client) {
gotoAndPlay ("client");
}
}
}
}
}
}

Why doesn't this work?? This is being used so that I can watch the same animation when a button is clicked but it goes to a specific section. This is so that I don't have to recreate the animation for each transition.

Please HELP

Simple Variable Question...
Okay, I'm not very good with variables, and I couldn't find a decent tutorial so I thought I'd ask everyone.

I'm trying to make this really simple button bar (2 buttons, A & B). Each of the buttons, when pressed, increase in size by 200%. I cannot have both buttons at 200% at the same time, so I need one to decrease in size when the other button is pressed.

It seems simple enough, and I've seen it done before, but I can't get anything to work.

If anyone could help me out, I'd be your best friend. A good example of what I'm trying to do is at http://www.choicetranslating.com (the button bar at the left)

Thanks!

Simple Variable Prob
Hiya,
I've a input box with a variable called test. Now i want to test if the box is empty. Is this wrong?

if(test == "")
{code}

Thanks, Chi

Very Simple Variable Question
dont usualy use variables day to day.
i simply want text field 3 to add the text content of field 1 adn 2 together to form a sentance

tnats it!

Simple Qu: Can I Load Certain Variable From Swf
hello,

can i load certain variable from a swf, without loading all the other with it plz reply soon, thanks

Simple Variable Question
I am pretty new to variables and need to know how to set a variable, and then work actions on a seperate button and mc accordingly.

My problem is I want to find which frame an mc is on by using variables, then use an if statement on a button to tell the mc to go somewhere else.

I hope this makes sense.

Having A Simple Problem With Variable Val
Hello I apologize in advance for this stupid question but I'm stumped.

I used to do it in flash 5 easy I thought.
Now Im trying it in MX

Ok I have 5 different buttons on my interface.
I want the functions of the buttons to assign a value to a variable

so you use
------------example of button 1
on press
set variable button = 1
goto and play (frame I set here)
------------example of button 2
on press
set variable button = 2
goto and play (frame I set here)
---
and so on til button 5

After you press a button it plays an animation after and then gets to a key frame where it will check the variable
button = (whatever button you pressed)

then I want it to,
for the values between 1 and 5
,go to the corresponding scene numer

button = 1 goto and play scene 1 frame 1
button = 2 goto and play scene 2 frame 1
and so on.

The reason I want to use this method is because I can use the same transition animation for all the scenes.
This way I only need one button that sets a variable as opposed to many.

so it goes like this

Press a button
a variable value is set (depending on your choice)
animation begins to play
when it gets to last frame it checks the variable set
by earlier button press to determine which scene to go to.

I know this is possible I am just wacky from being up for days.

Simple Variable Problem
I am making a presentation in Flash, which each "slide" is a separte .swf loaded into a movie clip. On a few of the "slides" I have a calculator function built in, where it runs a simple calculation and saves the answer as 'newamnt'. A few slides later I would like to recall this variable to add it to another variable, 'newamnt2'. My question would be then, how can I recall the first variable 'newamnt'. I've tried tracing the target path of the variable, but when I trace the variable with the path name in Main movie timeline, it returns the value 'undefined'. I know that it can be done, but if anybody has any help I'd be grateful. Thanks!

Simple Variable Problem...
Anybody able to give an explanation of global variables? How/where to define them?

Simple Variable Question
I haven't really used variables before and i was wondering how they work.

i want a button to tell an mc to go to a particular frame, where i hoped i could put a command 'set variable *something* = true'

I could then have another action on a frame that says 'if variable *something* = true then goto here'

I know this is probably a load of nonsense but HEY we have to have a go don't we?

Simple Variable Problem...
...for a simple person (me!).

I can't seem to get at a variable (colorVal) from a movie which is nested about 3 levels down.

I am creating the variable from a buttonat _level1:

on(release){
colorVal = 0x006A4E;
}

but nothing is happening.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Chris.

Very Simple Variable Question
This question is so simple yet not covered by any tutorial I could find. How and where do you declare a variable, and how do you refer to it in code? (Does is need _root.myVariable or just myVariable?) I know Java, if that helps in explaining.

Simple Variable Problem...
I need to move the value of a variable named "chosenScene"

into a

gotoAndPlay("Scene Name",1);

script...

Basically, people choose the scene they want to go to, click on a button, sets the variable, and it is not until later in the movie that they are actually taken to the next scene. So some how I need to get the value of the chosenScene variable into the gotoAndPlay(); actionscript later in the movie...

any ideas?

Simple Variable Path..
i have a 'circle_mc' movieclip inside that 'circleInside_mc' and the code on that is...

onClipEvent (enterFrame){
var test;
test = 100;
}

-------------------------------
code on _root frame 1

var c = _root.circle_mc.circleInside_mc.test;
trace(c);

------------------------------------------------

why the value is not displayed. it says undefined.

thnx!!

Probably A Simple Variable Thing...
Please oh please help me digital void!

Okay, here is my problem:

I am using a movie clip of a bunch of moving buttons as a drop down menu on my main timeline. This clip is duplicated on my main timeline to make many drop down menus.

eg:

clip (of dropping down options (buttons))
option 1
option 2
option 3

clip (copy)
option 1
option 2
option 3

etc...

when someone clicks on an option, the button goes to a frame label on the timeline specific to that option's content fading in.

The drop down menus are still there. When the user clicks on another option I want the content from the first option to fade out before going to the next option (frame label on the timeline).

To do this I have a fade out frame label on the main timeline for each bit of content depending on which option was selected. On the fade out's last frame it checks to see what a certain variable is set to.(The variable is set when the content fades in.
)
This way the frame knows which selection was made, and accordingly, goes to that option's fade up.

Eg:

User selects option 1. (go to and play "1up")

Option 1's content fades up. (var=1)

User selects option 2. (if var=1 goto and play "2-1out")

Option 1's content fades out. (go to and play "2up")

Option 2's content fades in.

But... it's not working.
Here is my script for the content fade up frame:

location = "first";
stop();

Here is my script for the option button:

on (release) {
if (location="first") {
play();
tellTarget ("_level0") {
gotoAndPlay("PickUp");
}
} else if (location="pickup") {
play();
tellTarget ("_level0") {
gotoAndPlay("OrderX");
}
}
}

As you can see I am accounting for the initial state of the variable when we are not into any option's content. ("first")

I am open to ant suggestions with this problem, and I'm sure I am probably going about this the wrong way entirely, but I have already put a lot of work into these navigations, and I think my way should be possible. My real question is on the syntax of setting and checking the variables, and my if/else if statement.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU if you can help me.

I can also attach the .fla file if needed.

-Nifty

Simple Variable Problem
hey guys, im sure this is a simple one but it is hanging me up for a long time. what i have (condensed) is:

Code:
i=1;

holder[i]._x = 50;

it wont work. thats not it but thats the problem spot. any ideas? thanks.

Simple Variable Question
ive just started using flash 5 and i realize that variables are not automatically global the way they were in flash 4. i cant seem to change my variable in the movie from within a button ( that is on a drop down if that makes a difference ) here's my script:
on (release, releaseOutside) {
if (current != us)
_root.dropDown1.gotoAndStop ( hide );
_root.current.play();
set ( current, evolution );
}

Probably Very Simple Variable Question
At least I think this is a variable question - I have never used them before! I'm sure it's pretty simple but I don't know how to do it.

What I have is a button with an on(rollOver) action. The thing is, I only want it to perform the action if another MC on the stage is at a certain frame.

For example if "MyMovieClip" is stopped at "MyFrame" then do this rollover action - if its not on this frame, don't perform the rollover. -> I just need help putting this into actionscript.

Thanks