Accessing the components of a cloned layer

[Sparky23]

I have a layer with several text elements. First I do

var PntInfo = element ("PntLayer");

to get a pointer to the layer. Then

PntInfoList = PntInfo.clone();

to create a new copy of the layer.
Now I want to change the text in PntName, which is a text element on PntLayer. How do I get a pointer to the specific PntName that is on PntInfoList- the clone I created?

[Sparky23]

Quick followup-
I also have a button on each of these layers. There will be several clones of the layer. I need to know which button the user clicked (was it from clone 2 or clone 3?)

[kusco]

In the Features list, the first feature is called "Variable name". You can use it have a child element assigned to a variable of its parents. This allows cloned elements to get handles to their own children.

You can then access a clone child as ...

var my_clone = element ("A").clone()
var clone_child = my_clone.child_variable_name;

Unfortunately, you cannot use 'this' in a button script to get a handle to the button itself, only to its parent, so you cannot pass the cloned button handle to a root function without first assigning a variable name to the button. Then the button can pass its handle using its variable name.

[Sparky23]

Ok, I'm getting closer, but not quite there. What am I missing?
The attached picture shows the setup of "Layer 2", which is probably where the problem lies.

var Text2 = element("Layer 2").RoundButton; //this gets a handle to nothing
Text2.y += 50;

This gets me the error-
Null cannot be appended with a value on line 2 Text2.y += 50
Cannot assign property 'y' to undefined variable on line 2 Text2.y += 50

[Sparky23]

Even without cloning, I'm still having trouble accessing the components of any layer. I attached a demo movie. I want to change the text of the small text element on the layer.

[AlaskaBorg]

I tried your file on 4.9.7.3 and it works for me.

I used
var sText = element('txtChange");
sText.htmlText = "it works!";

I used the element button on the script editor and I thought it would give me the FirstLayer.txtChange but it just gave me txtChange.

Here it is for you to try:

[Sparky23]

Thanks AlaskaBorg!

Okay, now I can access the components of layers. What I really want to do is access the components of cloned layers. So I tried-

var TheLayer = element ("FirstLayer");
var SecondLayer = TheLayer.clone();
SecondLayer.x = 200; //separate the layers so we can see the dif

var sText = element("txtChange");
sText.htmlText = "it works!";

//this part doesn't work
var SmallText = SecondLayer.txtChange;
SmallText.htmlText = "it works!";

The error reads- "'txtChange' is not a property of Layer:'FirstLayer_copy' on line 6 SmallText = SecondLayer.txtChange"

This changes the text of the original layer, but how do I access the txtChange of SecondLayer?

[AlaskaBorg]

I was reading the help file and under the heading: Scrips and elements, the way it describes the clone-child access issue makes sense and it looks like your code is missing the "Variable Name" feature.

Here's what the help says:

The 'element' function only allows you to get handles to original elements. It does not allow you to get a handle to any of the children of a cloned element.

However, you can use the "Variable Name" feature to assign a variable name to the child element. You can then directly access the child as a property of the clone.

cloned_element = original_element.clone();
child_of_clone = cloned_element.specified_variable_name;

I noticed that you didn't have the 'Elements With Properties' button pushed on your txtChange object. After turning that on, your code worked.

I believe that the steps for success would be to:

• Make sure that the children have unique names
• Create the clone
• Address the children using the "Variable Name"

I will have to do some testing of my own but after reading and trying it a few times, it seems that the help does not completely align with the reality of coding it and making it work.

I made a clone and was able to move it but not assign any text to the child elements.

I get the error: Property 'htmlText' used without first declared in strict mode on line 8 TheChild.htmlText = "Clone Here";

Here is my code for testing:
var TheLayer = element ("FirstLayer");

var sText = element ("txtChange")
var TheClone = TheLayer.clone();
var TheChild = TheClone.element ("txtMoreChange");

var twoChild = link ("root[FirstLayer@0][txtMoreChange@2]");

TheClone.x = 40;
TheClone.y = 20;

TheChild.htmlText = "Clone Here";

twoChild.htmlText = "<p>The Clone Lives</p>";
sText.htmlText = "It finally works!";

I look forward to answers and would like to know if any of the samples show how this is done.

[AlaskaBorg]

I have been playing with the clone commands and I seem to be able to move, change color and size of a child but not set it's text!

I took apart the clone ball sample and was able to duplicate but it does not assign text to clones.

[AlaskaBorg]

I took your original Test7 file and replaced the Layers with child movies and the cloning works!

The other thing I did was to clone the small text field instead of the layer or the movie and that worked for me.

I was able to move it and replace the text. It appears that the movie moves with the small text field, the point is that the cloning worked.

I don't know if this helps but I set the Cloning option, set the Variable Name and all is right in my world...

I don't know why I keep getting the error:
Property "htmlText" used without first being declared in strict mode on line 29 childMovie.htmlText = "ChildMovie";

Here is the code:

var LMovie = element ("lilMovie");
var CMovie = LMovie.clone();
var childMovie = CMovie.element ("lilText");
var mChild = element ("lilText");

var zChild = mChild.clone();

childMovie.htmlText = "ChileMovie";

I'm including my movie file for review.