delete sprite -- or remove instance from stage

[brentW505]

I often create a function disengage() and call it when I want a certain component to leave the stage. Usually in the function I make the MC/Sprite's x=-100000; or something just so it's not visible, and doesn't obstruct anything else on the stage.

Now I was thinking instead just to delete that Sprite, and create it when I want to see it again. Is that a good idea?

If so, when I use delete.this in the class instance, I get no errors, but it doesn't remove the class instance (which is a sprite, with a bunch of children--Textfields, & shapes).

What's the best way to do this?

[dotSTAR]

if you know the index of your sprite you can call a function in your displayobject container and use the removeChildAt(index) method. you can find your sprites index by the method getChildIndex(mydsp:displayobject). another way to do it is to just remove the variable directly using removeChild() method. ie.... var mySprite:Sprite = new Sprite, you could use removeChild(mySprite). I'm sure there are even more ways to do it as well