Multiple Smart Clips

[bud-spud]

I have seen in previous threads that you can use multiple smart clips in a movie, it says "You must give each SWFX enough frames to play" My question is where do you add these additional frames? In the main time line? (can't be, it's not working) In the movie clip? (how, I don't see my second movie clip anywhere, it just plays) I am a newbie to the so please give a thorough explanation please.
Thanks so much.

[RUSHVision]

So, you do actually have to add additional frames after the Load Movie Smart Clip on the main timeline. Let's say that you place the Smart Clip on the first frame of your movie. In order for it to work, you need to add some frames after it. How many will depend on the length of the effect movie. Just add anywhere from 10-50 frames and test your movie. If you don't see the entire effect, add some more. If you want your effect to fade out, just add a couple more keyframes, applying your symbol effects to those. This is useful if you want your loaded movie to fade out, rotate, slide away, whatever.

If you are still having trouble let me know.

[bud-spud]

Originally posted by RUSHVision
So, you do actually have to add additional frames after the Load Movie Smart Clip on the main timeline. Let's say that you place the Smart Clip on the first frame of your movie. In order for it to work, you need to add some frames after it. How many will depend on the length of the effect movie. Just add anywhere from 10-50 frames and test your movie. If you don't see the entire effect, add some more. If you want your effect to fade out, just add a couple more keyframes, applying your symbol effects to those. This is useful if you want your loaded movie to fade out, rotate, slide away, whatever.

If you are still having trouble let me know.

I don't see a symbol or a movie clip I simply have one layer with a dot in the first frame and I "test movie" the annimation works. I don't see why I should have to add extra frames for the annimation play out, it all ready does.
What am I missing here? I think I am doing something wrong right off the bat in the way I am using the smart clip. I think I am missing something? But what?

[RUSHVision]

I guess we need to clarify things a bit. Here is an example that might help to do this.

[swf width="300" height="170"]http://www.rushvision.com/flashkit/multiple_smartclips.swf[/swf].

All of this is taking place on the main timeline. Each movie that is loaded has 3 keyframes associated with it. The one that initially loads the movie, the one that initiates the motion tween, and the last one that ends the tween and has an alpha effect of zero applied to it. Each movie that is loaded (and hence, each set of clips) is in it's own layer, as this keeps things nice and organized.

I would suggest dragging the Smart Clip into the first frame from the Library window, adding the path to the movie you want to load, and add about 30 frames after the Smart Clip. I also like to give it an instance name at this point. Then test it out to check your placement and to make sure it is loading correctly. You can then adjust the number of frames after the first and add the other keyframes that will fade out the effect or whatever else you want it to do. The number of frames after the Smart Clip loads the movie is determined by the number of frames that the effect takes to play. This is always going to be different depending on the effect that you choose and the length of the string of text that you are animating.

If you are loading everything into the same space like I did in the example, you can copy the Smart Clip and paste it in place in the layer for the second movie. This will copy the placement of the clip and you can just use the dimensions of your viewing area for the size of the preview window in SWfx and align everything to fit inside the window. I will test out each movie as I make them so I can go back to SWfx and make any minor changes if necessary while everything is up and ready to do so. Just make sure that you change the instance name and path to the swf to reflect the new movie that you want to load after copying it. Also remember that if you are putting this up on the net like this one, you are going to need to include the full url to the loaded movies.

As for why it is playing with only one frame, I just don't know. When I have no frames after the keyframe that contains the Smart Clip, the movie will not play. It is not the same as a movie clip that plays in it's own timeline (unless you have the Smart Clip inside a movie clip). If you have the Smart Clip on the main timeline, all it is doing is telling Flash to load a movie. It then needs additional frames in which to actually show that movie.

[bud-spud]

Okay I think I understand a few things a little more but I don't see where to add the alpha fade or other tweening things, like if I wanted the text to remain on screen for a few seconds then fade out. Would you mind sending me the .fla file that you used for your example? I think I can learn more by seeing how it was done. Greatly appreciate your time and help.
Thanks
[Edited by bud-spud on 03-27-2001 at 06:31 PM]

[RUSHVision]

Consider it done.

[bud-spud]

Originally posted by RUSHVision
Consider it done.

I don't belive it, I get it! I was trying to make it more difficult than it acctualy was. I think I was trying to do it the old way and this way at the same time. I just had to take a step back and look at it with fresh eyes. Thanks again for your help. One last question, what is the difference between load movie lock and simply load movie? Which is better to use and do they work the same?

Take care,
B.

[RUSHVision]

I'm glad that cleared things up for you.


The Load Movie Smart Clip simplifies the scripting process of loading a movie into a movie clip symbol. This really isn't much different than loading a movie into an empty movie clip that you create yourself.

The Load Movie Lock Smart Clip has the additional functionality of being able to fade in the movie and re-issuing the command to load the movie if the first one fails. This is the one I prefer to use.


Take it easy