Variable as movieClip name?

Timeline 10:
I assign the variable "company" a value:
company = ford;

Timeline 20:
I have a button with the following script that needs to access a movieClip called "ford" (also located at timeline number 20):
on (press) {
company.gotoAndPlay(2);
}

The variable doesn't get passed. I have tried tracing it with:
trace(company);
trace(typeof(company));

In both instances I get "undefined" back.

When I insert "company = ford;" directly in the button so it looks like this...
on (press) {
company = ford;
company.gotoAndPlay(2);
}
... it works, and my traces gives me:
_level0.instance1.ford
movieclip

I tried replacing "company = ford;" with "_global.company = ford;" at timeline 10, but still no luck.

Any good ideas on how I can assign "ford" to a variable early on the timeline and then use the variable as a movieClip name later?

Thanks in advance!
:: serviator

//timeline 10:
var company=_level0.instance1.ford;

//but if you name your "instance1", it should work for sure

var company=_root.myMc.ford;

Thank you Cosmiceye - I did try both your suggestions though and I still get "undefined" in my traces and it's not going to the movieClip.

Look up the eval() command in the AS dictionary - it's your solution.

Ex. newMovie = eval(company);
newMovie.gotoAndPlay(2);

or somethig like that.

I tried the eval() function and it works fine if I use it locally as your example shows:
newMovie = eval(company);
newMovie.gotoAndPlay(2);

But if I have "newMovie = eval(company);" at timeline 10 and "newMovie.gotoAndPlay(2);" at timeline 20, the variable is not being passed. In Director I was able to make variables global and I thought I could do that in Flash too (I tried the _global command in Flash, but no luck).

What could I be doing wrong?

Worked for me, must be something funky going on. I did exactly what you said and it worked.

well if this hasent been said this will work for sure:

this[company].gotoAndStop(1)

it can also work like:

_root[company+x].gotoAndStop(1)
_parent["company"+x].gotoAndStop(1)

Hope this makes sense. Whats inside the brackets is evaluated and put out as the text (variable or mc) that it evals to

Quote:

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Originally posted by serviator
But if I have "newMovie = eval(company);" at timeline 10 and "newMovie.gotoAndPlay(2);" at timeline 20, the variable is not being passed.
What could I be doing wrong? [/B]

---

But why would you put the eval command one place and the control code elsewhere? If you need to have the gotoAndPlay on frame 20, put the "newMovie = eval(company)" in the same frame with the rest of the code.
Oh yeah, you might also need to write it as "newMovie = eval("_root."+company);" Sometimes that makes a difference.

I am not sure eval() is the right command to use, but what I am doing is having a button inside a movieClip, and I want to use this movieclip for different sections (and locations on the timeline). So if I am at timeline 10 I set the variable company = ford and the button script will look like this:

on (press) {
company.gotoAndPlay(12);
}

at timeline 20 the variable company = nissan

and the above mentioned button will react differently.

It must be possible to have movieClip names as global variables?!

Thanks


[Edited by serviator on 05-28-2002 at 05:29 PM]

I created a sourcefile. It is located at http://www.serviator.dk/variable.fla .

If anyone can the button to work, I'd be very happy!

Sounds like your problem is that you are creating the variable on the _root, but trying to reference it inside a movieClip.

Try this:

on Frame 10:
company = ford;

on the button inside the MC:
_root.company.gotoAndPlay(12);
trace(_root.company) // see if it is undefined.

That should work.
ZE.

With all of you guys help, I finally got everything working. The button is working with 3 different variables and can easily be customized.

Well, piece of cake for the hardcore coders here, but a great goal accomplished for a more designer oriented guy like me... Anyway, thanks a bunch!

Feel free to stop by and see my new website coming up - hopefully - in a month or less (right now, it's a 2 year old design on a black background) - http://www.serviator.dk

:: serviator

Well, it is obvious from your designs that you are more than proficient with graphics, i.e. the complex backgrounds on most of the sites on your designs. How bout a couple of tips and tricks for those of us that can program the hell out of flash but can draw a stick figure on paper? At atleast some sites to learn from. I mean I have some skills but am far from a PhotoShop or Illustrator/Freehand expert

I gotta give you props for your site, its awesome.

Thanks :). I hope you'll like the new one too when it comes up in about a month.

4Sheezy> for checking out cool websites you should go to http://www.cwd.dk, http://www.digitalthread.com, http://www.linkdup.com, http://www.coolhomepages.com and check their links.

Regarding tutorials on how to do graphics, I don't know if there's any good online, sorry. I have never used them, but always just played around in Photoshop and learned from a multimedia designer school I went to years ago.

Let me know if I can help any further with info etc.

:: serviator

Aghm - what if i wanto make something like _root.movie&num.gotoAndPlay(1); where movieNUm is dynamicly assigned ?

Quote:

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Aghm - what if i wanto make something like _root.movie&num.gotoAndPlay(1); where movieNUm is dynamicly assigned ?

---

like this:

Code:

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_root["moviename" + movienum].gotoAndPlay(1);

---

/Mirandir

I will check those links and also pop you an email if necessary on some techniques in photoshop.