XML Slideshow - Not updating with XML.

[intromo]

This may seem simple, but I'm having a hard time getting this XML slideshow to auto-update when the XML is changed. Any ideas? Am I missing something? I've tried the time stamps like the following, with no success...

xmlData.load("swfs.xml?vers="+new Date().getTime());

Here's a link to download the entire package:
http://www.brianmichaelis.com/xml_slideshow.zip (772kb)

Getting this to auto-update would be much appreciated!

If you don't want to download the package, here's the grunt of the AS:

#include "mc_tween2.as"
Stage.scaleMode = "noscale";

///////////////////////////////////////
next_btn._alpha = 50;
prev_btn._alpha = 50;
play_btn._alpha = 50;
stop_btn._alpha = 50;

// Fade functions
function fadeIn(){
container._alpha = 0;
container.alphaTo(100,3,"easeOutExpo");
}
function fadeOut(){
container.alphaTo(0,3,"easeOutExpo");
}

// Load XML
function loadXML(loaded) {
    if (loaded) {
        xmlNode = this.firstChild;
        swiff = [];
        total = xmlNode.childNodes.length;
        for (i=0; i<total; i++) {
            swiff[i] = xmlNode.childNodes[i].childNodes[0].firstChild.nodeValue;
        }
        firstswiff();
        } 
    else {
        content = "ERROR: Not loaded!";
    }
}
xmlData = new XML();
xmlData.ignoreWhite = true;
xmlData.onLoad = loadXML;
xmlData.load("swfs.xml?vers="+new Date().getTime());
// End of xml

//myxml.load("my.xml?vers="+new Date().getTime());

my_loader = new MovieClipLoader();
my_loader.addListener(this);
function onLoadInit(mc:MovieClip) {
    preloader._visible = false;
}
function onLoadProgress(container, bL, bT){
    perc = Math.round((bL/bT)*100);
    preloader._visible = true;
}
var k:Number = 0;

function firstswiff(){
    my_loader.loadClip(swiff[k], container);
    fadeIn();
}

// External swf files call this function 
// Call function AScode:    _root.nextswf();
function nextswf(){
    k++;
    fadeIn();
    if(k > total-1){
        k=0
        fadeIn();
        my_loader.loadClip(swiff[k], container);
    }
    fadeIn();
    my_loader.loadClip(swiff[k], container);
}

////////// actions to buttons - functions


function prevswf(){
    k--;
    fadeIn();
    if(k < total-3){
        k=2
        fadeIn();
        my_loader.loadClip(swiff[k], container);
    }
    fadeIn();
    my_loader.loadClip(swiff[k], container);
}

function stopswf(){
    container.stop();
}

function playswf(){
    container.play();
}

///////////////////
/// Next button ///
///////////////////
next_btn.onRollOver =  function(){
    this.alphaTo(100,1,"easeOutExpo");
}

next_btn.onRollOut =  function(){
    this.alphaTo(50,1,"easeOutExpo");
}

next_btn.onRelease = next_btn.onReleaseOutside =  function(){
    nextswf();
}


///////////////////////
/// Previous button ///
///////////////////////
prev_btn.onRollOver =  function(){
    this.alphaTo(100,1,"easeOutExpo");
}

prev_btn.onRollOut =  function(){
    this.alphaTo(50,1,"easeOutExpo");
}

prev_btn.onRelease = prev_btn.onReleaseOutside = function(){
    prevswf();
}


///////////////////
/// Stop button ///
///////////////////
stop_btn.onRollOver =  function(){
    this.alphaTo(100,1,"easeOutExpo");
}

stop_btn.onRollOut =  function(){
    this.alphaTo(50,1,"easeOutExpo");
}

stop_btn.onRelease = stop_btn.onReleaseOutside = function(){
    stopswf();
}


///////////////////
/// Play button ///
///////////////////
play_btn.onRollOver =  function(){
    this.alphaTo(100,1,"easeOutExpo");
}

play_btn.onRollOut =  function(){
    this.alphaTo(50,1,"easeOutExpo");
}

play_btn.onRelease = play_btn.onReleaseOutside = function(){
    playswf();
} 

[a_modified_dog]

are you testing with the xml file online ?
appended variables (time stamp) will fail if testing off HD

upload swfs.xml and test with -
xmlData.load("http://www.domain/swfs.xml?vers="+new Date().getTime());

[intromo]

Yes - I just tested this online, with no success. Updating the XML and loading it to the server, doesn't change the swf withing the container automatically. When I refresh the HTML - then it updates....

Any thoughts?

[intromo]

Ok - I've found a temporary solution to this problem. I'm basically looping the 'container' - with a blank frame at the begining the timeline (which unloads the swf and reloads it, after looking at the updated XML. This created a small glitch, so I duplicated the the 'container2' and put the blank frame at the end of the timeline. Seems to work seemlessly, however there must be a 'cleaner' work around for this? Ideas?

[a_modified_dog]

have a look in the Help files at setInterval
place your xml load in a function. call the function with setInterval

loadInt = setInterval(xmlLoad, 5000); // 1000 msecs = 1 second

[intromo]

have a look in the Help files at setInterval
place your xml load in a function. call the function with setInterval

loadInt = setInterval(xmlLoad, 5000); // 1000 msecs = 1 second

Found some information here:
http://www.kirupa.com/developer/mx20...slideshow3.htm

However, I'm not sure were to place the setInterval in my code? I need the swfs to update immediately when the XML changes.

Thanks for your help in advance.

[intromo]

have a look in the Help files at setInterval
place your xml load in a function. call the function with setInterval

loadInt = setInterval(xmlLoad, 5000); // 1000 msecs = 1 second

I still can't seem to get this working. This should be a simple... update the XML and the swf immediately changes.

I think the real problem, is that I can't get the current SWF to unload after an XML change...

Any ideas? I'm totally burnt trying to look for a solution to this.

[a_modified_dog]

i'm really not sure where your problem lies


the only online file i have that might be close to where you are heading is this
http://www.jackleaman.co.uk/test/xml...hp_to_xml.html

hope it helps ??

[intromo]

i'm really not sure where your problem lies


the only online file i have that might be close to where you are heading is this
http://www.jackleaman.co.uk/test/xml...hp_to_xml.html

hope it helps ??

Thanks for the link, however it's not exactly what I'm looking for. For example (and maybe to clarify things):

XML is running this:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?>
<swf>
    <swiff>
        <id>swf1.swf</id>
    </swiff>
</swf>

And I update to this:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?>
<swf>
    <swiff>
        <id>swf2.swf</id>
    </swiff>
</swf>

I would like the current (swf1.swf) to update immediatly to (swf2.swf). The problem I'm having is that it just keeps playing (swf1.swf). It doesn't unload it on the xml update.

You see?

[a_modified_dog]

i have tested this offline, when i change the content of the xml file (as per your above post) the main file loads the new swf file to movieclip- container.
can you make use of the method ?

loadInt = setInterval(xmlLoad, 5000); 

function xmlLoad(){
xmlData = new XML(); 
xmlData.ignoreWhite = true; 
xmlData.onLoad = loadSWF; 
xmlData.load("swiff.xml"); 
};

function loadSWF(){
toLoad = this.firstChild.firstChild.firstChild.childNodes;
container.loadMovie(toLoad);
}; 

[intromo]

i have tested this offline, when i change the content of the xml file (as per your above post) the main file loads the new swf file to movieclip- container.
can you make use of the method ?

loadInt = setInterval(xmlLoad, 5000); 

function xmlLoad(){
xmlData = new XML(); 
xmlData.ignoreWhite = true; 
xmlData.onLoad = loadSWF; 
xmlData.load("swiff.xml"); 
};

function loadSWF(){
toLoad = this.firstChild.firstChild.firstChild.childNodes;
container.loadMovie(toLoad);
}; 

Sorry for the slow response here. Was tied down with some other projects. This method DOES work, however I get a 'flicker' everytime the SWF reloads. I'm trying to make this a seamless as possible. Is there anyway to update the xml, and replace the SWF without the flicker?