Changing a variable in an external swf

Hello!
I am working in Flash cs3 with actionscript 3.0.
I want to create a swf that will act as my client's control
panel. What i'm looking for is something with a few textboxes or
whatever that is able to change those variables in another swf
permanently.
Is this possible?
if so, can you point me to something that will help me out?
Thanks!
John iv

Ok I figured out that to access it I have to use: _level2._root.LOCAL.
Now my question is if there is a better way to watch a variable than running a loop.
Also I was wondering if it's possible to listen for a function call in the external swf.

Similar Messages

Watching for a variable in an external swf

Hi,
I'm trying to load an swf game, and then repeatedly run a check to see if the game has ended by accessing one of it's variables. Reading the forums and searching the web has gotten me this far:
var myLoader:MovieClipLoader = new MovieClipLoader();
myLoader.addListener(this);
myLoader.loadClip("game.swf", 2);
function onLoadInit(mc:MovieClip)
trace('testing");
_root.onEnterFrame = function() {
trace(_level2.LOCAL);
"testing" appears on the output window so I know it's being loaded correctly, the game is also playing correctly. When I run the game in debug mode, it shows that the variable _level2.LOCAL exists and has a value, but the main loop just keeps kicking out "undefined."
I appreciate any help.

Ok I figured out that to access it I have to use: _level2._root.LOCAL.
Now my question is if there is a better way to watch a variable than running a loop.
Also I was wondering if it's possible to listen for a function call in the external swf.

"Detecting" a variable from an externally-loaded SWF via SWFLoader

I load an external SWF file from a click event. Then, when the interactions has reached the end of the presentation, we'd like it to unload itself, and go into another state.
Is that possible? ( actually transformed the SWF into a component using Flash Builder 4 hoping that would be easier to detect variables and events)
Thanks,
Doug

It is possible, but you'll have to wire up the communications between the
SWFs

Preloader that changes external swfs every 5 seconds

HI,
I've done an web banner in flash that loads an external swf
and changes for another external swf after 5 seconds. The banner
have a preloader, but the problem becomes when it loads the first
time. As the swfs aren't cached in the browser's cache yet, the
time for 5 seconds starts to count from the preloader, and when the
external swf finally shows, only rest 1 second and it is changed to
another. There is a way to "freeze" the time for each external swf
until it totally loads?
The code that loads the swfs every 5 seconds (this code is
placed into an action layer):
begin of code:
var intervalId:Number;
var count:Number = 0;
var maxCount:Number = 23;
var duration:Number = 0;
var banners:Array = new Array(
"abatrade.swf",
"bancobrasil.swf",
"caparao.swf",
"cedro.swf",
"cesama.swf",
"copasa.swf",
"damatta.swf",
"emtel.swf",
"engedrain.swf",
"extel.swf",
"feedback.swf",
"iti.swf",
"intermedium.swf",
"magnesita.swf",
"maquenge.swf",
"maxxdata.swf",
"orteng.swf",
"paiva.swf",
"paraibuna.swf",
"paraopeba.swf",
"sabesp.swf",
"serpro.swf",
"soll.swf",
"thawte.swf"
function executeCallback(param:String) {
var duration:Number = 5000;
loadMovie(banners[count],loadmovie_mc);
loadmovie_mc._x=0;
loadmovie_mc._y=0;
clearInterval(intervalId);
if(count < maxCount) {
count++ ;
intervalId = setInterval(this, "executeCallback", duration,
banners[count]);
else {
count=0;
intervalId = setInterval(this, "executeCallback", duration,
banners[count]);
if(intervalId != null) {
clearInterval(intervalId);
intervalId = setInterval(this, "executeCallback", duration,
banners[count]);
//end of code
And the code for the preloader (this code I place into the
movieclip that loads the external swfs):
//begin of code:
onClipEvent(enterFrame) {
var gtT:Number = this.getBytesTotal();
var gtL:Number = this.getBytesLoaded();
var gtP:Number = int((gtL/gtT)*100);
if ( gtT > gtL ) {
this._alpha = 0;
_root.loader._alpha = 100;
_root.loader.bar._width = gtP;
clearInterval(intervalId);
} else {
this._alpha = 100;
_root.loader._alpha = 0;
intervalId = setInterval(this, "executeCallback", duration,
banners[count]);
delete onEnterFrame;
//end of code
Note that I tryed to freeze the time using a clearInterval in
the second code, but it simply don't works...
Any Ideas? Thanks
Edson

http://www.maxxdata.com.br/banners.zip
Open the fla and preview the file with bandwidth preview (
Crtl+Enter twice ). You will note that the third banner
(caparao.swf) start to loads but it don't shows at all because the
loading for a slow internet (56K) takes more than 5 seconds. So the
loader skip to the next banner. Is there a way to "freeze" the time
for the preloader (to give it enough time to the banner load
completely, even in slow connections) and count the 5 seconds only
to the banner itself?
Thanks.

Loading external SWF fila and accessing variables/functions

Hello everybody!
My first post here. Actually I do search google for answers all the time, but now - it's tough one.
public function loadScreen(swf:File):void {
     _content = swf;
     var swfBytes:ByteArray = new ByteArray();
     var file:File = _content;
     var loadStream:FileStream = new FileStream();
          loadStream.open( file, FileMode.READ );
          loadStream.readBytes( swfBytes );
          loadStream.close();
     var loader:Loader = new Loader();
     var loaderContext:LoaderContext = new LoaderContext(false, ApplicationDomain.currentDomain);
          loaderContext.allowLoadBytesCodeExecution = true;
          loader.loadBytes( swfBytes, loaderContext);
          loader.contentLoaderInfo.addEventListener(Event.INIT, accessSWF);
          loader.contentLoaderInfo.addEventListener(IOErrorEvent.IO_ERROR, errorHandler);
public function errorHandler(e:Event):void {
     trace("PROBLEM LOADING BYTES");
public function accessSWF(e:Event):void {
     var moduleLoader:LoaderInfo = LoaderInfo(e.target);
     moduleLoader.content.addEventListener(Event.INIT, readyHandler);
public function readyHandler(e:Event):void {
     _initOptions = new NativeWindowInitOptions();
     with(_initOptions) {
          resizable = true;
          transparent = false;
     var boundsWin:Rectangle = new Rectangle(100, 100, 423, 430);
     _window = new NativeWindow(_initOptions);
     with(_window) {
          activate();
          bounds = boundsWin;
          stage.scaleMode = "noScale";
The problem is that application loads the external swf with loadBytes, but it's not executing the script. Actually, I'm not able to use the loaded swf. I'm not able even to add it to Stage. But message in output still shows, that the swf file is loaded "[SWF] file.swf/[[DYNAMIC]]/1 - 2746 bytes after decompression"
There are many solutions for this problem on the internet, but they're old (written in 2008 most of all) and not working either, because those solutions work only in older AIR versions
Any help?

Well I got a bit further:
public function loadScreen(swf:File):void {
     var loadStream:FileStream = new FileStream();
     with(loadStream) {
          openAsync( swf, FileMode.READ );
          addEventListener(ProgressEvent.PROGRESS, loadProgress);
          addEventListener(IOErrorEvent.IO_ERROR, errorHandler);
          addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE, loadComplete);
public function loadProgress(e:ProgressEvent):void {
     trace("Loading " + e.target.bytesAvailable);
public function errorHandler(e:IOErrorEvent):void {
     trace("Error ");
public function loadComplete(e:Event):void {
     var swfBytes:ByteArray = new ByteArray();
     FileStream(e.target).readBytes( swfBytes );
     var loaderContext:LoaderContext = new LoaderContext();
     with(loaderContext) {
          allowLoadBytesCodeExecution = true;
     var loader:Loader = new Loader();
     with(loader) {
          loadBytes( swfBytes, loaderContext);
          contentLoaderInfo.addEventListener(Event.INIT, completedSWF);
public function completedSWF(e:Event):void {
     var moduleLoader:LoaderInfo = LoaderInfo(e.target);
     moduleLoader.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE, initiatedFinally);
public function initiatedFinally(e:Event):void {
     _initOptions = new NativeWindowInitOptions();
     with(_initOptions) {
          resizable = true;
          transparent = false;
     var boundsWin:Rectangle = new Rectangle(100, 100, 423, 430);
     _window = new NativeWindow(_initOptions);
     with(_window) {
          activate();
          bounds = boundsWin;
          stage.scaleMode = "noScale";
     var loader:Loader = e.target.loader;
     loader.addEventListener(Event.ADDED_TO_STAGE, irAdded);
     _window.stage.addChild(loader);
public function irAdded(e:Event):void {
     trace(e.target.content.vars); // Object Dictionary
At this point ( function irAdded ) I'm able to retrieve external SWF's variables. But stil, it's not visible on the stage. And yet - there's another problem - rendering the same script , every second time application unloads the external swf movie.

Loading External SWF and setting variables

Hello Everyone.
I'm sure you are all a where of the FlashVars attribute for
Flash embeds which holds variables for SWF's when they are
rendered. I'm attempting to load an External SWF dynamically
from within my own SWF and need to provide it with the values
normally stored in the FlashVars. For the example below I
wait until the External SWF is completely loaded using the
onLoadInit event from moviecliploader and then i attempt to
set the required variables that the loaded SWF needs. This works
great in test and debug mode (ie. Test Movie and Debug Movie
from the Control menu), but when i publish my FLA to SWF and run
the SWF the variables will NOT get set in the loaded External SWF.
From my readings ive people have mentioned that the player is only
able to access Methods of an External SWF. If this is the case then
how do they expect people to set the FlashVars of dynamically
loaded SWFs? I investigated the loadVariables procedure as well and
had the same results in test mode and was wasn't reliable because
of timing issues.
The sample source is below... if anyone has any ideas or has
come across this issue before, I would really appreciate some
insight.
Thank you in advance for your time.
var loader_mc:MovieClipLoader = new MovieClipLoader();
var mclListener:Object = new Object();
loader_mc.addListener(mclListener);
mclListener.onLoadProgress = function(target_mc:MovieClip,
numBytesLoaded:Number, numBytesTotal:Number) {
// DO NOTHING
mclListener.onLoadComplete = function(target_mc:MovieClip) {
// DO NOTHING
mclListener.onLoadInit = function(target_mc:MovieClip) {
// WORKS IN TEST MODE NOT IN PUBLISH/SWF MODE
target_mc._root.param1 = "value1";
// WORKS IN TEST MODE NOT IN PUBLISH/SWF MODE
_level0.container_mc.param1 = "value1";
this.createEmptyMovieClip("container_mc",
this.getNextHighestDepth());
container_mc._lockroot = true;
loader_mc.loadClip("somecoolflash.swf", container_mc);

I've tried that as well and it behaves the same as onLoadInit
... Works when i test but doesnt when i publish to a swf. I think
this is security related and the flash player just cant write to a
loaded swf and set variables.

Remove / unload external swf file(s) from the main flash file and load a new swf file and garbage collection from memory.

I can't seem to remove / unload the external swf files e.g when the carousel.swf (portfolio) is displayed and I press the about button the about content is overlapping the carousel (portfolio) . How can I remove / unload an external swf file from the main flash file and load a new swf file, while at the same time removing garbage collection from memory?
This is the error message(s) I am receiving: "TypeError: Error #2007: Parameter child must be non-null.
at flash.display::DisplayObjectContainer/removeChild()
at index_fla::MainTimeline/Down3()"
import nl.demonsters.debugger.MonsterDebugger;
var d:MonsterDebugger=new MonsterDebugger(this);
stage.scaleMode=StageScaleMode.NO_SCALE;
stage.align=StageAlign.TOP_LEFT;
stage.addEventListener(Event.RESIZE, resizeHandler);
// loader is the loader for portfolio page swf
var loader:Loader;
var loader2:Loader;
var loader3:Loader;
var loader1:Loader;
// resize content
function resizeHandler(event:Event):void {
    // resizes portfolio page to center
loader.x = (stage.stageWidth - loader.width) * .5;
loader.y = (stage.stageHeight - loader.height) * .5;
// resizes about page to center
loader3.x = (stage.stageWidth - 482) * .5 - 260;
loader3.y = (stage.stageHeight - 492) * .5 - 140;
/*loader2.x = (stage.stageWidth - 658.65) * .5;
loader2.y = (stage.stageHeight - 551.45) * .5;*/
addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, onEnterFrame,false, 0, true);
function onEnterFrame(ev:Event):void {
var requesterb:URLRequest=new URLRequest("carouselLoader.swf");
loader = null;
loader = new Loader();
loader.name ="carousel1"
//adds gallery.swf to stage at begining of movie
loader.contentLoaderInfo.addEventListener(IOErrorEvent.IO_ERROR, ioError);
function ioError(event:IOErrorEvent):void {
trace(event);
try {
loader.load(requesterb);
} catch (error:SecurityError) {
trace(error);
addChild(loader);
loader.x = (stage.stageWidth - 739) * .5;
loader.y = (stage.stageHeight - 500) * .5;
// stop gallery.swf from duplication over and over again on enter frame
removeEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, onEnterFrame);
//PORTFOLIO BUTTON
//adds eventlistner so that gallery.swf can be loaded
MovieClip(root).nav.portfolio.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, Down, false, 0, true);
function Down(event:MouseEvent):void {
// re adds listener for contact.swf and about.swf
MovieClip(root).nav.info.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, Down1, false, 0, true);
MovieClip(root).nav.about.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, Down3, false, 0, true);
//unloads gallery.swf from enter frame if users presses portfolio button in nav
var requester:URLRequest=new URLRequest("carouselLoader.swf");
    loader = null;
loader = new Loader();
loader.name ="carousel"
loader.contentLoaderInfo.addEventListener(IOErrorEvent.IO_ERROR, ioError);
function ioError(event:IOErrorEvent):void {
trace(event);
try {
loader.load(requester);
} catch (error:SecurityError) {
trace(error);
addChild(loader);
loader.x = (stage.stageWidth - 739) * .5;
loader.y = (stage.stageHeight - 500) * .5;
removeChild( getChildByName("about") );
removeChild( getChildByName("carousel1") );
// remove eventlistner and prevents duplication of gallery.swf
MovieClip(root).nav.portfolio.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, Down);
//INFORMATION BUTTON
//adds eventlistner so that info.swf can be loaded
MovieClip(root).nav.info.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, Down1, false, 0, true);
function Down1(event:MouseEvent):void {
//this re-adds the EventListener for portfolio so that end user can view again if they wish.
MovieClip(root).nav.portfolio.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, Down, false, 0, true);
MovieClip(root).nav.about.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, Down3, false, 0, true);
var requester:URLRequest=new URLRequest("contactLoader.swf");
loader2 = null;
loader2 = new Loader();
loader2.name ="contact"
loader2.contentLoaderInfo.addEventListener(IOErrorEvent.IO_ERROR, ioError);
function ioError(event:IOErrorEvent):void {
trace(event);
try {
loader2.load(requester);
} catch (error:SecurityError) {
trace(error);
addChild(loader2);
loader2.x = (stage.stageWidth - 658.65) * .5;
loader2.y = (stage.stageHeight - 551.45) * .5;
// remove eventlistner and prevents duplication of info.swf
MovieClip(root).nav.info.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, Down1);
//ABOUT BUTTON
//adds eventlistner so that info.swf can be loaded
MovieClip(root).nav.about.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, Down3, false, 0, true);
function Down3(event:MouseEvent):void {
//this re-adds the EventListener for portfolio so that end user can view again if they wish.
MovieClip(root).nav.portfolio.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, Down, false, 0, true);
MovieClip(root).nav.info.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, Down1, false, 0, true);
var requester:URLRequest=new URLRequest("aboutLoader.swf");
loader3 = null;
loader3 = new Loader();
loader3.name ="about"
loader3.contentLoaderInfo.addEventListener(IOErrorEvent.IO_ERROR, ioError);
function ioError(event:IOErrorEvent):void {
trace(event);
try {
loader3.load(requester);
} catch (error:SecurityError) {
trace(error);
addChild(loader3);
loader3.x = (stage.stageWidth - 482) * .5 - 260;
loader3.y = (stage.stageHeight - 492) * .5 - 140;
removeChild( getChildByName("carousel") );
removeChild( getChildByName("carousel1") );
// remove eventlistner and prevents duplication of info.swf
MovieClip(root).nav.about.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, Down3);
stop();

Andrei1,
Thank you for the helpful advice. I made the changes as you suggested but I am receiving a #1009 error message even though my site is working the way I wan it to work. I would still like to fix the errors so that my site runs and error free. This is the error I am receiving:
"TypeError: Error #1009: Cannot access a property or method of a null object reference."
I'm sure this is not the best method to unload loaders and I am guessing this is why I am receiving the following error message.
     loader.unload();
     loader2.unload();
     loader3.unload();
I also tried creating a function to unload the loader but received the same error message and my portfolio swf was not showing at all.
     function killLoad():void{
     try { loader.close(); loader2.close; loader3.close;} catch (e:*) {}
     loader.unload(); loader2.unload(); loader3.unload();
I have a question regarding suggestion you made to set Mouse Event to "null". What does this do setting the MouseEvent do exactly? Also, since I've set the MouseEvent to null do I also have to set the loader to null? e.g.
---- Here is my updated code ----
// variable for external loaders
var loader:Loader;
var loader1:Loader;
var loader2:Loader;
var loader3:Loader;
// makes borders resize with browser size
function resizeHandler(event:Event):void {
// resizes portfolio page to center
     loader.x = (stage.stageWidth - loader.width) * .5;
     loader.y = (stage.stageHeight - loader.height) * .5;
// resizes about page to center
     loader3.x = (stage.stageWidth - 482) * .5 - 260;
     loader3.y = (stage.stageHeight - 492) * .5 - 140;
//adds gallery.swf to stage at begining of moviie
     Down();
//PORTFOLIO BUTTON
//adds eventlistner so that gallery.swf can be loaded
     MovieClip(root).nav.portfolio.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, Down, false, 0, true);
function Down(event:MouseEvent = null):void {
// re adds listener for contact.swf and about.swf
     MovieClip(root).nav.info.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, Down1, false, 0, true);
     MovieClip(root).nav.about.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, Down3, false, 0, true);
//unloads gallery.swf from enter frame if users presses portfolio button in nav
     var requester:URLRequest=new URLRequest("carouselLoader.swf");
     loader = new Loader();
     loader.contentLoaderInfo.addEventListener(IOErrorEvent.IO_ERROR, ioError);
     function ioError(event:IOErrorEvent):void {
     trace(event);
     try {
     loader.load(requester);
     } catch (error:SecurityError) {
     trace(error);
     this.addChild(loader);
     loader.x = (stage.stageWidth - 739) * .5;
     loader.y = (stage.stageHeight - 500) * .5;
// sure this is not the best way to do this - but it is unload external swfs
     loader.unload();
     loader2.unload();
     loader3.unload();
// remove eventlistner and prevents duplication of gallery.swf
     MovieClip(root).nav.portfolio.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, Down);
//INFORMATION BUTTON
     //adds eventlistner so that info.swf can be loaded
     MovieClip(root).nav.info.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, Down1, false, 0, true);
     function Down1(event:MouseEvent = null):void {
     //this re-adds the EventListener for portfolio so that end user can view again if they wish.
     MovieClip(root).nav.portfolio.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, Down, false, 0, true);
     MovieClip(root).nav.about.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, Down3, false, 0, true);
     var requester:URLRequest=new URLRequest("contactLoader.swf");
     loader2 = null;
     loader2 = new Loader();
     loader2.contentLoaderInfo.addEventListener(IOErrorEvent.IO_ERROR, ioError);
     function ioError(event:IOErrorEvent):void {
     trace(event);
     try {
     loader2.load(requester);
}      catch (error:SecurityError) {
     trace(error);
     addChild(loader2);
     loader2.x = (stage.stageWidth - 658.65) * .5;
     loader2.y = (stage.stageHeight - 551.45) * .5;
loader.unload();
loader2.unload();
loader3.unload();
     // remove eventlistner and prevents duplication of info.swf
     MovieClip(root).nav.info.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, Down1);
//ABOUT BUTTON
     //adds eventlistner so that info.swf can be loaded
     MovieClip(root).nav.about.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, Down3, false, 0, true);
     function Down3(event:MouseEvent = null):void {
     //this re-adds the EventListener for portfolio so that end user can view again if they wish.
     MovieClip(root).nav.portfolio.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, Down, false, 0, true);
     MovieClip(root).nav.info.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, Down1, false, 0, true);
     var requester:URLRequest=new URLRequest("aboutLoader.swf");
     loader3 = null;
     loader3 = new Loader();
     loader3.contentLoaderInfo.addEventListener(IOErrorEvent.IO_ERROR, ioError);
     function ioError(event:IOErrorEvent):void {
     trace(event);
     try {
     loader3.load(requester);
}      catch (error:SecurityError) {
     trace(error);
     addChild(loader3);
     loader3.x = (stage.stageWidth - 482) * .5 - 260;
     loader3.y = (stage.stageHeight - 492) * .5 - 140;
     loader.unload();
     loader2.unload();
     loader3.unload();
     // remove eventlistner and prevents duplication of info.swf
     MovieClip(root).nav.about.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, Down3);
     stop();

Passing variables to loaded external movie

Ok, this problem has beaten me for the last 2 days. It seems
to be extremely simple, I am on main movie and I am using
MovieClipLoader class to load external movie callMe.swf into movie
holder called holder_MC, then from main using onLoadInit or
onLoadProgress listeners I can target dynamic text inside
callMe.swf as holder_MC.myTXT.text = "blablabla" or I can change
frames in callMe.swf by holder_MC.gotoAndStop(5). But HOW TO PASS
VARIABLE myVar to callMe.swf so it executes something there? Using
holder_MC.myVar DOESN'T WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for any help,
Zbynek

UPDATE... I copied the link to another page with my variables in the image attributes as I posted above. And it works using the values that are cached for those items. Is there any way to do this on the same page as my original link without my users having to change to a different page?

Further External SWF Issues

So once again, I am trying to create seperate external SWFs for my site in order to drastically reduce load times and each SWF loads a different section of my portfolio. This code worked for the first external SWF:
var myLoader:Loader = new Loader();
var url:URLRequest = new URLRequest("flashfiles/bwphoto.swf");
myLoader.load(url);
bwanchor.addChild(myLoader);
But now on a different area in the timeline when I try to use it on a different movie clip with a different SWF and URL, it doesn't work. It gives me two errors:
1151: A conflict exists with definition myLoader in namespace internal
1151: A conflict exists with definition url in namespace internal
What do these mean? And does someone maybe just have a better code to unload and load multiple external SWFs? Keep in mind it can be just click to load, click again to unload because each SWF has its own navigation to change the image shown.
Thanks again for any help.

The errors seem to indicate that you are trying to declare the same variables again, namely 'myLoader' and 'url'.
var myLoader:Loader = new Loader();
var url:URLRequest ...
When you use "var" you are declaring a variable.
You cannot declare a variable more than once in a file. So either use new variable names, or do not use the "var" declaration for any other times you use those variables in the file. LAter in the timeline you could try using...
myLoader = new Loader();
url = new URLRequest("flashfiles/someother.swf");

Access a component inside external swf file

Hi, I loaded a external swf file that it is a dialog.
var swfLoader : Loader = new Loader();
var swfURL : URLRequest = new URLRequest("dialog.swf");
swfLoader.load(swfURL);
swfLoader.contentLoaderInfo.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE,imgLoaded);
function imgLoaded(event:Event):void
var movie : * = swfLoader.content;
var clip : MovieClip = movie;
parent.addChild(clip);
Now, inside the movieClip there is a TextField component
named message that i want to change its 'text' property.
The question is: How can i access to this property to change
it?
Regards

okay,
I have the image component in ProductCatalogThumbnail.mxml, which has an id of "img"
so, i created a public variable in the file and a public function that returns the value of the object.
public var imagecopy:Object;
        [Bindable]
         public function imagecopyfunction():Object{
         imagecopy = img;
         return imagecopy;
now, I want to access this image in the mxml file ProductList.mxml in a function
public function init():void
      ProductCatalogThumbnail.imagecopy.addEventListener( MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, beginDrag );
   // accepting a drag/drop operation...
     this.area.addEventListener( DragEvent.DRAG_ENTER, acceptDrop );
     // handling the drop...
    //this.area.addEventListener( DragEvent.DRAG_DROP, handleDrop );
I tried to use the variable, and then i tried to use the function:
I got this error when I tried the variable : 1119: Access of possibly undefined property imagecopy through a reference with static type Class.
ProductCatalogThumbnail.imagecopy.addEventListener( MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, beginDrag );
and this error when i tried the function: 1061: Call to a possibly undefined method imagecopyfunction through a reference with static type Class.
ProductCatalogThumbnail.imagecopyfunction().addEventListener( MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, beginDrag );
i made sure i imported ProductCatalogThumbnail file in the beginning of my application.
I am not sure what went wrong.

Screenshots from external swfs

How can i draw a movieclip that contains an external swf onto
a BitmapData variable?
I'm loading the movieclip with:
moviecontainer=_root.createEmptyMovieClip("moviecontainer",10);
moviecontainer.loadMovie("pacman.swf",0);
Then i initialise the BitmapData var with:
var snap:BitmapData = new BitmapData(Math.floor(nwidth),
Math.floor(nheight),false);
When a button is pressed i try this:
snap.draw(moviecontainer,new Matrix());
I expected the BitmapData snap to contain a screenshot from
the external swf pacman.swf, but it doesn't.
Does anyone know what i'm doing wrong?

Thanks! I was close to giving up, but this really works
great.
The code for the php script is:
<?php
$data=explode(",",$_POST["img"]);
$im=imagecreatetruecolor(max(1,$_POST["iwidth"]),max(1,$_POST["iheight"]));
imagefill($im,0,0,imagecolorallocate($im,255,255,255));
$i=0;
for($x=0;$x<$_POST["iwidth"];$x++){
for($y=0;$y<$_POST["iheight"];$y++){
$r=hexdec(substr($data[$i],0,2));
$g=hexdec(substr($data[$i],2,2));
$b=hexdec(substr($data[$i],4,2));
$color=imagecolorallocate($im,$r,$g,$b);
imagesetpixel($im,$x,$y,$color);
$i++;
imagepng($im);
?>
i changed the code inside the two for-loops in the .fla to:
tmp = snap.getPixel(a, b).toString(16);
pixels.push(tmp);

What is or isn't possible on iOS? (Not having Loader, loadBytes(), external swfs, etc)

My basic question is: "What are the classes which we should not use for iOS using the packager."
I have been trying for a few days trying to get a simple Flash app to run on the iPad. A very simple app (with sound!) with just 2 classes works fine (Performance is a whole other issue. We will get to that). But if I try anything else, all I get is a white/black screen on the iPad. So it would be really nice to know what classes, functions, etc we CANNOT use for the Packager.
I have fairly simple app (not as simple as 2 classes) which loads some art assets via URLRequest/Loader, puts them on the stage. Fairly common standard practice in AS3.
I've read about not able to load an external file using the Packager. So to fix the situation of loading assets, I have looked into the [embed] tag, which seems to work. I hope the blogger doesn't mind, but this page is an excellent source on what works and doesn't work with the [embed] tag in it's various flavors: http://www.richardleggett.co.uk/blog/index.php/2010/03/08/flash_builder_and_flash_pro_asse t_workflows. For example, AS3 in a swf is stripped out from an external swf using [embed].
The best way to load an external swf file for iOS seems to be using [embed] with "application/octet-stream" and load the swf through ByteArray (Option #4 in the link above). This works great on the PC. HOWEVER, on iPad, it fails. The [embed] tag works on the iPad with the other ways, so my guess is that loadBytes() does not work. Is this true Adobe/Flash guys? Can you confirm this?
My initial question is "why is this not allowed on iOS?". If it is because of the fact that it uses a Loader, can it be changed so it's not using a Loader to construct a MovieClip? I have a ByteArray with the raw swf/MovieClip data. Why can't I construct a MovieClip from it without going through Loader?
This loadBytes() failure seems to be the only thing preventing me from using the normal pipeline of Flash development in loading external assets. If there are other ways people have found, please share!
Now on to performance. Adobe, can you post some examples/samples of code which runs at decent performance? Like a "tech demo" of what is possible using the Packager running on iPad/iPhone. That would be extremely helpful for everyone. I have done a lot of the optimizing suggestions on various sites and pages ( and by Adobe http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/optimize_content_ios.html), but I am not seeing the 30 fps performance that is MORE than possible on iPhone/iPad. Displaying and moving around Bitmaps (I don't use any vector graphics) should be blazing fast. Quake runs on iPad without any problems and that code is 10 years old. Moore's law dictates that drawing Bitmaps using CPU should be faster than a 3D engine written 10 years ago... I am trying out the new iOS 4.2 which is supposed to be "significantly" better, but I am still stuck on loadBytes().
So at this point, I am blocked on loadBytes() and my performance for a simple app which draws a few Bitmaps and MovieClips is terrible. I am hopeful some people out there have figured out some solution (there are lots of clever people out there) and I will stumble on to something. But being forced to go native Objective-C seems to be my only option at this point.
In summary, here are the questions I would like to ask the Adobe/Flash group for some more help/information/advise:
- Why is Loader not allowed on iOS? Is it a technical limitation of the hardware/os/Flash? Will it never be supported? What is the future of this class on iOS?
- Why is loadBytes() not allowed on iOS? I have the raw embedded data in memory. I don't need to make a remote call so security should not be an issue. Can I create a MovieClip without using Loader?
- Why is AS3 stripped from the timeline when a Symbol is retrieved using [embed]? Maybe this is the same reason loadBytes() fails, but if I could use [embed] and get a copy of the Symbol, that is what I need. (There are issues with the mx.core.MovieClipLoaderAsset/Asset, but it is better than being blocked by loadBytes())
- What are some apps you guys have written that we can use to compare PC vs iOS? Again, a "tech demo" or sample code of what you as experts in Packager for iOS have done which runs at decent framerate (30+fps) would be of tremendous help. If the Adobe/Flash group hasn't gotten the current Packager for iOS to handle more than 50+ 2D Bitmaps on screen running at 30+fps, that would be good to know. Please let us know what the experts and owners of your software are capable of getting the most throughput using the Packager. I'd hate to sound a bit fed up/angry, but I think you are wasting a lot of people's time and energy with a piece of software that, to me, seems like it was a bit early to release. Flash can do some great things. If it can do it on iOS, even better. But PROVE it to us that it's possible, before having your customers run into barriers imposed on us by trial and error.
Thanks.

I have hardly ever seen a post here from someone at Adobe, so you may need to be patient.
Read this article, and get its associated demo files, to see some good performing tech demos:
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/optimize_content_ios.html
Back to your main point, loaders are working, what isn't working for you is accessing of things in the library of a successfully loaded swf, that have been set to Export for ActionScript. That means that the swf you have loaded has an ActionScript Class, to represent the library symbol. iOS Flash apps are native ARM code, and don't include the virtual machines that a browser plugin has, and so it's not able to interpret ActionScript. That may be why it would fail.
Now, I can think of at least a couple of reasons why you might want to have external swfs with elements that you want to reuse in the main swf. One would be if you're intending to make a lot of them, like say if you wanted to have an Asteroids game and the ability to use artwork from a set of different swfs. Another reason might be if you want to skin your interface, by taking specific elements from the loaded swf and using them in the main swf. That way you could have artists preparing those swfs for you, and you just include them in your package, and load the one you want.
There is a way to do either of those things. The second one can be done by having the item as a named symbol on the stage of the loaded swf. With a to-be-loaded swf named "inner.swf", that has a movieclip on its stage named "mc1", this script in the main swf would load that external swf and use its symbol on the main swf's stage, without having to make the inner swf's symbol use ActionScript:
var req:URLRequest = new URLRequest("inner.swf");
var ldr:Loader = new Loader();
ldr.contentLoaderInfo.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE,loaded);
ldr.load(req);
function loaded(e:Event) {
var mc:MovieClip = e.target.content as MovieClip;
var innermc:* = mc.mc1;
innermc.x = 50;
innermc.y = 50;
addChild(innermc);
For the other case, you can take the item off the stage of the loaded swf and draw it into a bitmapdata, and then make as many bitmaps from that as you like. Here's the above example, only it adds the original movieclip to the main swf stage, and also creates a bitmap that looks the same:
var req:URLRequest = new URLRequest("inner.swf");
var ldr:Loader = new Loader();
ldr.contentLoaderInfo.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE,loaded);
ldr.load(req);
function loaded(e:Event) {
var mc:MovieClip = e.target.content as MovieClip;
var innermc:* = mc.mc1;
innermc.x = 50;
innermc.y = 50;
addChild(innermc);
var bmd:BitmapData = new BitmapData(innermc.width,innermc.height);
bmd.draw(innermc);
var bm:Bitmap = new Bitmap(bmd);
bm.x = 150;
bm.y = 150;
addChild(bm);
So, the thing to learn is that a native ARM code application does not have an ActionScript interpreter in it, and if you need to do something that normally requires interpreting ActionScript, find another way to do it.

Unable to load external swf which has runtime sharing with another swf.

Hi,
I am getting issues on loading external swf say "importer.swf" file into another swf file say "loader.swf" for second time like
ReferenceError: Error #1065: Variable testSymbol is not defined. VerifyError: Error #1014: Class testClass could not be found.
at global$init()
In the external swf "importer.swf", i am trying to import the symbol "testSymbol" from another swf file say "exporter.swf", which exports through runtime sharing option for the symbols.
I am having some buttons in loader.swf file and on each button click i am loading different swf files into the loader.swf after unloading the previous one.
I am able to load and unload different swf files but unable to load the importer.swf file which is sharing symbols from external swf and that too for the second time i.e., when i click the button twice.
When trying to debug with flash debugger, all the other swf files are being unloaded before loading of another swf but the swf which is sharing symbols/classes with another swf is not getting unloaded.
Output when i am trying to load two files example and importer files into loader.swf file on two different button clicks. On first button click example.swf is loaded. On second button click , example.swf is unloaded and importer.swf is loaded which is successful. On first button click again importer.swf is unloaded and example.swf is loaded. On second button click again, example.swf is unloaded and importer.swf is loaded, here i am getting issues shown above.
Attemping to launch and connect to Player using URL D:\runtime issue\loader.swf
[SWF] D:\runtime issue\ loader.swf - 8181 bytes after decompression
[SWF] D:\runtime issue\example.swf - 441708 bytes after decompression
[UnloadSWF] D:\runtime issue\example.swf
[SWF] D:\runtime issue\importer.swf - 1920 bytes after decompression
[SWF] D:\runtime issue\importer.swf - 441708 bytes after decompression
[SWF] D:\runtime issue\ example.swf - 441708 bytes after decompression
[UnloadSWF] D:\runtime issue\ example.swf
[SWF] D:\runtime issue\importer.swf - 1920 bytes after decompression
ReferenceError: Error #1065: Variable xxxxxx is not defined.
Debug session terminated.
Code i am using
b1.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, b1Clicked);
b2.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, b2Clicked);
var ldr:Loader;
function b2Clicked(e:MouseEvent)
    if(ldr != null)
        ldr.unloadAndStop(true);
    ldr = new Loader();
    ldr.load(new URLRequest("importer.swf"));
    addChild(ldr);
function b1Clicked(e:MouseEvent)
    if(ldr != null)
        ldr.unloadAndStop(true);
    ldr = new Loader();
    ldr.load(new URLRequest("example.swf"));
    addChild(ldr);
If i try to open the swf using IE, i am not getting any issues at all. But i need to open this loader.swf in a air application. Also when i use loaderContext for the loader instance i am able to get rid of this issue but i cant use it in my application.
So, please help me in resolving this issue.
Thanks

I got my answer. I had to append the photo url to the 'movie' value of the javascript embed method. Like this:
<script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">
   AC_FL_RunContent(
      'codebase', 'http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=10,0,0,0',
      'width', '550',
      'height', '400',
      'src', 'lesson2',
      'quality', 'high',
      'pluginspage', 'http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer',
      'align', 'middle',
      'play', 'true',
      'loop', 'true',
      'scale', 'showall',
      'wmode', 'window',
      'devicefont', 'false',
      'id', 'lesson2',
      'bgcolor', '#ffffff',
      'name', 'lesson2',
      'menu', 'true',
      'allowFullScreen', 'false',
      'allowScriptAccess','always',
      'movie', 'lesson2?photo=http://www.flash-mx.com/images/image1.jpg',
      'salign', ''
      ); //end AC code
</script>
Thanks,
srb.

How to control timeline sound of external SWF

Hi All,
Basic Intro:
I am new in Action Script and trying to create a video tutorial framwork. In this I have lots of animated SWF files in all the files I have multiple scenes as those are 5min. to 10 min. each and all the files have the relevent background and nurration voice place directly on the TIMELINE frame by frame to match lip syncing animated chreactors.
My file structure :
Login.swf with login box is embedded into the Index.html
After logged in it will load another SWF which is Control panel.swf
3. Controlpanel.swf has the controls to control the loaded external swf files i.e.: Chapter menu, Play, pause, replay, volume-bar, next and previous buttons.
By Default Controlpanel.swf will open chapter1.swf as soon as user logged in so no one need to open 1st file.
Here user can navigate to other chapter swf file through Chapter menu or Next and Previous buttons.
All files are loading and playing properly, here I am trying to control the animation and Sound both at a same time with Pause, Play and Replay through relevant buttons.
Problem:
By pressing “Pause button” animation stops but not the sound. Sound remains playing, and if I replay the swf by “Replay button” than animation restarts but sound also restarts that overlaps already playing audio.
Question: So could anybody help me finding out how to:
1. Pause the sound with animation by the same click of Pause button, and
2. Stop the sound with animation by the same click of Stop button, and
3. On replay it should stop playing the previously running audio and restart it with the animation like fresh loaded file, it should not sound overlapping.
Constraints:
Here I am using the sound file on the same time line of each individual swf file which I cannot add into any single movie clip because all the chapter swf file are having multiple scenes in it.
For my problem I have already done a lot of browsing online in various forums and didn't find the solution. So here I am sharing the complete information regarding the project and wishing to get some good solution out here but if I missed any helpful information please ask me anytime and please help me to quickly find out the solution.
Thanks a lot to all of you in advance to help me.

create one global sound variable
you can write when you are pressing pause button
globalsoundvariable.setVolume(0)
to play
globalsoundvariable.setVolume(100)

AS3: How to access and control embedded sounds in an external swf?

I rarely use sounds in AS3/Flash. I am using Flash Pro CS6, but I can't seem to figure out how to access, control (play, stop, etc) sounds embedded in an external SWF loaded into the main SWF.
It's easy to control them when embedded on the main swf. However, on an externally loaded SWR, I get all kinds of errors. For this app, I really need to embed them in the external SWF.
I read several solutions, but none seem to work.
I embed the sound an mp3 file called soundSegment1.mp3 using Flash CS6 import tool and then open the actionscript properties panel on flash to select the class name: SoundSegment1. Then I edit the class code and create a file called SoundSegment1.as and it's saved right next to my document class main.as in the same directory. The code of the SoundSegment1 class looks like this:
package {
    import flash.media.*;
    public class SoundSegment1 extends Sound
        public function SoundSegment1 ()
            // no code in here
        public function playSound()
            var soundSegment1:Sound = new SoundSegment1();
            var channel:SoundChannel = soundSegment1.play();
Then, in my main.as, I have done several attempts to play this sound such as:
var fileLocation:URLRequest = new URLRequest(SWFToLoad); loader.load(fileLocation); loader.contentLoaderInfo.addEventListener(ProgressEvent.PROGRESS, progressListener); loader.contentLoaderInfo.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE, completeListener); loader.contentLoaderInfo.addEventListener(Event.INIT, initListener);
function initListener(e:Event):void // I also placed this code on the completeListener and it didn't work {      loader.content.soundSegment1.playSound(); // doesn't work. }
I get:
Line XXX 1061: Call to a possibly undefined method playSound through a reference with static type flash.display:DisplayObject.
or, I also read that I should be able to do something like this anywhere in the Main.as file:
var theClass:Class = Class(loader.content.getDefinitionByName("SoundSegment1")); var theSound:theClass = new theClass(); theSound.play() //doesn't work either.
I also tried on the completeListener:
var TheClass:Class = e.target.applicationDomain.getDefinition("SoundSegment1") as Class; var theSound:TheClass = new TheClass();
theSound.play() //doesn't work either.
I get:
ReferenceError: Error #1065: Variable SoundSegment1 is not defined. at flash.system::ApplicationDomain/getDefinition()
I am stuck and I really need to get this to work. I would be genuinely grateful for your help.
Thank you in advance for any help provided. I really need to get it to work, because I can't simply embed them in the main SWF or load them individually externally one by one.
Thanks again!

THANK YOU!
I think your code may be over my head though. I think you are using an anonymous function which is not something I am familiar with (but I want to learn about if it's useful).
I also don't know where the classS came from. I see that it's a parameter sent along with the event, but I don't really see where that came from.
Someone at: http://www.kirupa.com/forum/showthread.php?305098-Playing-a-embedded-sound-in-an-external- swf&p=2658098#post2658098
Is showing what seems to be an easier solution, but my problem there is I can't access the source file of the "child" swf.... ayayay.....
I am going to tinker with your solution and see if it gets me anywhere. Thanks so much for your help again.

Changing a variable in an external swf

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