Creating Tree-Like Hierarchy in Flash CS5 using layers

Question

Hey folks.
I'll try to be concise.
I'm building a mp3 player which initially has 3 layers. In each ofthese 3 layers, there is a lot of visual content. I currently desire the following:
I click on a particular icon and a completely new page pops up (I know how to do the animation & removing assets off the stage and what not), but what I am trying to achieve is that in Flash, where all of my art resides, I was wondering if I can create a tree-like hierarchy whereas if I clicked my icon symbol, I would see all the symbols inside the icon symbol, and when I click back I'm not able to see these new symbols anymore. For ex. I click on an icon with a music symbol, I click it and a bunch of tracks show up in row format. When I click back, I don't see all the tracks anymore, I only see the music icon.
I tried creating a mask inside the music icon containing the several tracks (its one symbol). When I click back I'm able to only view the music icon, which is what I desire, and I'm only able to view the tracks when I go inside (double click) the music icon but the issue is that for some reason I canot access the bunch of tracks symbol via actionscript, my code resides in Flex 4 or otherwise known as Flash Builder 4. Any help would be appreciated.Thank you.
- Sakib I.

Answer 1

I suggest you read some XML tutorials. Functionality you desire is one of the easiest to implement once you get a light grasp on XML.
Here is one of the possible approaches:
var xml:XML;
init();
search("Dog");
function init():void
     xml =   <data>
               <Items>
                    <Query>Rip</Query>
                    <answer>to copy files from a disc onto a computer</answer>
               </Items>
               <Items>
                    <Query>Dog</Query>
                    <answer>Animal that barks</answer>
               </Items>
               <Items>
                    <Query>Watermelon</Query>
                    <answer>Diuretic</answer>
               </Items>
          </data>;
function search(searchString:String):void
     for each (var node:XML in xml.Items)
          if (node.Query.toString() == searchString)
               trace(node.Query.toString(), "is", node.answer);
               break;