_xmouse AS3?

Question

Hi guys,
I'm trying to have a timer start when you enter the area where x < 45 and y is < 504 with your mouse and then by the time the timer is over if your mouse is still in that area the action happens. I've been finding things about clipevents and mouselisteners and I just can't seem to get the coding right on them. Right now I have something thats looks like this...
if (_ymouse<= 504 && _xmouse<= 45) {
    timer.start();
var timer:Timer = new Timer(1100);
timer.addEventListener(TimerEvent.TIMER, timerHandler);
function timerHandler(event:TimerEvent):void {
    if (_ymouse<= 504 && _xmouse<= 45 && menumask_mc.currentFrame != 10){
      menumask_mc.gotoAndPlay("rollout");
      timer.stop();
    if (_ymouse<= 504 && _xmouse<= 45 && line_mc.currentFrame != 10){
      line_mc.gotoAndPlay("lineout");
      timer.stop();
I used to have them written as _root._xmouse.... but I kept getting the error "access of undefined property" so I took out the root because this coding is actually on the first frame of the main scene anyway so I figured it didn't actually need it and then I was still getting the error "access of undefined property" for _xmouse... Is _xmouse not valid is AS3? Any ideas? It's driving me nuts.
Note: I know theres the hitTestObject thing and thats what I initially used but its too choppy for me. If I make an empty mc that sits under my menu layer for the hitTestObject then it doesn't work if your sitting over one of the menu buttons but if I make the hitTestObject to be my actual menu then it only works in very specific points so thats why I want it to just register when the mouse is in the area.

Answer 1

AS3: mouseX