variables in embedded .swf s

Can anyone help me with this - PLEASE.

I'm using a master .swf with navigation code to control a number of slave movies. If only!

I've stripped it down into two simple .swfs and I still can't get it to work.

In my master I have an empty movieclip and I want to load a slave .swf into it. This bit works fine with code of the form

holder_mc.loadMovie("slaveMovie.swf");

In my slave movie there is a frame label "blue" and a test variable. I want the master movie to be able to access the variable and move the slave movie to the "blue" frame:

// below currently returns undefined and goto is ignored
trace ("holder_mc.testVariable = "+holder_mc.testVariable);
holder_mc.gotoAndStop("blue");

in the slaveMovie are the actions:

var testVariable:String = "success";
stop();

Please could someone have a look at the files and tell me how I could make them work. The success of my project rather hinges on .swfs being able to talk to each other.

Thanks lots.

Ok, here's your problem: you tell Flash to load the swf, then right away ask him about the variables, and he looks for them faster than it can load the swf, even from the harddrive. For a simple test, insert a couple of more frames and put the trace actions on the last keyframe (and a stop on it). That should clear you up.

That did the trick! You're a star - really appreciate it.

loading variables and loading movies