how to apply removeChild to multiple .swf's

[llyfre]

Hello,

I have a project in which the user has the option of pressing any one of 5 keyboard keys that each loads a different .swf file. I would like whatever key the user presses to unload whatever swf is currently playing and load whichever one is associated with the key pressed.

I have no problem coding this with two .swf's --each one loads and simultaneously unloads the other-- however when I add a third, it becomes erratic and the third removeChild function does not work properly.

It would seem that the problem is that only one removeChild can be applied at a time. Is there a way around this?

The code I am using is on a frame within the main timeline and it is not associated with a container other than the stage onto which the the swf's are directly loaded:

//variables to call swf's
var myLoader:Loader = new Loader();
var myRequest:URLRequest=new URLRequest("swf/darker.swf");

var Loader2:Loader = new Loader();
var Request2:URLRequest=new URLRequest("swf/animalinside.swf");

var Loader3:Loader = new Loader();
var Request3:URLRequest=new URLRequest("swf/berlin1.swf");

//darker = myLoader : press keyboard #3 to load
stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_DOWN, Darker);
function Darker(e:KeyboardEvent):void{

if (e.charCode == 51){ //51=3
myLoader.load(myRequest); 
addChild(myLoader); 
removeChild(Loader2);
removeChild(Loader3);
}
}

//animalInside = Loader2 : press keyboard #4 to load
stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_DOWN, animalInside);
function animalInside(e:KeyboardEvent):void{

if (e.charCode == 52){ //52=4
Loader2.load(Request2); 
addChild(Loader2); 
removeChild(myLoader);
removeChild(Loader3);
}
}

//berlin1 = Loader3 : press keyboard #5 to load
stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_DOWN, Berlin1);
function Berlin1(e:KeyboardEvent):void{

if (e.charCode == 53){ //53=5
Loader3.load(Request3);
addChild(Loader3);  
removeChild(myLoader);
removeChild(Loader2);
}
}

I have tried adding multiple instances within the removeChild() parens like this: removeChild(Loader3, Loader2, Loader4, etc.); however it doesn't work.

Stacking the removeChild also doesn't seem to work:
removeChild(myLoader);
removeChild(Loader2);
removeChild(Loader3);
etc.

Not sure how to proceed, any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance,

Llyfre

[word2yerMom]

Why use 3 different loaders? You can just use one loader and then use the unload (or even unloadAndStop) properties and then load the new swf. You can also combine all 3 functions into one function.

var myLoader:Loader = new Loader();

//I just picked a random swf to have loaded first. If you don't want a swf loaded at first remove just the first line. 
myLoader.load("swf/darker.swf"); 
addChild(myLoader);

stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_DOWN, Darker);
function Darker(e:KeyboardEvent):void{
//unload what is in loader
myLoader.unload();

if (e.charCode == 51){ //51=3
myLoader.load("swf/darker.swf");
}

if (e.charCode == 52){ //52=4
myLoader.load("swf/animalinside.swf");
}

if (e.charCode == 53){ //53=5
myLoader.load("swf/berlin1.swf");
}

}

[llyfre]

Didn't know I could use just one loader --thanks for the elegant solution!

Now I have the perfect controls to which I simply added a line to stop the sounds in order that when the loader unloads the associated sounds cut off too.

As a reference for others who might read this, here is the full code that I ended with:

stop();

var myLoader:Loader = new Loader();
var myRequest:URLRequest=new URLRequest("swf/darker.swf");
var Request2:URLRequest=new URLRequest("swf/animalinside.swf");
var Request3:URLRequest=new URLRequest("swf/berlin1.swf");
var Request4:URLRequest=new URLRequest("swf/berlin2.swf");
var Request5:URLRequest=new URLRequest("swf/time.swf");

addChild(myLoader);

stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_DOWN, externals);
function externals(e:KeyboardEvent):void{
myLoader.unload();
SoundMixer.stopAll();

if (e.charCode == 51){ //51=3
myLoader.load(myRequest);
}

if (e.charCode == 52){ //52=4
myLoader.load(Request2);
}

if (e.charCode == 53){ //53=5
myLoader.load(Request3);
}

if (e.charCode == 54){ //54=6
myLoader.load(Request4);
}

if (e.charCode == 55){ //53=7
myLoader.load(Request5);
}

}

Cheers!

-Llyfre

[word2yerMom]

If you use myLoader.unloadAndStop(); it should also kill the sound. But either way works. Glad I could help! I know how frustrating this stuff can be.

[llyfre]

Even better + keeping me learning.

Cheers!