Action script 3 and adding code to buttons

Question

When I open a new doc and selct action script 3 it won't
allow me to insert code by selcting the button on the stage. It
does if I select action script 2. All my old pages update ok but if
I make new buttons it wont take the code. CAn someone tell me what
is going on???
Thanks a lot

Answer 1

If your in a bind at the moment, I would suggest not
attempting to learn AS3. The system is very different, good, but
different, the syntax structure is much more strict and most things
have been revised to use a listener/broadcaster (or event
dispatcher) model, as well as most coding being class oriented,
additionally the graphic display structure is quite different.
Now did you change your publish settings back to AS2? If so,
you should still be able to apply the above code to a button
instance. However, as Dave stated, even in AS2 the code is best
used from the timeline, to do so with the code above (which the on
handler above is meant for Object attachment) you need to write it
like this:
my_btn.onPress = function() {
_root.loadMovie("graphic_arts/graphic_arts.swf");
I would also consider using a MovieClipLoader and the
loadClip method forloading swf files, as it gives you more control
over the load targeting, progress reporting, and event
notifications.
All this said, to use a button and load a file in AS3, you
need to add an event listener to the button instance and construct
a responding function to the event, in this case the loading of a
swf file. Additionally, in AS3 the MovieClipLoader class, as well
as the loadMovie methods have been replaced by the Loader classes
and must be used to load swf files. So construct a button in AS3
you must write something like the following: