Can't get mc properties directly after loadMovie("mc") action.

Question

I want to create a new MC "picture" by using:
on (relaese){
this.createEmptyMovieClip("picture", 100);
this.picture.loadMovie ("photo8.jpg");
height=this.picture._height;
width=this.picture._width;
but this returns always "0" for the variables "height" and
"width"
I learned that MX 2004 has the functionallity to add some
listeners to this script (MovieClipLoader) in order to determine
when the file "photo8.jpg" has done loading. Than the width and
height could be read of photo8.jpg...
My first question: can I do the same with a slightly
different script in MX 6?
Second question: what is the right syntax of the
moviecliploader-thing wich I need in MX 2004? the help file isn't
that very clear, I'm afraid.
Thanks!

Answer 1

Hi,
as you have guessed you have to wait until the first frame
(if there are frames) or the whole Image has loaded before you can
access the properties of the loaded clip. The MovieClipLoader class
helps you a great deal in that, but it is only available since
Flash / in Flash & you would have to check with your own method
for example usinf setInterval to chaeck for the loaded size of the
movie/picture vs. the total size.
I don't think that the Help file is unclear, just look up the
examples in the Actionscript dictionary and do those on your own.
It often happens that the concept of event listeners is hard
to grasp for those that haven't used for a while them, but there
are some tutorials out there on that topic...