loading external SWFs ... then going to a specific frame?

[sroberts209]

Hello!

I want to load an external SWF file that has four parts (let's say: "about us", "contact", etc.) into my main movie.

The file size of this external movie is big enough to require its' own loader.

When the user clicks on a button on the main movie "about" (for instance) it will load the external SWF file ...fine. The loader will play then it will jump to the next frame ..."about" ...fine.

BUT ...

what if the user clicks on on a different button, say "contact" ???

How do I get the the external SWF to load STARTING WITH THE LOADER and THEN know to jump ahead to frame 10, where "contact" begins?

[tokyo_sky]

try loading the movie say as MC

then use
on(press){
_root.MC.gotoAndStop(10);
}

gotoAndStop/play commands can be used with movie clips to govern there indervidual timeline

[sroberts209]

thanks!

But won't it bypass the loader?

So it will go to frame #10, but if the file's not loaded, there will just be blank space until it loads ...?

[tokyo_sky]

use an external loader as a holder so it is a movie that says loading... then is replaced when the new movie comes in at frame 10...

or get mx2004 and use


MovieClipLoader.onLoadStart handler is invoked when loading begins.
MovieClipLoader.onLoadError handler is invoked if the clip cannot be loaded.
MovieClipLoader.onLoadProgress handler is invoked as the loading process progresses.
MovieClipLoader.onLoadInit handler is invoked after the actions in the first frame of the clip have executed, so you can begin manipulating the loaded clip.
MovieClipLoader.onLoadComplete handler is invoked when a file has completed downloading.

[oldnewbie]

Not that easy my friend... Been at it for a couple of hours now and I know my way through preloaders... Have yet to get it working!

[sroberts209]

OK ...I know nothing, but wouldn't it be something like:

Each button on the main movie sends the message to load the external SWF with a different variable.

The first frame of the incoming SWF has code that says something like:

If variable "A" then play the loader and then jump to frame #15

If variable "B", then play the loader and then jump to frame #20

and so on...

Eh?

[oldnewbie]

Was talking to tokyo_sky and not really to you my friend...

Yes you're on the right track, and that's somewhat what I've been doing but the preloader bit is what's causing me problems... Because any button could be hit first...

Waisted! Will look into it again tommorrow, if tokyo_sky doesn't come up with more than just suggestions!

[sroberts209]

Thanks!

[tokyo_sky]

no oldnewbie i thought it was alot easyer so i hint good for learning and takes less time for me.... and you actually seem hostile??


is this the sort of thing u want...

main opens ext.swf
ext has a loading scene only playes once... seems more sencible but can play it every time by moving the while statment

[sroberts209]

Yeah ... he did seem a little hostile ...hmm.

Thanks Tokyo sky!

It will take me a little while to figure this out.

I'm not totally sure where the loader should go. So if this works, no matter which button you press, it will load the external SWF, play the loader, and then jump to the frame you chose.

The next time you click a button, it will go straight to that frame in the SWF because the SWF has already loaded. correct?

Thanks again!

[tokyo_sky]

you got it!
play around with it

"I'm not totally sure where the loader should go"

im not sure what loader you mean?? the loading scene? or the bit that loads the clip? ohwell if its a problem let me know...

[sroberts209]

Thanks again!

I'm using this as a loader:

bytes_loaded = Math.round(this.getBytesLoaded());
bytes_total = Math.round(this.getBytesTotal());
getPercent = bytes_loaded/bytes_total;
this.loadBar._width = getPercent*100;
this.loadText = Math.round(getPercent*100)+"%";
if (bytes_loaded == bytes_total) {
this.gotoAndPlay(3);
}

I'll need to modify this slighty ... but does this go before your script:

_root.loaddone = true;
gotoAndStop(_root.frame);

or after?

[tokyo_sky]

bytes_loaded = Math.round(this.getBytesLoaded());
bytes_total = Math.round(this.getBytesTotal());
getPercent = bytes_loaded/bytes_total;
this.loadBar._width = getPercent*100;
this.loadText = Math.round(getPercent*100)+"%";
if (bytes_loaded == bytes_total) {
this.gotoAndPlay(3);
}

percent = Math.round((this.getBytesLoaded()/this.getBytesTotal())*100)
this.loadbar._width = percent;
this.loadText = percent+"%";

same code...

put in ext.fla, frame 1, scene "loading"...
if your wondering where the scene bit is press SHIFT+F2

[neway]

External .swf preloader

May be of some help

[oldnewbie]

Me, hostile? Sure, why not?

[oldnewbie]

http://blake.prohosting.com/~tektips...ficframe1.html

[sroberts209]

Wow! That's great ... exactly what we've been trying to do.

can you share the secrets? (in plain english)

Thanks!

[oldnewbie]

No... Guess I'm much too hostile for that!

But anyone that has a decompiler could easily find out!

[tokyo_sky]

humm... you used _global instead of _root, what would the difference be? apart from that i like the naked ladies

[oldnewbie]

Well they aren't really naked! Was just to add some weight, 'cause the loaded movies weren't heavy at all, and I did somewhat want to see the preloader in action on a fast connection...

As for _global, why not as in _global.hostile!