Pass Parameter to Module Loaded with ModuleManager

Question

Is it possible to pass a parameter to a module loaded with ModuleManager?

Answer 1

80sRelic,
First, to answer a lingering question from your last post, the reason simIndex was 3 for each module (as opposed to 1,2,3) has to do with timing. When you ran getDataFromParent() within the module you probably did so after an event like the creationComplete event. The for loop (with simIndex++) executed almost instantly while the asynchronous events for each module kicked in a few ms later, so '3' across the board.
Also, as far as the IModuleInfo::factory.create() method goes, yes you can pass a slew of parameters in here, but this is NOT the way to pass data to the module. I don't know what this parameter is all about, I thought it might pass variables to the module constructor (it does not), the documentation says something about 'let building factories change what they create,' but I never figured it out. Sorry. All I know is that whatever this is, it is not the way.
BTW, the general topic we're dealing with is 'passing data' between module and application and more info can be found here and in the flex 3 cookbook.
But, I'm guessing you already know this. (Just in case!!! )
Of all the ways to pass data, gettingDataFromTheParent() is probably the worst method, or so they say. In general, passing data between module and application couples the two objects together and so they are no longer are they black boxes to each other. And I'm guessing the reason gettingDataFromParent() is the least preferred method probably has to do with change, where changeOverTimeOfApp > changeOverTimeOfModule.
I wrote a small app, which might help demonstrate a nice way for you to pass data in your project. Please note that the app, as it stands doesn't make much sense. Modules should only be used when there's a really good reason to do so, for instance if the module is prohibitively large and only a fraction of the users will actually ever need to employ the module. In my particular example, using a custom component would be simpler and make much much more sense.
Well, here it is (with .fxp appended at the bottom). Hope this helps,
- e
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<s:Application xmlns:fx="http://ns.adobe.com/mxml/2009"
               xmlns:s="library://ns.adobe.com/flex/spark"
               xmlns:mx="library://ns.adobe.com/flex/halo" >
  <fx:Script>
    <![CDATA[
      import modules.ColoredRectangle;
      import mx.collections.ArrayCollection;
      import mx.events.ModuleEvent;
      import mx.modules.IModuleInfo;
      import mx.modules.ModuleManager;
      private var myModInfo:IModuleInfo;
      private var myColor:uint;
      private var colorCollection:ArrayCollection = new ArrayCollection(
           [{colorName:"Red",    hex:"0xFF0000"},
            {colorName:"Orange", hex:"0xFFA500"},
            {colorName:"Yellow", hex:"0xFFFF00"},
            {colorName:"Green",  hex:"0x008000"},
            {colorName:"Blue",   hex:"0x0000FF"},
            {colorName:"Indigo", hex:"0x4B0082"},
            {colorName:"Violet", hex:"0xEE82EE"}] );
      protected function fetchModules():void     {
        myModInfo = ModuleManager.getModule("modules/ColoredRectangle.swf");
        myModInfo.addEventListener(ModuleEvent.READY, moduleReadyHandler);
        myModInfo.load();
      private function moduleReadyHandler(event:ModuleEvent):void {
        for each(var colorObj:Object in colorCollection) {
           var myModuleInstance:ColoredRectangle = myModInfo.factory.create() as ColoredRectangle;
           myModuleInstance.myColor = uint(colorObj.hex);
           tileBox.addElement(myModuleInstance);
    ]]>
  </fx:Script>
  <s:HGroup verticalCenter="0" horizontalCenter="0"
            width="750" height="400" gap="50">
     <s:Border width="100%" height="400">
        <s:layout>
           <s:VerticalLayout />
        </s:layout>
        <s:Button id="seeModulesButton1" label="fetch modules!"
               click="fetchModules()" width="100%"/>
        <s:Scroller width="100%" height="100%">
           <s:Group  id="tileBox" height="100%" width="100%">
              <s:layout>
                 <s:TileLayout columnAlign="justifyUsingGap" />
              </s:layout>
           </s:Group>
        </s:Scroller>
     </s:Border>
   </s:HGroup>
</s:Application>