[RESOLVED] referring to an instance with a variable??

[LukewarmSteak]

i can't really explain what I'm trying to do here... but here it goes
i'm trying to access an instance by using a variable but when i try to manipulate a property to the instance (by referring to it with a variable) it only recognizes it as a string... for instance... (pun intended??)

public var prevbutton:String = "btn1";

trace(["page"+prevbutton]);
// which traces - pagebtn1

trace(pagebtn1);
// which traces the instance class - [object btn1pageclass]

I want to call the instance by using a variable... how do i do this?

[florianvanthuyn]

Try this:

public var prevBtn:btn1pageclass = pagebtn1; 

So you make a variable with the same type as your pagebtn1 (I assumed it was btn1pageclass, but if it's any different, change the name after the colon) and set it equal to the object you want to access.

Now you should be able to do prevBtn.x & prevBtn.y (if the object inherits of a DisplayObject) and functions inside of the class

[LukewarmSteak]

this defeats the purpose - my variable changes from btn1 thru btn6 and i need to say

lets just say...// if ["page"+variable] = pagebtn1... then i want something like this...

this["page"+variable]gotoAndPlay(1);

how do i do this??

[LukewarmSteak]

... or... now that i can get the string to say pagebtn? (?=1-6), how do i convert the string into an instance definition?

[zompo]

not sure what your trying to do but you have the getChildByName() function

if you have 5 movieclips named mc1, mc2 ... then your could use

var mcNum:int = 1;
getChildByName('mc' + mcNum);

what do you get if you do trace(getChildByName("page"+prevbutton));?

[LukewarmSteak]

trace("getchild "+getChildByName("page"+prevbutton));

= getchild null



=(__

[zompo]

You cant use the name of the class, here is a example of how u use the getChildByName()

var s:Sprite = new Sprite();
s.name = "btn1";
addChild(s);

// and then

var btnNum:int = 1;
getChildByName("btn" + btnNum)

[LukewarmSteak]

that sounds reasonable thanks i'll try right now

[LukewarmSteak]

thanks... i think it worked right away...

public var pagebtn1:btn1pageclass = new btn1pageclass();
pagebtn1.name = "pagebtn1";
addChild(pagebtn1);
trace(this.getChildByName("page"+prevbutton));
////// traces --- [object btn1pageclass]


thank you so much ZOMPO - SOLVED

[LukewarmSteak]

so can i not now say...

getChildByName(page+prevbutton).gotoAndPlay(1); 

?????

i get error:
1061: Call to a possibly undefined method gotoAndPlay through a reference with static type flash.displayisplayObject.

[zompo]

you could try

var mc:MovieClip = getChildByName(page+prevbutton) as MovieClip;
mc.gotoAndPlay(1);

[LukewarmSteak]

holy F... you're amazing... great thinking... ZOMPO +=1