Need Advice on improving script processing and ensuring completion

Question

Hi,
I have a program in which I am running a number of for loops which are doing a number of different things.  I pull in data from an xml file and then step through that data to dynamically create arrays, populate the arrays, and create and modify movie clips.
The program I'm building is similar in scope to one I developed in Director many years ago, and in that environment we had to actually put breaks in using timers to ensure that the data would be processed and that the system wouldn't choke.
What I'm seeing with this flash version of the application is similar and I suspect the same.  Basically, when navigating from the frame where the scripts are processed to the frame where the movie clips are displayed, there are times when it works perfectly and times when things are out of whack.  I put in a 5 second delay (arbitrarily) to see if this would resolve the issue and on my system at least it does.  But I need some advice on coming up with a real solution.
Any inofrmation you can give me about processing particularly as it relates to for loops and dynamic creation of elements (whether arrays or MCs) as well as making sure that everything is done woudl be greatly appreciated.
Best regards,
Chris McLaughlin

Answer 1

Hi Andrei,
First . . . thank you so much for your message.
I'm sure that there is something in the code architecture that's amiss.  If you'd be kind enough to take a look and see if anything blatant jumps out at you I would be very grateful.  I'm just not seeing it.
Here it is:
stop();
import flash.utils.*;
import flash.events.MouseEvent;
import flash.utils.Timer;
import flash.events.TimerEvent;
import flash.display.Loader;
import flash.net.URLRequest;
import flash.net.URLLoader;
import flash.net.URLLoaderDataFormat;
import fl.transitions.*;
import fl.transitions.easing.*;
import fl.transitions.Tween;
import fl.transitions.TweenEvent;
pageBlock_mc.mandatoryWarning_mc.visible = false;
sp1Mask_mc.height = 10;
scrollPane1_mc.mask = sp1Mask_mc;
//************************************************VARIABLES****************************************************
var tl:MovieClip = this;
var prd:int;
var seg:int;
var sld:int;
var ICPcontent:XML;
var productCount:Number;
var productName:String;
var segmentTitle:String;
var slideURL:String;
var productsArray:Array;
var AssuritySegmentsArray:Array;
var ComfortisSegmentsArray:Array;
var ComfortisMandatoryArray:Array;
var SWFsArray:Array;
var videosArray:Array;
var ReconcileSegmentsArray:Array;
var TrifexisSegmentsArray:Array;
var showArray:Array = new Array;
var tempArray:Array;
var subNum:Number = 1;
var textHeight:Number;
var xmlLoader:URLLoader = new URLLoader();
var whichMajorBucket:String;
var whichDeck:String;
var fct:String;
var segSlide:String
var breakTimer:Timer;
breakTimer = new Timer(500, 1);
breakTimer.addEventListener("timer", doNext);
function doNext(event:TimerEvent):void {
     trace("DO NEXT TRIGGERED and fct = " + fct);
     switch(fct) {
          case "assurity":
          trace("buildAssuritySlides()");
          buildAssuritySlides();
          break;
          case "comfortis":
          buildComfortisSlides();
          break;
          case "reconcile":
          buildReconcileSlides();
          break;
          case "addListeners":
          Object(this).startAssurity_btn.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, goToBuild);
          Object(this).startComfortis_btn.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, goToBuild);
          Object(this).startReconcile_btn.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, goToBuild);
          Object(this).pickAssurityDeck_mc.core_btn.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN , goToBuild)
          Object(this).pickAssurityDeck_mc.quickStart_btn.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUS E_DOWN, goToBuild)
          trace("last timer triggered");
          fct = "ready?";
          breakTimer = new Timer(5000, 1);
          breakTimer.addEventListener("timer", doNext);
          breakTimer.start();
          break;
          case "ready?":
          Object(this).pageBlock_mc.visible = false;
          break;
xmlLoader.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE, loadContent);
xmlLoader.load(new URLRequest("data/elancoICP.xml")); // + "?" + Math.random())
//xmlLoader.load(new URLRequest("data/elancoICP.xml" + "?" + Math.random()));
function loadContent(e:Event):void {
XML.ignoreWhitespace = true;
ICPcontent = new XML(e.target.data);
productCount = ICPcontent.product.length()
trace("the product count = " + productCount);
productsArray = new Array;
for (var i:int = 0; i<productCount; i++){
     productName = ICPcontent.product[i].productName.text();
     productsArray.push(productName);
     trace("productsArray = " + productsArray);
     buildAssurity();
function buildAssurity(): void {
     tempArray = new Array();
     AssuritySegmentsArray = new Array();
     for( var a:int = 0; a < ICPcontent.product[0].segmentName.length(); a++) {
               segmentTitle = ICPcontent.product[0].segmentName[a].text();
               scrollPane1_mc["sub" + subNum + "_mc"].sbText_tf.text = segmentTitle;
               scrollPane1_mc["sub" + subNum + "_mc"].sbText_tf.autoSize = TextFieldAutoSize.CENTER
               textHeight = scrollPane1_mc["sub" + subNum + "_mc"].sbText_tf.height
               scrollPane1_mc["sub" + subNum + "_mc"].sbText_tf.selectable = false;
                    if(textHeight < 35) {
                         scrollPane1_mc["sub" + subNum + "_mc"].sbText_tf.y = 26;
                    } else {
                         if((textHeight > 22) && (textHeight < 50)) {
                              scrollPane1_mc["sub" + subNum + "_mc"].sbText_tf.y = 17;
                              } else {
                                   if(textHeight > 50){
                                        scrollPane1_mc["sub" + subNum + "_mc"].sbText_tf.y = 10;
               subNum++;
               AssuritySegmentsArray.push(segmentTitle);
               tl["Assurity_" + segmentTitle + "_Array"] = new Array();
               tl["Assurity_" + segmentTitle + "_Array"].name = "Assurity_" + segmentTitle + "_Array"
          if(a == ICPcontent.product[0].segmentName.length()) {
               buildComfortis();
function buildComfortis(): void {
     ComfortisSegmentsArray = new Array();
     for( var c:int = 0; c < ICPcontent.product[1].segmentName.length(); c++) {
               segmentTitle = ICPcontent.product[1].segmentName[c].text();
               scrollPane1_mc["sub" + subNum + "_mc"].sbText_tf.text = segmentTitle;
               scrollPane1_mc["sub" + subNum + "_mc"].sbText_tf.autoSize = TextFieldAutoSize.CENTER
               textHeight = scrollPane1_mc["sub" + subNum + "_mc"].sbText_tf.height
               scrollPane1_mc["sub" + subNum + "_mc"].sbText_tf.selectable = false;
                    if(textHeight < 35) {
                         scrollPane1_mc["sub" + subNum + "_mc"].sbText_tf.y = 26;
                    } else {
                         if((textHeight > 22) && (textHeight < 50)) {
                              scrollPane1_mc["sub" + subNum + "_mc"].sbText_tf.y = 17;
                              } else {
                                   if(textHeight > 50){
                                        scrollPane1_mc["sub" + subNum + "_mc"].sbText_tf.y = 10;
                               subNum++;
               ComfortisSegmentsArray.push(segmentTitle);
               tl["Comfortis_" + segmentTitle + "_Array"] = new Array();
               tl["Comfortis_" + segmentTitle + "_Array"].name = "Comfortis_" + segmentTitle + "_Array"
     ComfortisMandatoryArray = new Array();
     var mandatory:String;
     for(var cm:int = 0; cm < ICPcontent.product[1].mandatorySlides.slide.length(); cm++) {
          mandatory = ICPcontent.product[1].mandatorySlides.slide[cm].text();
          ComfortisMandatoryArray.push(mandatory);          
     SWFsArray = new Array();
     var SWF:String;
     for(var s:int = 0; s < ICPcontent.product[1].SWFs.slide.length(); s++) {
          SWF = ICPcontent.product[1].SWFs.slide[s].text();
          SWFsArray.push(SWF);          
     videosArray = new Array();
     var video:String;
     for(var v:int = 0; v < ICPcontent.product[1].Videos.slide.length(); v++) {
          video = ICPcontent.product[1].Videos.slide[v].text();
          videosArray.push(video);          
     if(c == ICPcontent.product[1].segmentName.length()) {
          buildReconcile();
function buildReconcile():void {
     ReconcileSegmentsArray = new Array();
     for( var r:int = 0; r < ICPcontent.product[2].segmentName.length(); r++) {
               segmentTitle = ICPcontent.product[2].segmentName[r].text();
               scrollPane1_mc["sub" + subNum + "_mc"].sbText_tf.text = segmentTitle;
               scrollPane1_mc["sub" + subNum + "_mc"].sbText_tf.autoSize = TextFieldAutoSize.CENTER
               textHeight = scrollPane1_mc["sub" + subNum + "_mc"].sbText_tf.height
               scrollPane1_mc["sub" + subNum + "_mc"].sbText_tf.selectable = false;
                    if(textHeight < 35) {
                         scrollPane1_mc["sub" + subNum + "_mc"].sbText_tf.y = 26;
                    } else {
                         if((textHeight > 22) && (textHeight < 50)) {
                              scrollPane1_mc["sub" + subNum + "_mc"].sbText_tf.y = 17;
                              } else {
                                   if(textHeight > 50){
                                        scrollPane1_mc["sub" + subNum + "_mc"].sbText_tf.y = 10;
                               subNum++;
               ReconcileSegmentsArray.push(segmentTitle);
               tl["Reconcile_" + segmentTitle + "_Array"] = new Array();
               tl["Reconcile_" + segmentTitle + "_Array"].name = "Reconcile_" + segmentTitle + "_Array"
     trace("assurity segments = " + AssuritySegmentsArray);
     trace("comfortis segments = " + ComfortisSegmentsArray);
     trace("reconcile segments = " + ReconcileSegmentsArray);
     var sp1level:Number = scrollPane1_mc.numChildren - 1;
     trace("sp1level = " + sp1level);
          if(r == ICPcontent.product[2].segmentName.length()) {
               fct = "assurity"
               breakTimer.start();
function buildAssuritySlides(): void {
     trace("buildAssuritySlides() triggered");
     var aSegLength:Number = AssuritySegmentsArray.length-1;
     var aSldLength:Number = ICPcontent.product[0].segmentSlides[aSegLength].slide.length()-1
     trace("aSegLength = " + aSegLength + " & aSldLength = " + aSldLength);
     for (seg = 0; seg < AssuritySegmentsArray.length; seg++) {
          for (sld = 0; sld < ICPcontent.product[0].segmentSlides[seg].slide.length(); sld++) {
               segSlide = String(ICPcontent.product[0].segmentSlides[seg].slide[sld].text());
               tl["Assurity_" + String(AssuritySegmentsArray[seg]) + "_Array"].push(segSlide)
               if(seg == aSegLength) {
                    trace("sld = " + String(sld))
                    if(sld == aSldLength) {
                         trace("IT DOES sld = 8");
                         fct = "comfortis";
                         breakTimer = new Timer(500, 1);
                         breakTimer.addEventListener("timer", doNext);
                         breakTimer.start();
function buildComfortisSlides(): void {
     var cSegLength:Number = ComfortisSegmentsArray.length-1;
     var cSldLength:Number = ICPcontent.product[1].segmentSlides[cSegLength].slide.length()-1
     for (seg = 0; seg < ComfortisSegmentsArray.length; seg++) {
          for (sld = 0; sld < ICPcontent.product[1].segmentSlides[seg].slide.length(); sld++) {
               segSlide = String(ICPcontent.product[1].segmentSlides[seg].slide[sld].text());
               tl["Comfortis_" + String(ComfortisSegmentsArray[seg]) + "_Array"].push(segSlide)
               if(seg == cSegLength) {
                    if(sld == cSldLength) {
                         trace("IT DOES");
                         fct = "reconcile";
                         breakTimer = new Timer(500, 1);
                         breakTimer.addEventListener("timer", doNext);
                         breakTimer.start();
function buildReconcileSlides(): void {
     var rSegLength:Number = ReconcileSegmentsArray.length-1;
     var rSldLength:Number = ICPcontent.product[2].segmentSlides[rSegLength].slide.length()-1
     for (seg = 0; seg < ReconcileSegmentsArray.length; seg++) {
          for (sld = 0; sld < ICPcontent.product[2].segmentSlides[seg].slide.length(); sld++) {
               segSlide = String(ICPcontent.product[2].segmentSlides[seg].slide[sld].text());
               tl["Reconcile_" + String(ReconcileSegmentsArray[seg]) + "_Array"].push(segSlide)
               if(seg == rSegLength) {
                    if(sld == rSldLength) {
                         trace("IT DOES");
                         fct = "addListeners";
                         breakTimer = new Timer(500, 1);
                         breakTimer.addEventListener("timer", doNext);
                         breakTimer.start();
function checkAslide(): void {
     trace("checking the Comfortis Mode of Action slides")
     trace ("array = " + tl["Comfortis_" + String(ComfortisSegmentsArray[0]) + "_Array"][0]);
function goToBuild(event:MouseEvent):void {
     switch(event.target.name) {
          case "startAssurity_btn":
//          whichMajorBucket = "Assurity";
//          if(pickAssurityDeck_mc.y == 275) {
//               trace("it's hidden");
//               var showTween:Tween = new Tween(pickAssurityDeck_mc, "y", Strong.easeOut, 275, 392, 1, true);
//          } else {
//               var hideTween:Tween = new Tween(pickAssurityDeck_mc, "y", Strong.easeOut, 392, 275, 1, true);
          break;
          case "quickStart_btn":
          //whichMajorBucket = "Assurity";
//          whichDeck = String(AssuritySegmentsArray[0])
//          gotoAndPlay("builder");
          break;
          case "core_btn":
          //whichMajorBucket = "Assurity";
//          whichDeck = String(AssuritySegmentsArray[1])
//          gotoAndPlay("builder");
          break;
          case "startComfortis_btn":
          whichMajorBucket = "Comfortis";
          whichDeck = "Core";
          gotoAndPlay("builder");
          break;
          case "startReconcile_btn":
          //whichMajorBucket = "Reconcile";
//          whichDeck = "Core";
//          gotoAndPlay("builder");
          break;