Trying to make a graph that actually works

Question

I’m trying to make a graph for my boss that displays
the number of tickets each staff member have completed.
I found this tutorial:
http://www.flashkit.com/tutorials/Dynamic_Content/Creating-Zoubin_Z-61/index.php
However when I finished it, I wanted to create a dynamic text
box that would display the value for each graph when it said that
the code used was written in Flash 4, so it can’t do that. :(
So I started rebuilding the tutorial in flash 9 but then
realized that the old code wouldn’t work with the new
version!! ARGH!!
So basically I’m a bit stuck.
I’m a beginner to intermediate flash user. But
don’t have much knowledge of the coding side of things.
The main part I need converted is this:
quote:
Set Variable: "a"=1
Loop While (A<29)
Set Variable: "bar"&a = Random (100)
Set Variable: "a" = a+1
End Loop
Set Variable: "a"=1
Loop While (a<29)
Begin Tell Target ("var"&a)
Goto and Stop (Eval("_level0/:bar"&../:a))
End Tell Target
Set Variable: "a" = a+1
End Loop
Which was written for version 4, but needs to work with the
latest which is 9 (?).
All I know so far is that, the Set Variable, has been
replaced with LoadVariable for the new version. Is that right?
I’ve been stressing over this for hours last night and
this morning, trying all different methods from forums and tutorial
sites, but nothing is working. So as a last resort I’m
reaching out for help from the experts.
Thanks in advance!!

Answer 1

I've been messing with your graph all day and I'm having a
lot of fun just playing with the code
It's nice to see some code made especially for this purpose.
Really clears things up.
So thanks again clbeech!
If you don't mind, I've got 3 more questions, if you've got
the spare time to look:
Screenshot
of what I've done so far
Here is the
modified action script:
quote:
stop();
var chartScale = 300; //max scale number
var xml = new XML();
xml.ignoreWhite=true;
xml.onLoad = function() {
date_txt.text = updated;
var xpos =graph._width /
(this.firstChild.childNodes.length+1);
for(var i=0; i<this.firstChild.childNodes.length; i++) {
graph.attachMovie('bar','bar'+i, i, {_y:xpos*(i+0),
_x:100});
graph['bar'+i].name_txt.text = this.firstChild.childNodes
.attributes.staff;
graph['bar'+i].num_txt.text =
this.firstChild.childNodes.attributes.tickets;
graph['bar'+i].imp_txt.text = this.firstChild.childNodes
.attributes.improvement;
var pct =
Number(this.firstChild.childNodes.attributes.tickets) /
chartScale * 200;
graph['bar'+i].bar_bg._yscale = pct;
xml.load('graphData.xml');
And this is the
modified XML data:
quote:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
<graphdata>
<data staff="david" tickets="300" improvement="12"/>
<data staff="trent" tickets="267" improvement="9"/>
<data staff="andrew" tickets="250" improvement="14"/>
<data staff="nathan" tickets="2" improvement="22"/>
<data staff="matt" tickets="274" improvement="2"/>
</graphdata>
<data date="9th June 2008"/>
1.
In the top right hand corner of the screenshot, you'll see
there is a "Last Updated" static text box followed by a dynamic
text box called "date_txt". But I wasn't sure where to put the
code, in the XML file! If I put it between the <graphdata>
tags then it creates a new graph bar called "UNDEFINED" lol
Do I create a new tag called 'datedata' or something and put
it in there? I tried various methods but none of which worked. Any
idea how to make that work?
I googled and found this page:
Webby
But it seems to write the code in a completely different way to
you. Also their method doesn't work.
2.
Is it at all possible to make the graphs sort themselves and
arrange from highest to lowest according to the ticket value?
3.
How difficult would it be to animate the graphs?? So that
when you open the flash file, the bars go zooming across and stop
at the right value?
I'd imagine it'd be a fair amount of work. But I thought I'd
ask anyway.
Thanks showing me the ways guys!
I'm learning a lot.