Random XML - High Score?

Ok - I have an idea, and was wondering how this could be done, without using PHP - XML only.

I have a duck-shooting game that works well and ads up the points for each duck shot (whatever the point value). Now, could I pull in a randomized XML file and feed the point value to ducks. THEN when a player shoots a duck it randomizes the number and adds them up for a total?

Can this be done? I'm not sure how I would add posted XML values after a duck has been hit... Any suggestions? :confused:

OR is it easy to just randomize it within flash?

Gents... I broke down and used PHP (pretty much only way). I've randomized the numbers through an external XML file. When a duck is shot, the random xml number is displayed (in a text field). No need to total the numbers, because I'm exporting 3 of the text fields to an NEW XML file. Everything works, except I'm getting an 'undefined' when creating/exporting the new XML.

I'm thinking this is a larying issue - because the random number is in an MC, and the random numbers export the new XML nicely when I test the text area within the main timeline. I've tried _root; _parent; _level0 with no avail.

Any ideas?

Code for random number load:

PHP Code:

---

// on stage - 3 dynamic textfields 
// instance names - text01, text02, text03 (and so on)

TL = this; // reference to main timeline

_xml = new XML(); 
_xml.ignoreWhite = true; 
_xml.load("duck.xml"); 

_xml.onLoad = function(){ 
nodes = this.firstChild.childNodes; 
len = nodes.length; 
for(var n=0;n!=len;n++){ 
id = nodes[n].attributes['id']; trace(id); 
txt = nodes[n].firstChild.nodeValue; trace(txt); 
TL["text"+id].text = txt; 
} 
}; 


---

and the code for the export:

PHP Code:

---

btn_send.onRelease = function()
{ 
writeXML(); 
};

function writeXML(){
sv = new LoadVars();

sv.text01 = text01.text;
sv.text02 = text02.text;
sv.text03 = text03.text;

sv.sendAndLoad("writeXML.php",sv,"POST");
};

stop(); 


---

Anyone? Ideas?

trace text01.text inside of your loadVars for sending the vars. Double check your you're php for $_REQUEST['text01']; or $_POST['text01']; Make sure it's spelled right. Um, that's about all I can tell with what you've got.

mneil, thanks for the response. I've been looking at this for 2 days now. How do I do a trace? Never done one before.

Here's my PHP code:

PHP Code:

---

<?php
$desc = $_POST['desc'];
$game = $_POST['game'];
$points = $_POST['points'];

$doc = domxml_new_doc('1.0');
$root = $doc->add_root('members');

$member = $root->new_child('member','');

$member->new_child('text01',$text01);
$member->new_child('text02',$text02);
$member->new_child('text03',$text03);

$fp = @fopen('../games/winner.xml','w');
if(!$fp) {
    die('Error cannot create XML file');
}
fwrite($fp,$doc->dumpmem());
fclose($fp);
?>

---

no joke? Let me help. If that php is the writeXML.php script then I think I see one problem already, but I'm still new to php and don't quite understand the use of properties and objects in it, nor scope. But, I know how to make it work when I need it, so lets try re-arranging it. First, trace out text01 in flash to see that's its okay.

Change:

PHP Code:

---

function writeXML(){
sv = new LoadVars();

sv.text01 = text01.text;
sv.text02 = text02.text;
sv.text03 = text03.text;

sv.sendAndLoad("writeXML.php",sv,"POST");
}; 


---

TO:

PHP Code:

---

function writeXML(){
sv = new LoadVars();
trace('text01.text= '+text01.text);//traces in the output panel the contents of the textbox
sv.text01 = text01.text;
sv.text02 = text02.text;
sv.text03 = text03.text;

sv.sendAndLoad("writeXML.php",sv,"POST");
}; 


---

As long as the contents of that textbox show up in the output panel in the flash ide then your content is being sent. So, on to the php script then. But, I don't know that the php you've showed me is the right one so either tell me that it is writeXML.php or post that code too.

Tried the addition of your tracer, and it didn't seem to do much. The file writes, but the text still comes up as undefinded.

The output works perfectly when I have the [text00] areas in the main timeline. When I move them into my MCs, the xml outpute areas come up as undefined. I would post the file, but the grunt of the code is what you see.

I'm still thinking it's a root issue. I'm AS that writes the the XML is in the main timeline, but the dynamic txt areas are in the MC's....

Any ideas? I refuse to give up on this idea.

whatever the instance name is of the mc that you move the textboxes into should precede the name of the textboxes themselves. So this

PHP Code:

---

sv.text01 = text01.text;
sv.text02 = text02.text;
sv.text03 = text03.text; 


---

might look like

PHP Code:

---

sv.text01 = someMC.text01.text;
sv.text02 = someMC.text02.text;
sv.text03 = someMC.text03.text; 


---

Hmmmm it's still writing the file, however here's what I get:

PHP Code:

---

  <?xml version="1.0" ?> 
- <members>
- <member>
  <text01>undefined</text01> 
  <text02>undefined</text02> 
  <text03 /> 
  </member>
  </members>

---

code output:

PHP Code:

---

btn_send.onRelease = function()
{ 
writeXML(); 
};

function writeXML(){
sv = new LoadVars();

trace('text01.text= '+text01.text);

sv.text01 = baddi1.text01.text;
sv.text02 = jugs.text02.text;

sv.sendAndLoad("duck.php",sv,"POST");
};

stop(); 


---

I must be missing something...??

take note of NOTES(1 & 2);

PHP Code:

---

function writeXML(){ 
sv = new LoadVars(); 

sv.text01 = baddi1.text01.text; 
sv.text02 = jugs.text02.text; 

//NOTE(1) - if loadvars object sends variables text01, text02

sv.sendAndLoad("duck.php",sv,"POST"); 
}; 


---

PHP Code:

---

//NOTE(2) - then php needs to receive text01, text02
<?php 
$text01 = $_POST['text01']; 
$text02 = $_POST['text02']; 

$doc = domxml_new_doc('1.0'); 
$root = $doc->add_root('members'); 

$member = $root->new_child('member',''); 

$member->new_child('text01',$text01); 
$member->new_child('text02',$text02); 

$fp = @fopen('../games/winner.xml','w'); 
if(!$fp) { 
    die('Error cannot create XML file'); 
} 
fwrite($fp,$doc->dumpmem()); 
fclose($fp); 
?>

---

Hi Mod Dog! Congrats on all the posts! Thanks for bouncing into this topic.
I went ahead and fixed the PHP (feeling stupid i didn't catch this). However, it still didn't work. Code is writing the file and giving me the same xml output.

Are we sure this isn't a layering issue?

a layering issue? do you mean a PATH issue ?

Check if that is the case HERE -

PHP Code:

---

function writeXML(){ 
sv = new LoadVars(); 

sv.text01 = baddi1.text01.text; 
sv.text02 = jugs.text02.text; 

//output HERE
trace(sv); // is output correct ?

sv.sendAndLoad("duck.php",sv,"POST"); 
}; 


---

Yes - the out put is correct. It's creating the XML file, but i'm getting:

<?xml version="1.0" ?>
- <members>
- <member>
<text01>undefined</text01>
<text02>undefined</text02>
</member>
</members>

Works perfect when I bring the text fields out to the main time line, but I need them to stay in the MC's behind the ducks.

if the output is correct, it should not matter which timeline they come from.

test the php return with this -

PHP Code:

---

function writeXML(){ 
sv = new LoadVars(); 
sv.text01 = baddi1.text01.text; 
sv.text02 = jugs.text02.text; 
sv.sendAndLoad("duck.php",sv,"POST"); 
sv.onLoad = function(){
trace("var1="+this.var1);
trace("var2="+this.var2);
};
}; 


---

add two lines to the php file -

PHP Code:

---

<?php 
$text01 = $_POST['text01']; 
$text02 = $_POST['text02']; 
echo "&var1=".$text01."&";
echo "&var2=".$text02."&";

---

is the returned output (in Flash) correct ?

The return output is just an XML file. What am I looking for with the echo?

sv.onLoad = function(){
trace("var1="+this.var1); // are these two
trace("var2="+this.var2); // variables correct ?
};

if so, they are correctly being sent to the php file.
are you certain that you are not viewing a cached version of your xml file ?

Yes - Positive - infact I'll remove the PHP from the file entirely. When i hit the send button, it does create a new XML file, but the values are not coming through. Here's a link to download:

http://www.intromotion.com/write_xml/4moddog.zip

I'm figuring this may be the only way to truely understand what i'm looking at.
Again - thank you for your help! I've been going crazy to make this work.

"unexpected file format" error when opening your version 9 fla file in Flash 8 :(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by a_modified_dog

"unexpected file format" error when opening your version 9 fla file in Flash 8 :(

---

Ok - try this one:
http://www.intromotion.com/write_xml/4moddog2.zip

Are you in need of Flash CS3? I'd be happy to get you an upgrade.

http://www.jackleaman.co.uk/modified2.zip

i hope that this file is close to where you are heading :)

upload the php and xml files to your server

change the Flash file to point to your domain - path = "http: etc"

test the movie, then go to the winner.xml file in your browser


your original code was failing for a few reasons, the main one was -

you had used the Library name for the movieclips in your script
you must always give the clip an instance name and use that name in your script.
I gave instance names to the two targets - target01 and target02

That worked! Thank you! I knew I was missing something simple like that, but I was way off thinking it was a path/layer issue! Now I'll build the page that reads back the xml, and displays the points points. Ideally I'd like to save all of the player points into a database and display everyones ranking. What's the best way to go about this?

Again - thank you very much! I was about to give up on the project!

save all of the player points into a database

get some background info with -

PHP, MySQL, and Flash.
Learn how to integrate database content into your Flash movies using PHP and MySQL.
Length: 22:23 - http://www.gotoandlearn.com/

I also have some files you might want to pick apart -
http://www.members.lycos.co.uk/jackleaman/

Thanks I will look into that. Good sunday project! Also - I'm adding additional turkeys and all is well, except for the points aren't showing behind the turkeys? Everything is named correctly.... something that i'm not seeing?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by intromo

Thanks I will look into that. Good sunday project! Also - I'm adding additional turkeys and all is well, except for the points aren't showing behind the turkeys? Everything is named correctly.... something that i'm not seeing?

---

Nevermind - I found it!! Thanks for the help! :)

More php mySQL info:
http://www.freewebmasterhelp.com/tutorials/phpmysql/1

That tutorial is great! PHP and flash communication made easy:
http://www.amfphp.org/

Very cool! - I will do some research and continue to work on this file. Will also post when complete...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by a_modified_dog

http://www.jackleaman.co.uk/modified2.zip

i hope that this file is close to where you are heading :)

upload the php and xml files to your server

change the Flash file to point to your domain - path = "http: etc"

test the movie, then go to the winner.xml file in your browser


your original code was failing for a few reasons, the main one was -

you had used the Library name for the movieclips in your script
you must always give the clip an instance name and use that name in your script.
I gave instance names to the two targets - target01 and target02

---

I mod_dog, while working on upgrading this file, I've ran into a small, but annoying issue. Everthing is working well, however when a 'player' hits the finish or submit button several time, i'm now getting multiple entries into my database. I've tried just having the submit button go to a frame then call for the database, but it then crashes... Is there any easy way to just have the button disapear after the 'player' has clicked it once?

Your help is appreciated!! Thanks! :scared:

on the button press - buttonInstanceName.enabled = false; // disable
on the onLoad function - buttonInstanceName.enabled = true; // re-enable

or use the _visible property, or move the _y property to _y = 2000 :)

:confused:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by a_modified_dog

on the button press - buttonInstanceName.enabled = false; // disable
on the onLoad function - buttonInstanceName.enabled = true; // re-enable

or use the _visible property, or move the _y property to _y = 2000 :)

---

Thanks for responding. Where do I place this code? Within the button actions? :confused:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by a_modified_dog

on the button press - buttonInstanceName.enabled = false; // disable
on the onLoad function - buttonInstanceName.enabled = true; // re-enable

or use the _visible property, or move the _y property to _y = 2000 :)

---

you say - 'player' hits the finish or submit button several time

so the code applies to the finish and/or submit button

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by a_modified_dog

you say - 'player' hits the finish or submit button several time

so the code applies to the finish and/or submit button

---

Got it! Thanks again!!:)