Actionscript help on semi-advance flash

Question

So I'm trying to create a flat carousel similar to the one
located here
http://www.square-enix.com/na/index_f2.html
(as a side note before reading the 2nd half, my trouble is with
the thumbnail loop buttons)
I have created all the graphic elements, now I'm in the
planning stage of the actionscript, and this is where I'm hitting
some trouble, so if I could barrow some actionscript pro's mind
that would be awesome.
My thought process is to create a movie clip and have it be
replaced with images imported through an XML file (for easy
updating). After this part I run into trouble, I'm planning on
taking the MC that got replaced and duplicating it and running the
MC's side by side, and when one goes too far to the left or right
move it to the other end of the other MC, this way I create an
infinite loop.
My Questions:
so like how would you make one of the MC's reposition it's
self on the X axis to the end of the other movie clip once it has
moved far enough left or right ? (also what is the method you would
use to tell flash the limit that the MC is far enough left or right
and it should reset it's self?)
How would you make each thumbnail button change the image on
the main stage upon clicking the thumbnail button when all the
images are imported through the xml document?
Thank you for help and time spent reading this.
if you have any questions, please ask.
thanks once again.
-Mark

Answer 1

Rob,
First of all I would like to greatly thank you for all you
have done for me. It has been so useful and such a learning
experience getting to go through your personal code. and
manipulating it to my personal flash. Thank you so much!
However, I'm reaching some trouble when I try to import my
XML file, or something is just missing.
so here is the break down:
in my main .fla file I have this actionscript to import your
.as file (with modifications made to the name and package)
var Carousel:carousel = new carousel();
trace(Carousel);
now that seems to import into my FLA just fine, the trace
tells me that [object carousel] which I assume that means the
object has loaded into the FLA.
So anyway there is nothing on my stage in the main FLA, which
I assume is because the XML is not getting loaded properly into the
flash/actionscript.
My XML (minus all the images but one):
<icons>
<icon image="icon1.jpg" />
</icons>
so this is the basic of my XML, when I import the xml into a
more simpler file the jpgs work just fine.
now I thoroughly went through your script examining every
functions and var and I'm able to understand majority of it however
parts of the import section is what confuses me, so if you could
help me understand the script more that would be amazing.
(the line numbers are probably off a little because I deleted
a couple unnecessary variables for my flash)
in line 57: urlLoader.addEventListener("complete", loaded);
why do you have "complete" instead of Event.COMPLETE... is
there a difference?
in line 81 & 82: var count1:uint = source.indexOf("/") +
1;
var count2:uint = source.indexOf(".");
please explain what "/" and "." means... do I replace it with
location of the nodes in my xml?
so yeah this is the gist of it, if you could help me figure
out how to import my XML properly that would be great, or if you do
not have the time do that maybe you could let me check out your
XML, piece it all together and figure out the difference of your
working copy and my unworking copy.
Once again Thank you so MUCH! for taking your time in helping
me out, I hope things are going well for ya.
-Mark