look for external .swf files without loading them

[marmotte]

the title says all...

what i want:
instead of using loadMovie("hello.swf") i just want to look if the file "hello.swf" exists... and then perform an action if it's true (the file is here), and another if it's false (the file is not here).

thanks

[devnull_2k]

Well, you can't exactly check with flash alone, but here is an idea. You do have to load it though.

You can check to see that the movie doesn't exist in a roundabout way. Check:

code:

---

//load movie into a clip that checks to see if it exists

mc.loadMovie("hello.swf");



//check to see if movie is loaded

if(mc.getBytesLoaded() >= mc.getBytesTotal())

{

  if(mc._totalframes == 0)

     //movie doesn't exist

  else

     //movie does exist, do something

}

---

Another idea would be to query a php script (php has access to the filesystem). So use LoadVars to query the script (which checks to see if the file exists), and base the actions you take upon the response.

[marmotte]

thanks for being so fast, devnull...

i see what you mean with your first idea, but it's almost useless for me... but still, i can load the movies and unload them right after... but it will take forever, since they are numerous and quite big...

about your second idea, i was thinking about something like that: have an external .txt file with the name of the .swf (here it was called "hello") that contains only a variable that "proves" the existence of the .swf file... is that what you were thinking about?

[devnull_2k]

Not exactly. Let me run you through it quickly.

code:

---

//LoadVar for Recieving

fileCheckR = new LoadVars();

//this method processes variables upon recieving

fileCheckR.onLoad = function()

{

  if(this.fileCheckResponse == true)

    //the file exists, do something

  else

    //no file, do something else

};



//LoadVar for Sending

fileCheckS = new LoadVars();

fileCheckS.file = "hello.swf"; //this is the file you want to look for

fileCheckS.sendAndLoad("checkForFile.php", fileCheckR, "GET");

---

When you do the sendAndLoad, it hits a php page like this

http://www.youdomain.com/directory/c...file=hello.swf

The php script checks to see if the file exists, and prints

fileCheckResponse=true

or

fileCheckResponse=false

to the page.


Good question by the way. This is what I come to this forum for.

[Squize]

Couldn't you just store the filenames in an external xml file and update it as and when you add a new file ( I guess you're thinking about loading external sprites / tilesets but want your loader system to be smart, so you don't have to add to it every time you finish an external file, just run through a loop automaticaly ).

Similar to your external txt file idea, but at least having all the files in a xml file you only have to update that and it's all neat and in one place.

Hopefully that's some ( Vague ) help.

Squize.

[Olorin]

<?php

if (file_exists($filename)){
echo "filecheck=1&";
}else{
echo "filecheck=0&";
}
?>

That's all you need for the php file, and I think that would be the best solution...

Olorin

[marmotte]

thanks both, i'll do some test

I guess you're thinking about loading external sprites / tilesets

well, here's the purpose: my fighting game. i want their face to appear in the character selection screen (and be selectionnable of course) ONLY if a file of it exists in the corresponding directory (instead of working again with the character selection screen's code and images each time a character is added).

> so, basically i want an interactive character selection screen... showing dinamically how many characters are selectionnable.

note, it's surely for an offline purpose...

[jonmack]

Originally posted by marmotte
...note, it's surely for an offline purpose...

Really?

So how would you "update" it if it were offline? And why would loading the MC's be a problem offline? They'll load almost instantly, so checking if it has been loaded ( ie, it exists ) means you don't have to wait. If you're updating then that'll need internet connection, in which case why not PHP or XML?

Also, i haven't checked this, but the first idea of devnull's made me think. If the file didn't exist, then will a getBytesTotal return 0? And how to check _totalframes, if it doesn't exist at all? Hmm, confusing. Would have to try it out to know, unless devnull knows that those kind of assumptions are valid.

[marmotte]

why would loading the MC's be a problem offline?

oh, it's not really a problem, i was just wondering if looking for a directory and report all the files inside existed with AS.

of course, i can load the MCs without problem offline; but already now, due to 3 simultaneous loads, the computer may take 3 or 4 seconds to load them all... imagine when i'll have 20 or more files... and the same thing on a cdrom will be worse :-(

btw it's ok, i was just wondering if flash alone is able to look into a directory and report file names. it's not the case apparently (how lame to be forced to load a movie in order to know it really exists)... too bad for this one.

anyway, thanks again

[xMCNUGGETx]

What you could do is have the person place 2 files when they get a new character..

player.swf
player.var

player.var just a file that says
haveplayer=true

Then do a loadvars on each of the files. being its so small shouldnt take as long...

Nugget

[marmotte]

yes, that's what i said earlier ^^

it seems to be a good method for what i want...

[BlinkOk]

if it's offline i'd use studioMX or screenWeaver. you can do all those things with these products.
if it's online i'd include code in my "upload" .php add the name to an index file when i upload the .swf.
see;
http://www.yamago.net/components/