Loading XML into a dynamic text field in MX??

[60watt]

Howzit.

I have an xml file called "news.xml"; and in my flash movie I have a dynamic text field with the variable name "newsfield".

This is the script I have :

newsfield = new XML();
newsfield.load("news.xml");

I have never done this before... I'm not too sure if my script in the xml file is right either.

A simple fla. showing me what to do would be excellent.

Thanks for the help.

[VAYKENT]

First suggestion:

If you're using FMX - don't use variable names attached to text fields. Use an instance name, and assign the instances property 'text' that value you want to display.

Second suggestion:

Keep the text field and XML Object seperate. This will help you if you need to do anything other than import the XML in for display in that text field.

.... and... I'm confused when you say the script in your XML might not be correct... if you mean your XML might not be well-formed, maybe you could you post an example of the XML script.

[cSean]

Hey Vaykent,

I happen to be having this problem as well. Here's what my XML code looks like, (greater/less than signs replaced by () for posting purposes)

(ALLNEWS)
(NEWS date="Feb 23 2003"theText="This is a test of the news using XML."/)
(NEWS date="Feb 15 2003"theText="This is a test of the news using XML.  This is old, its date is february 15th."/)
(NEWS date="Jan 30 2003"theText="Now this is the oldest. Jan 30th."/)
(/ALLNEWS)

I'm pretty sure my parsing code works too, but pretty sure isnt close enough eh? Heh, heres what it looks like:

function loadNews()
{
datesArray = new Array();
newsArray = new Array();
// load the XML object
_root.mcMessage.text = "Loading XML News Data...";
objXML = new XML();
objXML.onLoad = loadXML;
objXML.load("news.xml");
}

// onLoad XML function
function loadXML(success) {
	if (success) {
	_root.mcMessage.text = "";
	_root.siteCount = this.firstChild.childNodes.length;
	_root.pushArray();
	} else { _root.mcMessage.text = "Error loading XML Data";
	}
}

function pushArray() {
	for (var count = 0; count < _root.siteCount; count++) {
	var nodeObj = objXML.firstChild.childNodes[count];
	datesArray[count] = nodeObj.attributes.date;
	newsArray[count] = nodeObj.attributes.theText;
	}
}

Hope that didnt take too much of your time
Oh yes, I call the loadNews function first frame, and my text field has a keyframe on the first frame as well. Also, to text to make sure my text field was working, I substituted the call to my loadNews function for

mcMessage.text = "test test test"

And that text appeared fine.

Any Ideas?

Thanks so much for your time

[VAYKENT]

My first suggestion - don't use Arrays.

My second suggestion - put everything related to your XML object on the first frame of the root timeline, then specifically target everything directly.

Next.... use PHP tags to post XML, like the sticky suggests (you ~did~ read the sticky... right? ...).

This code works:

_root.createTextField("mcMessage", 10,10,10,10,10);
_root.mcMessage.autoSize="left";
_root.mcMessage.text="PLOP";
function loadNews(){
    _root.mcMessage.text = "Loading XML News Data...";
    _root.objXML = new XML();
    _root.objXML.onLoad = _root.loadXML;
    _root.objXML.load("news.xml");
}

function loadXML(success) {
    if (success) {
        _root.mcMessage.text = "XML Loaded";
    } else {
        _root.mcMessage.text = "Error loading XML Data";
    }
}
loadNews() 

... and this XML works:

<ALLNEWS>
<NEWS date="Feb 23 2003"theText="This is a test of the news using XML."/>
<NEWS date="Feb 15 2003"theText="This is a test of the news using XML.  This is old, its date is february 15th."/>
<NEWS date="Jan 30 2003"theText="Now this is the oldest. Jan 30th."/>
</ALLNEWS> 

... and with an explanation of what you do with the arrays, I can show you how to not use them... but how to do it with the XML Object you've already created.

[cSean]

Ahh, that fixed the problem. Thanks much One more thing, why do you suggest not using arrays? I've used them in other sites and theyre very helpful.

[VAYKENT]

To me, taking an XML Object and placing it in an Array Object is like taking a String Object and placing it in a Character Object (if that existed).

XML Objects have the same functionality that Arrays do, but there far moe expressive of heactual structure of the data.

I would be interested in what you use the arrays for. Maybe I can suggest how to do it with the XML Object.

[cSean]

Well as of now, I read in each childnode of the xml object into the array, one for date, and one for text. Using that I create buttons and a display where users can navigate archived news. The latest news appears at the top, in the slot [0].

[VAYKENT]

So you're not using any Array Object methods like push or pull? You're just taking the data and creating buttons and text fields from it?