[RESOLVED] xml + flash as2 help, I can buy you a drink ;)

Hi can someone make me an example of xml data being used with flash. I would like an example of xml attaching a movieclip on a certain x and y of a flash stage,

I'm making an 8bit rpg, this will be used to load certain parts of my flash maps (location with a bunch of movieclips). So also if its not too much trouble I would also like to be able to trigger different xml files to load and unload certain locations. (you can use a flash button to do this and i'll work from there im not dumb).

Thanks, I have paypal just a couple bucks on it so I can buy a drink for who ever helps me :) just a little kindness on my part.

I can make an example. Why aren't you in AS3?

Cause I love as2 and I am sticking with it no matter what limitations I get, and thanks moot.

Ha ha ha ha, i would say the same thing that moot said "why you don't move to AS3". I am already working with XML, i can load data from it to flash with nodes and for loops and stuff. I have to see if I can make the same thing in AS2. But what you are requiring it's easy to achieve. I guess, you put in the .xml the dimensions and the size of the movieclip, and in flash, you make the attachMovie script, but with the variables of x, y, width and height, loaded from the XML, right?

no me gusta as3 :P I code better on as2

I don't like AS3 neither :D , but It allows me to do more things than as2. Althought, thinking about it, it's cool because you use LISTENERS for almost everything, and all the elements are placed with addChild on the stage. I was like you before, refusing to jump to AS3...but now that i jumped, I don't regret xD

I can't still keep learing AS2 stuff that i don't know, so i'm working with both languages at the same time.

You want to put the dimensions and location of the movieclip on the XML right?
Like:
<XML>
<movieclip width = 190 height = 244 _x = 23 _y = 444>
</movieclip >
</XML>

And then in the flash call these variables from the XML file, to creat the movieclip with attachMovie in flash, right?

I dont want to set height/width unless i have too for xml,

each tile is 30x30 I want to create lets say a little area with these 30x30 tiles(movieclips) and on the swf you should have 2 buttons lets say 1 button says load xmlfile1.xml and that xml file will tell flash how the map is built. lets say I click a button that says load xmlfile2.xml than that array of movieclips will be loaded into the game, you should also be able to unload certain xml files so that the game doesnt get laggy, imm going to unload when certain maps arent in use. its going to be a multiplayer game so it will be vast and made up of lots of xml files

Well that's easy, you can first make the Map tiles array and test it in flash. When you have it how you like it, then just put the array in the .xml , and load it with the button press. The map tiles array it's easy to achived, like
map = [0, 1, 0, 0, 2, 0, 0
0, 1 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0]

And then a for loop to loop throught all the array's items.

No one?

Wait -_-

I already achieved. I loaded the array into flash, and tested the array, and the clips are created accordingly. I just have an issue with the function "myVar.onLoad"
I'm working on it ;)

sweet thanks :)

Almost there....just few adjustments :D

I'm ended using XML. It's better because I'm using many variables, tileHeight, tileWidth, vTile, hTile, maps.


AS2

PHP Code:

---

var num:Number;
var maps:Array = [];

mapBtn1.onPress = function()
{
    importMap(0);
}

mapBtn2.onPress = function()
{
    importMap(1);
}

mapBtn3.onPress = function()
{
    importMap(2);
}

function importMap(num)
{    
    var hTiles:Number;
    var vTiles:Number;
    var maps:Array = [];
    var tilesWidth:Number;
    var tilesHeight:Number;
    
    var myXML:XML = new XML();
    myXML.ignoreWhite=true;
    myXML.load("maps.xml");
    myXML.onLoad = function(success){
    if (success){
    
    tileWidth = myXML.childNodes[num].attributes.tileWidth;
    tileHeight = myXML.childNodes[num].attributes.tileHeight;
    maps.push(myXML.childNodes[num].firstChild.attributes.array.split(","));
    hTiles = myXML.childNodes[num].attributes.hTiles;
    vTiles = myXML.childNodes[num].attributes.vTiles;
    trace(typeof maps[0][0]);
    trace("Width: "+tileWidth+" Height: "+tileHeight+" Array: "+maps+" Vertical: "+vTiles+" Horizontal: "+hTiles);
    createMap(hTiles, vTiles, maps, tileWidth, tileHeight);
    }
    }
}

function createMap(hTiles, vTiles, maps, tileWidth, tileHeight)
{
    var hspace:Number = 0;
    var vspace:Number = 0;
    var container:MovieClip;
        for(var t in this) {
    if(typeof(this[t])=="movieclip" && this[t]._name =="t"+t) {
           // if you're clips are not dynamically attached, then de-comment this line:
           //holder[i].swapDepths(10000);
           this[t].removeMovieClip();
    }
}
    for (var i:Number = 0; i < hTiles; i++) 
    {
        for (var j:Number = 0; j < vTiles; j++) 
        {
            container = attachMovie("tile", "tile", this.getNextHighestDepth());
            container._width = tileWidth;
            container._height = tileHeight;
            container.gotoAndStop(maps[0][Number(container.getDepth())]);
            container._x = hspace+(container._width + hspace)*j;
            container._y = vspace+(container._height + vspace)*i;
            container._name = "t" + Number(container.getDepth());
        }
    }
} 


---

XML

HTML Code:

---

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<map tileHeight="30" tileWidth ="30" vTiles="6" hTiles="6">
<mapArray

array="1,1,1,1,1,1,1,2,2,2,2,1,1,3,2,2,2,1,1,3,2,2,2,1,1,3,3,2,2,1,
1,1,1,1,1,1" />

</map>

<map tileHeight="30" tileWidth ="30" vTiles="10" hTiles="10">
<mapArray

array="1,1,1,1,1,1,1,2,2,2,2,1,1,2,2,2,2,1,1,2,2,2,2,1,1,2,2,2,2,1,
1,1,1,1,1,1" />
</map>


---

Done :)

AS2

PHP Code:

---

var num:Number;
var maps:Array = [];

mapBtn1.onPress = function()
{
    importMap(0);
}

mapBtn2.onPress = function()
{
    importMap(1);
}

mapBtn3.onPress = function()
{
    importMap(2);
}

function importMap(num)
{    
    var hTiles:Number;
    var vTiles:Number;
    var maps:Array = [];
    var tilesWidth:Number;
    var tilesHeight:Number;
    
    var myXML:XML = new XML();
    myXML.ignoreWhite=true;
    myXML.load("maps.xml");
    myXML.onLoad = function(success){
    if (success){
    
    tileWidth = myXML.childNodes[num].attributes.tileWidth;
    tileHeight = myXML.childNodes[num].attributes.tileHeight;
    maps.push(myXML.childNodes[num].firstChild.attributes.array.split(","));
    hTiles = myXML.childNodes[num].attributes.hTiles;
    vTiles = myXML.childNodes[num].attributes.vTiles;
    trace(maps[0][0]);
    trace("Width: "+tileWidth+" Height: "+tileHeight+" Array: "+maps+" Vertical: "+vTiles+" Horizontal: "+hTiles);
    createMap(hTiles, vTiles, maps, tileWidth, tileHeight);
    }
    }
}

function createMap(hTiles, vTiles, maps, tileWidth, tileHeight)
{
    var hspace:Number = 0;
    var vspace:Number = 0;
    var container:MovieClip;
    if(t != 0)
    {
    for(var k=0; k < 5000; k++) {
        if(this["t"+k] != null)
        {
            this["t"+k].removeMovieClip();
        }
        else
        {
            break;
        }
    }
    }
        var t:Number = 0;
    for (var i:Number = 0; i < hTiles; i++) 
    {
        for (var j:Number = 0; j < vTiles; j++) 
        {
            attachMovie("tile", "tile", this.getNextHighestDepth());
            tile._width = tileWidth;
            tile._height = tileHeight;
            tile.gotoAndStop(maps[0][Number(t)]);
            tile._x = hspace+(tile._width + hspace)*j;
            tile._y = vspace+(tile._height + vspace)*i;
            tile._name = "t" + t;
            t++;
        }
    }
} 


---

XML

HTML Code:

---

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<map tileHeight="30" tileWidth ="30" vTiles="6" hTiles="6">
<mapArray array="1,1,1,1,1,1,
      1,2,2,2,2,1,
      1,3,2,2,2,1,
      1,3,2,2,2,1,
      1,3,3,2,2,1,
      1,1,1,1,1,1" />

</map>

<map tileHeight="30" tileWidth ="30" vTiles="8" hTiles="8">
<mapArray array="1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,
      1,2,2,2,2,2,2,1,
      1,2,2,2,2,2,3,1,
      1,2,2,2,2,2,3,1,
      1,2,3,3,3,3,3,1,
      1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1" />
</map>

<map tileHeight="30" tileWidth ="30" vTiles="8" hTiles="8">
<mapArray

array="1,1,1,1,1,1,1,2,2,2,2,1,1,2,2,2,2,1,1,2,2,2,2,1,1,2,2,2,2,1,
1,1,1,1,1,1" />
</map>



---

Flash

3 buttons named "mapBtn1", "mapBtn2", "mapBtn3".
1 movieclip exported for actionscript in the library. That movieclip has 3 frames: 1- black 2- green 3-blue
and a stop(); on the first frame.

I had to make a DEGREE in AS2 XML today hahahahhaha :D but now i understand it and i think i've mastered it.

I think this is what you asked for. Otherwise, please let me know.

Thanks man I got a lot of homework so I cant test it right now but looks about right after reading the code abit, again thanks for putting in work. <3

wow man this works like a charm thank you so much if you have a paypal inbox me and I can give you a little something

I just inboxed you. I'm waiting in skype :D :thumbsup:

And please mark the thread as Resolved. Any other query you have, you can post it here, or inbox me. ^_^

Sorry I dropped off this but when I went to do AS2, I discovered the Flash CC hack wasn't working so I can't do AS2. So I kept playing with that instead of answering.

Just get over your AS3ism and start doing AS3. Especially since you're still learning. It's easier than you think.

Here's some example xml code pieces. It shows storing the xml in array of objects which you guys should like.

Code:

---

var xMain = new XML();
var aMain = new Array();
xMain.ignoreWhite = true;


function doMain(){
    trace("main()");
    //xmlMain.onLoad = xmlLoaded;
    xMain.load();
}


xMain.onLoad = function(success) {
 if(success){
        trace("xMain.onLoad");
        var grabNode = this.firstChild.childNodes[0];
        var grabLength = grabNode.childNodes.length;
       
        for(var i=0;i<grabLength;i++){
            oTemp = new Object();
            oTemp.sItemTitle = grabNode.childNodes[i].firstChild.nodeValue;
            oTemp.sItemID = grabNode.childNodes[i].attributes["id"];
            oTemp.sItemTitle = grabNode.childNodes[i].firstChild.nodeValue;
            aMain.push(oTemp);
        }
       
        doLoadItems();
    }
}


function doLoadItems(){
    trace("doLoadItems()");
    for(var i=0; i<aMain.length; i++){
        mcItems.mcItem.duplicateMovieClip("mcItem_" + i,100+i);
        var oNewItem = mcItems["mcItem_" + i];
        oNewItem._y = i * 90;
        oNewItem._x = 0;
        oNewItem.nowPlaying._visible = false;
        oNewItem.tItemTitle.text = aMain[i].sItemTitle;
        oNewItem.nItemID = aMain[i].sItemID;
        oNewItem.bMain.onPress = doPressThumbButton;
    }
}

---

Thanks moot. That's exactly what I did in my script. Check it up above! With the slight difference that it don't need a for loop, because we are gettin one item at a time from the XML. When you press one of the Maps buttons, it loads the corresponding nodes and childs from the XML.

Of course I read the posts and understand your code.

I posted the code to give you guys ideas about code in general, not this specific application. Everything I do in "my" code I learned at school, here, adobe, gotoandlearn, kirupa, etc. so I don't even consider it "my" code.

For example, in your code, you load the xml but don't save the data. It's simple and makes sense to store the data. Make the "item" have all the properties it should have so you don't have to recode the item every time you get a new task.

When you give the "item" properties, you can grab any info about that item or the xml because they're the same.

Code:

---

function doPressThumButton(){
        trace("doPressThumButton(): itemID: " + this._parent.nItemID);
}

---

And actually that's what our friend Alloy asked for. Loading the XML when it is needed, one by one, not ALL AT ONCE. He only needed to create a TILES MAP , loading the data from the XML. And that's precisely what I did. That saves RAM memory. You press MAP 1, then all the data from the Map 1 Tiles is loaded and stored in variables. The tiles are created accordingly. Then , when you press Map 2, all the data from the Map 1, gets removed (including movieclips) and new data from Map 2 is loaded. No need for loading ALL the XML data at once and storing it inside the SWF memory.

PD: When you create something, no matter where have you learned how to make it, you are the creator. It's your creation. Every person, every company, before getting PRO and economically prosperous in their business, they had to learn how to make things. All of us, learn everyday. And when you create something with all that knowledge you have adquired, you are the owner of that creation.

This script, i didn't downloaded from anywhere. I had to burn my brain to develop it. I had to learn in 1 day how to load data from an XML in as2 (I already knew how to make it in as3). So this is my creation. "My" code.

Take care my friend moot :) :thumbsup:

Sigh....

Don't try to correct me or argue or whatever it is you're doing. I'll answer any question in here I feel like answering whether or not you've given an answer. Yes, I designed and wrote every bit of my code. You missed the point...again.

Would you like me to explain to you how your code works line by line?

Would you like me to critique your code? The unreadable xml? The three identical button functions? The function inside a function? You load the xml into a function so the xml gets destroyed. You pass the data to a function that creates a bunch of clips with no references.

You don't even know where your clips are (store references) to remove them, much less do anything else with them.

Code:

---

for(var t in this) {
    if(typeof(this[t])=="movieclip" && this[t]._name =="t"+t) {
          // if you're clips are not dynamically attached, then de-comment this line:
          //holder[i].swapDepths(10000);
          this[t].removeMovieClip();
    }

---

You can help people with their code. But stop acting like, and literally saying, that you're an expert. And definitely take a different attitude with me.

Angelhdz code was exactly what I needed moot, if you didnt notice by the time you submit your help the thread was already marked resolved. so you guys dont have to argue im sure both your codes do the job, Thanks for the code moot I will save it in a text file for future uses just incase I need it.

Bah, i won't lose my time answering to him. He just want to argue, NOT ME. The post was marked as resolved , and he replied anyway because He is the one who wants to show that he is an expert, bah :thumbsdown: he just want to compete , i already know someone that does the same thing everytime.

I never have declared myself as an expert. I'm here to learn, and to help, even If my scripts are not AS ADVANCED AS other scripts. This guys is sooo overweening, I expected more humility from him or she or whatever it is. Since this moment i will ignore all your comments moot because you are not in the "mood". (wow that rhymed)

Have a nice day, because I'm having a niceeeeee day , trust me ;)

PD: Look at this comment you posted "I posted the code to give you guys ideas about code in general, not this specific application."
who's the one that came up to this thread acting like the "ALL-KNOWING-WISE-GUY/CHEEK?"

What wrong you Angle, attack eveybody when challenge about coding.
Is good idea you post proper code that work well, not just work

I'm not here to challenge or compete. I'm here to help. You don't like my coding? Don't read it.

Oh, and by the way, as this thread got resolved, i will unsubscribe it, so don't bother replying. Have a nice day.

lol flash drama

Again, this is a flash forum, not a private conversation. It's great that you help Alloy solve his issue.

I posted because the solution you gave was poorly formed and incorrect in places. I didn't post to show you up, I posted to give a good solution. It's not about you, it's about the thousands of people who read the posts.

So, my suggestion is that you don't say things like "now i understand it and i think i've mastered it." You should say the truth which is, "I didn't even start using xml until a few days ago myself" so that when people come to learn, they know what they are looking at.