For everyone with a preloader problem

this is really testing me...

i've looked through the preloaders on whispers footer (which are really helpful!) and found this code:

code:

---

onClipEvent (enterFrame) {

	tb = math.round(_root.container.getBytesTotal()/1024);

	lb = math.round(_root.container.getBytesLoaded()/1024);

	if (tb>0 && lb>0) {

		this.percent = math.round((lb/tb)*100);

		this.gotoAndPlay(this.percent);

		if (lb>=tb) {

			_root.transition.gotoAndPlay("out");

			_root.preloader.gotoAndStop("stop");

		}

		

	}

}

---

thing is i understand it all, so had ago on writing my own - it didnt work. so added this scripting instead and it still didnt work.

i dont have transitions in my work, but my swfs do have intros which i subbed in as a replacement. the code works fine when calling the "play" frame of the preloader - but the preloader does nothing - just sits there and then disappears once the movie's loaded. what went wrong?

the only thing i could see different was my "pole_clip" didnt have a variable text box - just an animated loaderBar which is 100 frames - it's this animation that's not working - it justs sits on the first frame the entire loading period. surely this code, "this.gotoAndPlay(this.percent);" is telling it to move...? :yikes:

What version of Flash are you using?
If above MX... ActionScript is case sensitive.

a couple things to mention:

1.) onClpiEvent(enterFrame)() is not a good way of coding.. you should NOT put code ON or IN movieClips on the stage. You 'should' put your code in FRAMES in the MAIN timeline.

so:
onClipEvent (enterFrame)():
should be more like:
someClip.onEnterFrame = function(){};

2.) all mentions/reference of _root should be converted to relative paths/scope (ie: this, this._parent, _parent...etc)


3.) case sensitive.... this where I believe YOUR problem lies..

math.round should be Math.round()..

Code:

---

onClipEvent (enterFrame) {
        tb = Math.round(_root.container.getBytesTotal()/1024);
        lb = Math.round(_root.container.getBytesLoaded()/1024);
        if (tb>0 && lb>0) {
                this.percent = Math.round((lb/tb)*100);
                this.gotoAndPlay(this.percent);
                if (lb>=tb) {
                        _root.transition.gotoAndPlay("out");
                        _root.preloader.gotoAndStop("stop");
                }
        }
}

---

4.) I suggest looking into using the MovieClipLoader() class.. it it is VERY (very) useful for triggering actions when content is loaded as well as providing data for any preloder. ;)


update:

here is a quick example of how to use the MovieClipLoader() class..


simplified version:

PHP Code:

---


// create our MovieClipLoader instance (called: contentLoader)
var contentLoader:MovieClipLoader = new MovieClipLoader();

//create an object to handle the data available form the MovieClipLoader() object.
var contentListener:Object = new Object();

// create function that fires/executes when the content starts loading
contentListener.onLoadStart = function(target_mc:MovieClip):Void {
    trace(">> contentListener.onLoadStart()");
}
// create function that fires/executes each time a byte/potion is loaded (preloader)
contentListener.onLoadProgress = function(target_mc:MovieClip, bytesLoaded:Number, bytesTotal:Number):Void {
    trace(">> contentListener.onLoadProgress()");
}
// create function that fires/executes when the content is complete
contentListener.onLoadComplete = function(target_mc:MovieClip, httpStatus:Number):Void  {
    trace(">> contentListener.onLoadComplete()");
};
// create function that fires/executes when the content has initialized and is ready for manipulation
contentListener.onLoadInit = function(target_mc:MovieClip):Void  {
    trace(">> contentListener.onLoadInit()");
};


// add our 'listener' object to our MovieClipLoader instance
contentLoader.addListener(contentListener);


// create an empty movieClip on the stage to hold our content...(this can be any target you want though)
var containerClip:MovieClip = this.createEmptyMovieClip("containerClip", this.getNextHighestDepth());

// finally, make the call to load whatever content we want.. this is just an on-line image (but can be whatever, .swf, .jpg, clips in library..etc)
contentLoader.loadClip("someIMage.jpgg", containerClip); 


---

PHP Code:

---

//create an object to handle the data available form the MovieClipLoader() object.
var contentListener:Object = new Object();
// create function that fires/executes when the content is complete
contentListener.onLoadProgress = function(target_mc:MovieClip, bytesLoaded:Number, bytesTotal:Number):Void {
    trace(target_mc._name + ".onLoadProgress with " + bytesLoaded + " bytes of " + bytesTotal);
    trace(">> Invoked every time the loading content is written to the hard disk during the loading process (that is, between MovieClipLoader.onLoadStart and MovieClipLoader.onLoadComplete).");
}
// create function that fires/executes when the content is complete
contentListener.onLoadComplete = function(target_mc:MovieClip, httpStatus:Number):Void  {
    trace(">> contentListener.onLoadComplete()");
    trace(">> =============================");
    trace(">> "+target_mc._name+"._width: " + target_mc._width);
    trace(">>> {its 0 because the content hasnt (although complete) hasnt initiliazed and Flash can not access any properties.}");
    trace(newline);
};
// create function that fires/executes when the content has initialized and is ready for manipulation
contentListener.onLoadInit = function(target_mc:MovieClip):Void  {
    trace(">> contentListener.onLoadInit()");
    trace(">> =============================");
    trace(">> "+target_mc._name+"._width: " + target_mc._width);
    trace(">>> {its 315 because once the content/clip has initialized, Flash can not access its properties.}");
    trace(newline);
    // Draw outline around the loaded content
    target_mc._x = Stage.width/2-target_mc._width/2;
    target_mc._y = Stage.height/2-target_mc._width/2;
    var w:Number = target_mc._width;
    var h:Number = target_mc._height;
    target_mc.lineStyle(4, 0x000000);
    target_mc.moveTo(0, 0);
    target_mc.lineTo(w, 0);
    target_mc.lineTo(w, h);
    target_mc.lineTo(0, h);
    target_mc.lineTo(0, 0);
    target_mc._rotation = 0;
};

// create our MovieClipLoader instance (called: contentLoader)
var contentLoader:MovieClipLoader = new MovieClipLoader();
// add our 'listener' object to our MovieClipLoader instance
contentLoader.addListener(contentListener);
// create an empty movieClip on the stage to hold our content...(this can be any target you want though)
var containerClip:MovieClip = this.createEmptyMovieClip("containerClip", this.getNextHighestDepth());
// finally, make the call to load whatever content we want.. this is just an on-line image (but can be whatever, .swf, .jpg, clips in library..etc)
contentLoader.loadClip("http://www.w3.org/Icons/w3c_main.png", containerClip); 


---

thanks - some interesting bed time reading...

edit: it's flash 8 i'm using.

actually - that's worked a treat! it was the case sensitive thing you mentioned- thanks whispers...

also i'll be adding the php code to my list of things to take a heavy interest in - it looks a little out of my depth at the moment (although a lot of things did before i started using this site :shhh: )

well if yoru using Flash 8..then the Math.round() is/was the problem...

and the above MovieClip loader is VERY simple... it just looks like a lot of code.

in its simplest form.. you could just do this:

PHP Code:

---

var containerClip:MovieClip = this.createEmptyMovieClip("containerClip", this.getNextHighestDepth());
var contentLoader:MovieClipLoader = new MovieClipLoader();
contentLoader.loadClip("http://www.w3.org/Icons/w3c_main.png", containerClip); 


---

but your not assigning a listener to watch for the totalBytes/loadBytes, not to trigger any actions once the content has initialized.
:)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by inquizard

actually - that's worked a treat! it was the case sensitive thing you mentioned- thanks whispers...

also i'll be adding the php code to my list of things to take a heavy interest in - it looks a little out of my depth at the moment (although a lot of things did before i started using this site :shhh: )

---

hi there is NO PHP, I just wrapped the code in some PHP tags on the forum so the action script is color coded and easier to read.. :)

its ALL actionscript..

just take the code open a new .fla and paste that in there.. and tst nothign else needs to be done.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by whispers

hi there is NO PHP, ...

---

that's it i'm going to bed! :faded:

thanks again whispers for your help - i came across your posts about not putting a preloader in the loading swf. ended up changing my site today because of it and seemed to have solved a problem before i realised it for a change.

edit: OMG i just tried your code and i now have alot more to think about... and i was so looking forward to other stuff tomorrow :cow:

hello there,
i have this code for my preloading, it works fine, but this one waits for the
entire site to load, how can i modify it, for a certain certain number of frames
to be loaded and the move on.

PHP Code:

---

loadPercent = (Math.floor(_root.getBytesLoaded()/_root.getBytesTotal()*100)+"%");

if (_root.getBytesLoaded() == _root.getBytesTotal()) {    //Check for finished loading
    //If loaded, final update to fields
    loadPercent = "100%";
    
    gotoAndPlay("Scene 1", 1);    //Where to go once your movie is loaded
} 


---

thanks:)

your preloader is calculating PERCENTAGES.... you could check for a certain percentage instead of 100%..

or you could not use getBytesLoaded()/getBytesTotal()....

and use MovieClip._frameloaded property...
example:
if (this._framesloaded < this._totalframes) {
this.gotoAndPlay(1);
} else {
this.gotoAndStop(3);
}




(similar to the old deprecated ifFrames loaded code)
example:

ifFrameLoaded([scene:String], frame) {
//statement(s);
}

i have kind of a problem and i feel like a noob for it lol
i have no clue how to make my song play when the movie starts
ive tried everything i can think of, and i know it cant be that difficult
can somebody help me?

I again,
i got mad with this problem:confused: i have this code more 3 times
i each of them calls for a movieclip, and each movie has a preloading in it,
and it works fine... on the computer... not in the site :xbones: i don't know
why, i know that you must have every .swf file in the same folder of the main
.swf file, everything works fine with the "CTRL - Enter" or after i publish,
but after i uploaded every .swf, it just didn't work, the preloading works for
the main, but then when i rollover each button, the browser bar where the
"waiting for http://www.site.com..." appears, it shows that but nothing
happens. I also tried with internet explorer, and nothing shows.

:( i was so happy that i've finaly got it, and now :yikes:

here's the code, did i missed something, i really don't get it
why does not work in the web, if it does in windows?

PHP Code:

---

stop();
this.createEmptyMovieClip("empty_mc",1);
button1.onRollOver = function() {
    empty_mc.loadMovie("GSB.swf");
    empty_mc._xscale = "101.1";
    empty_mc._yscale = "101.1";
    empty_mc._x = "0";
    empty_mc._y = "-6.5";
}; 


---

I suggest using the MovieClipLoader() instead of loadMovie.. gives you more control.

:( i thought that much i choose this instead because the first one that i
used, was MovieClipLoader() but it did work, the percentage was not showing.
I'll give it another try. thanks

HI AGAIN PEOPLE

I did it, found the problem :) it was simple, the path was wrong:

"GSB.swf" - wrong

"/images/stories/GSB.swf" - right

:yarr:

thanks a lot for everything:)

hi
i've got a bit of a problem.
i've created a web site in flash, and have structured it so that there is one movie with a navigation bar in it, which when you click a button, this opens the content, which are .swf files, in a content loader.
there are preloaders displayed before the content is displayed as some .swf files are a little large and the user needs to see that the content is being loaded, othewise they would be inclined to think that nothing is happening, and so leave the website.

the problem is that in firefox, the preloaders do not show at all, in explorer they do now and again.

this is the site address:- www.bird272.com

thanks alot for any help from you guys/girls. :)

PEEEEEEEEEEEACE

For me, the preloaders show fine in Firefox 2, XP, SP2.

~Sportzguy933

Hi all,

This is an extensive post on preloaders. learnt quite a number of things here. Thanks for sharing.

Here are my questions on my situation. hehe. I have a number of external swfs and a main swf that has containers to hold the external swfs.

1) If I were to create a preloader in the main swf, would the totalbytes be main swf + the rest of my external swfs in the containers or just the main swf?

The next qn is alittle off but I do hope to get an answer. Thanks in advance.

2) My main swf will have 3 containers, to load external swfs namely, banner (at top), menu (at middle) , content (at bottom). I have an intro external swf to be displayed after the preloader which is before the banner, menu and content and the position of this intro.swf will be covering the entire position of all the 3 swfs (banner, menu, content).
In order to do the above, can i create a large container in the main swf for the intro.swf after the preloader and then add a command to gotoframe(x) which will have the 3 containers to load the 3 external swfs. So it means that main.swf will have 1 large container at maybe frame3 and then 3 small containers at frame4.

would that be possible? I am still planning stage, no product yet. Stuck at planning so do not know whether if its possible.

Thanks alot.

1.) the preloader will check the totalBytes/loadedBytes for whatever TARGET you point it to 'watch/check' ..

You can have 3 preloaders in the MAIN.swf for example...

1 that runs displays when the movie starts..to show howmuch of the main movie is being loaded..

but you can also have those other prleoaders watch empty/blank movieClips so when you load your external.swf's into them... it will only check the totalBytes of the content being loaded into THAT target and how muchg of it has been currently loaded...


2.) yes you can do it that way.. I would look into using the movieClipLoader() class.. as it has callback you can use to trigger your actions once the things are started to start, on each onProgress, on complete and on Initi (also onError)...

Have you tried the Fonzy method of hitting the computer- in the right spot, of course.

-westink

Hi whispers,

thanks for answering my post.

However, I don't understand this portion.

"1 that runs displays when the movie starts..to show howmuch of the main movie is being loaded.."

Hopefully I can do 1 preloader to load all my mcs and that the progress bar will reflect the loading of the total size of the main mc and the external mcs. For example, my banner.swf = 50kb, menu.swf=25kb, content.swf=500kb, intro.swf=200kb. I have checked and asked around and read that I can use arrays and moviecliploader to load them one by one. But if I were to load them one by one, my drawn preloader that will display the progress by revealing the logo, will be repeated a number of times based on the number of mcs that I be loading. Can I have it to gathered all the size and then load them and do the progress animation once only?

does the moviecliploader have a function of doing so or I got to do it manually by getting the size of the all the mcs, add them up, then let them be the total size, and use bytesloaded divided by this total size and reflect it in my progress bar? You think is possible?

thanks.

well I have a question for you....lets think o this logically for a second.

you have a Main.swf and you want to load some External.swf's into that Main.swf...correct?

and you want this preloader to reflect ALL things being loaded (Main.swf + External.swf's)..

Q: how are you going to load the external.swf into the main.swf if the main.swf isnt even loaded yet?

now your Main.swf looks to not have ANYTHING in it?..is this correct?

It just has some emptyMovieClips (place holders/container clips) to load the external.swf's into? (menu.swf, header.swf..etc)

Is this correct?

If so then you wont need a preloader for the Main.swf as it should be VERY small in file size and is really just a container...

you can just check all your containers.....and add them up...making 3 movieClipsLoader instances (or however many you need)..

and adding up the callback data for the onProgress callbacks.. to make one..

"OR"... you can use the Multi-Loader class (created by FK member MyFriendIsATaco) that is free to use.. its been posted here a few times.. and I even made a quick working demo on its use the other day for another member.

i am looking to design a photo gallery & i need the preloader action script that will load each jpeg/movie into the next frame on the time line when the "next" button is clicked.

thanks,
adam

where are you trying to load them? do you have a target that you want o load each image into?..is it there on EVERY FRAME?

are you trying to load into a _level??

more info is needed.. help us help you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by xfiles_wolvie

Hi whispers,

thanks for answering my post.

However, I don't understand this portion.

"1 that runs displays when the movie starts..to show howmuch of the main movie is being loaded.."

Hopefully I can do 1 preloader to load all my mcs and that the progress bar will reflect the loading of the total size of the main mc and the external mcs. For example, my banner.swf = 50kb, menu.swf=25kb, content.swf=500kb, intro.swf=200kb. I have checked and asked around and read that I can use arrays and moviecliploader to load them one by one. But if I were to load them one by one, my drawn preloader that will display the progress by revealing the logo, will be repeated a number of times based on the number of mcs that I be loading. Can I have it to gathered all the size and then load them and do the progress animation once only?

does the moviecliploader have a function of doing so or I got to do it manually by getting the size of the all the mcs, add them up, then let them be the total size, and use bytesloaded divided by this total size and reflect it in my progress bar? You think is possible?

thanks.

---

Basically, your answer is this:
If you want to load them all at once, that defeats the purpose of loading external swfs, and you might as well just put them all in the main movie as MC's.

If you want to reduce loading time, and only load things when called upon, I would say put the home page, menu, etc. in the main movie, and then put the rest of the pages in external swfs and use moviecliploader for those.

Hope that helps,
Sportzguy933

Hi whispers and Sportsguy,

thanks for answering my post. both of you are so correct. Nvr tot of it.

I will go search the multiloader class as mentioned by whispers. I will also consider sportsguy suggestion.

thanks all.

Sounds good. Both are the same suggestion really. You just have to remember that if you want to load your movie separately, loading part of your movie, and then the next part right in a row is the same as loading them all at once. You might as well same some time and work for yourself and use the preloader format from this tutorial. If you would like to have a homepage and menu loaded first, and then load the rest of the pages on-demand, you might as well use the format from this tutorial for the homepage, menu and whatever else you want to have right away, and then use movieclip loader (like Whispers suggested) for the other pages.

Hope that helps,
Sportzguy933

Hi,

I have built a flash website but cant seem to load a .swf presentation. The page and whole file loads, however when i try to navigate through the presentations the whole file seems blank, this may be due to the fact that i have loaded the presentation file through the preloader that has only 2 frames, which is why the first frame of the presentation is visible but nothing after that... please do help me out, this problem has been eating my head for a couple of days now. Thanks for all your suggestions.

Regards,
Stavros

What is the script on that loading swf? are you saying _root? what is the method that pushes forward on the timeline? How are you loading this swf? loadMovie() or loadMovieNum(). Your method will dictated how to target its own timeline.

I have used loadMovie() to call the .swf file... the slideshow has been created from the default template available for photo slideshows in flash 8... the following code has been used in the preloader

ON THE FIRST FRAME

myProgressBarListener = new Object();

myProgressBarListener = function (eventObject) {

myProgressBar._visible = false;

myProgressBar.removeEventListener("complete", myProgressBarListener);

};

myProgressBar.addEventListener("complete", myProgressBarListener);

myProgressBar.mode = "polled";

myProgressBar.source = "_root";


and this is the code on the second...


myProgressBar.mode = "manual";

myProgressBar.setProgress(0, 100);

myProgressBar._visible = true;

myProgressBarListener = new Object();

myProgressBarListener = function (eventObject) {

myProgressBar._visible = false;


};

myProgressBar.addEventListener("complete", myProgressBarListener);

myProgressBar.mode = "polled";

myProgressBar.source = "myLoader";

myLoader.contentPath = "Gallery.swf";

myLoader.scaleContent = false;

myLoader.autoLoad = true;

stop();

PLEASE DO LET ME KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE....

Thanks,
Stavros

I see that you're using the F8 Progress Bar component here. Some advice:
DON'T. It's full of annoying problems and is not easily customizable. If you're looking for a nice easy preloader, just try the one suggested in the first post of this thread.

~Sportzguy933

I have a question, using the loadClip() method with a preloader I am loading clips into a container movieclip in my main.swf file. Is there a way to grab properties of the loaded swf file? For example: grab the height of the included swf or certain properties from elements on the stage of that swf?

yes...

but you have to eait until the full clip/.swf has initiliazed before the data is available..

that is why I sugest using the MovieClipLoader(); method instead of the loadMovie() method....

as it has callbacks that trigger on Start, Porgress, Complete, Error and Init.
events.. that you can utilize..

to target any of the objects/clips inside of that loaded.swf you need to use the 'container/target' name of where he .swf was loaded.

if you loaded your .swf into a emptyMovieClip called 'containerClip.. and in that .swf you wants to 'communicate' with a movieClip called 'someClip', you would do it like so:

containerClip.someClip._alpha = 50; (or whatever it is you wanted to do)

alternately, you can use one of my preloader components if you like:

the latest one: (v2.0)

http://board.flashkit.com/board/showthread.php?t=749264


first one (v1.0):
http://board.flashkit.com/board/showthread.php?t=726944

I think I may be trying to grab the properties before it's fully loaded, hmm. I am going to grab my fla now and take a look. Thank you for the quick reply whispers.

hi..that not going to be possible.. you can get the data before its available..

if you look at my preloader v2.0 (just for an example) you will see that is has a custom callback function you can assign to it, that will fire when the data IS available for you to manipulate or do whatever it is you wanna do with it.

Hey everyone, I have a preloader and For some reason it takes until about 40% before the loader shows up on screen.
This is not animation on the loader itself but My FLA is pretty big and i have a lot of audio files in there. Im wondering if certain things (audio files?) load even before the preloader?

OR... and better yet, is there a way to have the site load with only 2 audio files initially, and then in the background keep loading the audio files.

Strange stuff, but any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

spendirty, it is because you are using components, and they load first. There are plenty of threads on this already so I am not going to explain further.

Well thanks for the advice, but i dont think I am using components. If i choose to export using actionscript in the audio files properties and then giving them an identifier, does that by definition make them a component? AS newbie here so sorry if it is a dumb question.

Im going to say that you have your preloader IN the .swf you are trying to preload? is this correct?

Hey Whispers, thanks for trying to help out. I figured out the problem (with help from evolveDesigns, thank you). Basically what was going on was I have a preloader but it was taking up untill roughly 40 percent was loaded before the preloader even showed up. I have like 10 audio files in the library that i had set to Export using AS and had a linkage identifier. So for some reason it was as if the audio had to load BEFORE the preloader even loaded. Bottom line on the fix, was that I went into the properties and UNchecked the "export on 1st frame" option for the audio files, and then I manually placed the audio on the timeline AFTER frame 1, and set the Sync to "Stop" in the properties bar. That cleared it up. Basically It makes everything load initially but I can Manually load the audio files at a later time. Hope this may help anyone with a similar problem, and big Up's to Evolve Design who helped me out. Thanks to your 2 Whispers, as you have helped me in the past!!!!!