AS3 controlling timeline - PLEASE HELP!!!

Just started with AS3 and I'm pulling my hair out!

I have a complex Flash file with a ton of buttons and timeline references from within MCs. I pulled out one button and created a simple file for troubleshooting and I am STUCK!

I have a main timeline with movie clips at various points. Inside those MCs I need to link BACK to the main timeline at defined labels - in my example, it's a frame labeled: LOCATIONS. Here is what I have inside the MC_About:


btn_locations.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, btnLocations);
function btnLocations(e:MouseEvent):void
{
MovieClip(this.root).gotoAndPlay("LOCATIONS");
}


And there is a button with this instance name: btn_locations

When that button is clicked, it is supposed to go back to the main (root) timeline and play at the label: LOCATIONS

BUT, I keep getting this error:


TypeError: Error #1009: Cannot access a property or method of a null object reference.
at TEST_fla::MC_About_1/frame1()

PLEASE HELP! I am under the gun and need to get a working file out the door tomorrow afternoon. PLEASE...

Here's my TEST file:
Attachment 74147

Thank you.

Dennnnis

Just move the code on frame1 of MC_About to frame 29.
You have to do this because your code refers to an object called btn_locations but it doesn't exist yet. It doesn't get created until frame 29 so it's only safe to reference it on or after that frame.

First frame Code:

PHP Code:

---

stop();

function look_up(location) {
    gotoAndStop(location);
}
function btnLocations(evt:MouseEvent):void {
    look_up(evt.target.location);
}

btn1.location="market";
btn1.label.text="Market";
btn1.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, btnLocations); 


---

In other frames just put the button number and the location:

PHP Code:

---

btn30.location="home";
btn30.label.text="Home";
btn30.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, btnLocations); 


---

marlopax

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jAQUAN

Just move the code on frame1 of MC_About to frame 29.
You have to do this because your code refers to an object called btn_locations but it doesn't exist yet. It doesn't get created until frame 29 so it's only safe to reference it on or after that frame.

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THANK YOU so much! So simple, but Flash's error codes are so confusing. Waking up and figuring this out has made my morning! Thank you again.

Dennnnis