Embedding a series of stop points in a timeline

Question

I have Flash 8 running on Windows XP. I’m just learning
to use it. I’ve been through the training from Total Training
and I’ve completed a successful project. Now I want to do
something more with the project and I don’t know how to
proceed.
I want to embed a series of checkpoints in the timeline. Then
I want to create a button called “Step” that, when
clicked, will play the movie up to the next checkpoint, then stop.
Click “Step” again and you resume the movie at that
point and stop at the next checkpoint. This will let me step
through the movie and have it pause it at predetermined points.
Thanks for any input.

Answer 1

kenewing,
> This works partially. I can embed a stop() at each
> checkpoint in the timeline, then attach a play() script
> to the Step button. I can then step through the
> timeline as desired.
I'm with ya.
> The problem is that the Flash file becomes either/or
> rather than both/and. I can set up the movie to play
> continuously, OR set it up to step manually, but I
> can't do both.
Sure you can. :)
> Ideally, I want to have two buttons: one that plays the
> whole timeline without pauses, and a different one that
> lets me step through the timeline manually.
Okay, sounds like a good use for a variable.
> Further ideas?
Create a variable in frame 1.
var doPausing:Boolean = false;
Then check that variable in later frames to see if you
should do the
pausing or not. For example, where you might currently have a
stop() action
on frame 20, change it to this ...
if (doPausing == true) {
stop();
Or, shorthand ...
if (doPausing) {
stop();
It just means that the main timeline will only obey the
stop() if that
variable's value is true. Use your buttons to set it true or
false.
// Play button
btnPlay.onRelease = function() {
doPausing = false;
gotoAndPlay( whatever frame to start on );
// Play with pauses
btnPlayWithPauses.onRelease = function() {
doPausing = true;
gotoAndPlay( whatever frame to start on );
David Stiller
Adobe Community Expert
Dev blog,
http://www.quip.net/blog/
"Luck is the residue of good design."