How to control a buttons link using xml

[whispers]

links_xml = new XML();
links_xml.ignoreWhite = true;
links_xml.onLoad = function(success) {
	if (success) {
		trace("XML: " + links_xml);
		totalLinks = links_xml.firstChild.childNodes.length;
		trace("TOTAL LINKS: " + totalLinks + newline);
		/*
		//loop through XML to check values..
		for (i = 0; i < totalLinks; i++) {
		trace("LINK " + i + " DETAILS:");
		this[urlVar +i] = [links_xml.firstChild.childNodes[i].childNodes[0].firstChild.nodeValue];
		urlvar1 = links_xml.firstChild.childNodes[0].childNodes[0].firstChild.nodeValue;
		trace("URL: " + this[urlVar+i]);
		_root[altVar+i] = links_xml.firstChild.childNodes[i].childNodes[1].firstChild.nodeValue;
		trace("ALT: " + _root[altVar+i]);
		_root[titleVar+i] = links_xml.firstChild.childNodes[i].childNodes[2].firstChild.nodeValue;
		trace("TITLE: " + _root[titleVar+i]);
		trace("-------------------------------------");
		
		*/
		//assign URL values to variables
		urlVar1 = links_xml.firstChild.childNodes[0].childNodes[0].firstChild.nodeValue;
		trace("URL1 = " + urlVar1);
		urlVar2 = links_xml.firstChild.childNodes[1].childNodes[0].firstChild.nodeValue;
		trace("URL2 = " + urlVar2);
		urlVar3 = links_xml.firstChild.childNodes[2].childNodes[0].firstChild.nodeValue;
		trace("URL3 = " + urlVar3);
		//assign alt text to variables
		altVar1 = links_xml.firstChild.childNodes[0].childNodes[1].firstChild.nodeValue;
		trace("URL1 = " + altVar1);
		altVar2 = links_xml.firstChild.childNodes[1].childNodes[1].firstChild.nodeValue;
		trace("URL2 = " + altVar2);
		altVar3 = links_xml.firstChild.childNodes[2].childNodes[1].firstChild.nodeValue;
		trace("URL3 = " + altVar3);
		//assign title data to varables
		titleVar1 = links_xml.firstChild.childNodes[0].childNodes[2].firstChild.nodeValue;
		trace("URL1 = " + titleVar1);
		titleVar2 = links_xml.firstChild.childNodes[1].childNodes[2].firstChild.nodeValue;
		trace("URL2 = " + titleVar2);
		titleVar3 = links_xml.firstChild.childNodes[2].childNodes[2].firstChild.nodeValue;
		trace("URL3 = " + titleVar3);
	}else {
		trace("error loading xml");
	}
};
links_xml.load("menulink.xml");

is how you will map your button vars out.

(or you could create an object or array and dump the values to that I suppose too)

button:

on (release) {
	getURL("http://www.yourdomain.com/"+urlVar1);
	getURL(urlVar1);
	trace("URL1: "+urlVar1);
	trace("URL2: "+urlVar2);
	trace("URL3: "+urlVar3);
}

[pasmater]

Thanks! - it works fine but I have same problem as with that code before - when I try to put link to another site in xml (http://www.somesite.com) and click on that button in flash nothing happens, links that are local work fine (page1.php etc..)...

code doesent like me...

[whispers]

you cant have it both ways.. either you want to append the http://www.yourdomain.com stuff to the value in the XML or not. up to you.

either check for it (to see if the value starts with http://www and do NOT append the prefix to the string.... or ALWAYS use absolute values in the xml)

[pasmater]

Well thank you on all the help - big help!

[whispers]

do you know to check if the string (xml node value) starts with http:// (or whatever)?
and if NOT add it? (like the line of code used above)

getURL("http://www.yourdomain.com/"+urlVar1);

that means it will take whatever is in the urlVar xml node..and add http://www.yourdomain.com/ to the front of it.

[pasmater]

I just noticed my previous post might sound sarcastic - its not... I really aprecciate your help and you have helped me a lot!

OK I managed to find what problem was... stupid... well I noticed that everything works when menu is in flash/test movie or in flash player but in IE it wasnt working so I opened it in FF and when I clicked pop up warned me I need to change settings for flash player so it can communicate with other sites (?!) ok so I did and now it works - IE gave no notice about that it just didnt do nothing...

I changed code a bit for buttons that will have http links (removed one line)

on (release) {
	getURL(urlVar4);
	trace("URL1: "+urlVar1);
	trace("URL2: "+urlVar2);
	trace("URL3: "+urlVar3);
}

Question now is other ppl using IE with flash settings to "always ask" will have same problem as I did - when they click button nothing will happen, and IE wont tell them what problem is... dont see a way to solve this one...

Thanks

[whispers]

are you testing this ON-LINE? like uploaded to a web host?..or are you just testing through IE>.by clicking on the HTML page from your desktop (so to speak?)

[pasmater]

Yes I was testing html file from my comp not some on-line server...

[whispers]

Im fully understanding what your trying to explain..but it sounds like the FLASH Sandbox security issue.

When testing locally and (I think) your file has to make a call to the internet..it gives a warning.. (as to not be malicious).. you can follow link to Macro-Dobe's website and 'OK' that path (desktop...folder, directory) to be OK to call the playplayer/acces intenet...etc..etc.. without trouble..


once posted on line I do not think that is an issue anymore however.

[pasmater]

Ok, great - thanks!

[vardini2k]

Hi,

I tried the code you have given.

Actually I have two buttons in two different flash files. I added the below given code, that you have given to load the xml file, to both the flash files.
To each button i added onpress function. I can access only the first link in the xml files on both cases.

What is the problem? I seem to be lost.

Shobha

ahhhh..I see I didnt know you need to know how to LOAD the XML as well your first post gave me the impression you knew how already. basically you would use an XML Object...(same as a loadVar Object but for XML)...

this is how a basic XML object is created and used:

1.) to import an XML file...first you need to create an XML object to refer to your data..

2.) you then need to define the actions FLASH wll perform once the XML data "IS" loaded..

3.) you then need to make a call to actually try and LOAD the XML file.

// create xml object (step1)
myXML = new XML();
// define actions to do once XML loads (step2)
myXML.onLoad = function(success) {
	if (!success) {
        	trace("XMLfailed to load");
	   	// plus any other actions you want to execute
        }else {
        	trace("load was good"); 
		// plus any other actions you want to execute              
	}    
};       
// call the actual XML file (step3) 
myXML.load("whateverFile.xml");

so your code might be similar to this:

// create xml object (step1)
myXML = new XML();
// define actions to do once XML loads (step2)
myXML.onLoad = function(success) {
	if (!success) {
        	trace("XMLfailed to load");
	   	// plus any other actions you want to execute
        }else {
        	trace("load was good"); 
		link1 = myXML.firstChild.childNodes[0].firstChild.nodeValue;
		link2 = myXML.firstChild.childNodes[1].firstChild.nodeValue; 
	}    
};       
// call the actual XML file (step3) 
myXML.load("whateverFile.xml");

[whispers]

no clue..how about you just try one..and get 1 to work..them move on..post you code...

this is a simple 1 frame .swf to show/load the XML..no multiple frames.. no double .swf...etc..

its a simple load the XML.. thats all this is.. loading the XML what you DO with the data is up to you.

[4LeggedHobey]

What if the code is an array (arrays are new to me)? I am trying to call the links to buttons, but when I click the buttons, it says it is undefined.

		var root = this.firstChild;
		for (var i = root.firstChild; i != null; i=i.nextSibling) {
			aCaption.push(i.attributes.caption);
			aLink.push(i.attributes.link);
		}
		populate();
	}
};
importXML.load("gallery2.xml");
var aCaption = new Array();
var aLink = new Array();
function populate() {
	for (i=0; i<aCaption.length; i++) {
		this["box"+(i+1)+"_txt"].htmlText = aCaption[i];
		this["link"+(i+1)+"_btn"].onRelease = function(){
			getURL(aLink[i], "_blank");
		}
	}
}

XML is like this:

<option caption="Blue 1" link="http://www.google.com"/>

Thank you! Oh, and it is Flash CS3 if that makes a difference.

[faizanfaiz]

are you wanting to change a list of links?.. of just a single link attached to a single button?... if you need something like a list box populated through XML i can post a source file for you.. For an many child nodes as you have... it will attach a button from the library, populate the text and assign a link....

Hi All,
I know I am responding to a very old post but I would be grateful if someone can send me this or similar file to this one. Actually I have to work on a similar thing the only difference is that I have to deal with Setups and Installation buttons.

my email id is faizan.indore@gmail.com.

Thanks in Advance !!
Faizan

[whispers]

huh?