Accessing children of getChildByName

[::bluemoth::]

Does anybody know of a way to access a library MovieClip's children?
I am adding instance of MovieClip to parent like so:

var legsArrow:MovieClip = new moreArrow();
legsArrow.x = 0;
legsArrow.y = 0;
legsArrow.name = 'legsDirection';
slides.addChild(legsArrow);

I can then set library MovieClip instance x position like so:

slides.getChildByName('legsDirection').x = 10;

However, I am having difficulty access a dynamic text field within the MovieClip:

slides.getChildByName('legsDirection').myText.text = 'newValue';
slides.getChildByName('legsDirection').getChildByName('myText').text = 'newValue';

[fruitbeard]

Hi,

Simply use legsArrow.myText.text = 'newValue';

if you try this code in your page, you will see that legsDirectiom is actually called instance2( in my file anyway), so it bears no relevance to accessing the textfield with that name.

if (legsArrow)
{
    //trace('remove legsArrow');
    //slides.removeChild(legsArrow);
    legsArrow.myText.text = 'newValue';
    slides.getChildByName('legsDirection').x = 10;
    
    for(var i:Number = 0; i < legsArrow.numChildren; i++)
    {
        trace(legsArrow.getChildAt(i).name)
    }
} 

however you can access it like so

this["slides"].getChildByName("legsDirection").myText.text = "hello"; 

you can also remove it like so

this["slides"].removeChild(this["slides"].getChildByName("legsDirection")); 

[::bluemoth::]

Hello again fruitbeard.

This method doesn't work for me. I get error 1010 as soon as I try to access anything within the getChildByName("legsDirection") instance. Not sure why dot syntax doesn't work like a MovieClip authored on the stage, but it doesn't.

I will try tracing the children and see if that helps get to the bottom of the problem.

[::bluemoth::]

I can trace the 'myText' child name, but I am struggling to reference it, so as to be able to alter the value:

for(var u2:Number = 0; u2 < legsArrow.numChildren; u2++){
    trace('Children: ' + legsArrow.getChildAt(u2).name); // Children: myText
    this['slides'].getChildByName(legsDirection).myText.text = 'hello';
    if(legsArrow.getChildAt(u2).name == 'myText'){
        legsArrow.getChildAt(u2).text = 'hello';
    }
} 

Each reference I have tried always returns the child reference as undefined and has no properties, or is itself an undefined property.

On the basis that legsArrow.getChildAt(u2).name returns 'myText' instance name of textfield, shouldn't one of the following work?

slides.getChildByName(legsDirection).myText.text = 'hello';
legsArrow.getChildAt(u2).text = 'hello'; 

[fruitbeard]

Hi,

Attach your *.fla ( or at least a slimmed down version ) and explain what it is you wish to achieve.

[::bluemoth::]

Thanks fruitbeard.

I have uploaded a minimized version:
http://goo.gl/JdkyHR

The showSlideDirections function creates instances of moreArrow, which displays arrows at the top and bottom of each of the three main columns. At present, each column displays the first row of each column (all working good). The showSlideDirections function fades out the opacity of the arrows when that column cannot be moved further (all working good too).

In addition to changing the arrows alpha, I am trying to add a numerical x of y status. To do this, I am trying to change the value of the moreText textfiled in the moreArrow moiveClip which is in the library. This is what is not working.

[fruitbeard]

Hi,

unable to access the link, some sort of google nonsense about shortener.

Upload one here, I'm pretty sure you should be able to figure it out from the previous posts though.

[::bluemoth::]

Attachment 75293File attached. I hadn't read the Google Policy about not linking straight to file.

[fruitbeard]

Hi,

I can't really help you with that file. I don't have Flash CC, I don't have the tweenlite files, I don't really use AIR I,m sure if you go back over the earlier replies you can figure it out. Sorry.

[::bluemoth::]

Thanks for looking fruitbeard.

[::bluemoth::]

Got it.

partArrow = slides.getChildByName(legsDirection); // The unique child path
partArrow.moreText.text = '10'; // Target child textfield 

Thanks for your help fruitbeard.