Instances in public array turns null

[LanLing]

I have a class that has a lot of functions, and a couple of functions need to use the same array of instances. In order to shorten code, I should create a global array with these instances and all functions in this class can access it, however when I create it, every instance inside turns "null" and no function can access it.

package  {
    
    //imports

       public var portraitsArray:Array = [
                                                   [instance1, instance2, instance3],   
                                                   [instance4, instance5, instance6]
                                                   ];
        
       public function Story() {}
       ...
       ...

       public function start() {
             ...
             ...
             for each (var portrait:MovieClip in portraitsArray[0])
          {
              portrait.alpha = 0;
          }
        
        }

       public function next() {
             ...
             ...
             for each (var portrait:MovieClip in portraitsArray[1])
          {
              portrait.alpha = 1;
          }
        }

}

Running this code above will return every instance inside portrairsArray as null, thus functions will return null errors.

This is just example, performing function on instances inside the array.

However, this code below works, although being very redundant:

package  {
    
    //imports
    
       public function Story() {}

       ...
       ...

       public function start() {
             ...
             ...
             var portraitsArray:Array = [
                                                   [instance1, instance2, instance3],   
                                                   [instance4, instance5, instance6]
                                                   ];

             for each (var portrait:MovieClip in portraitsArray[0])
          {
              portrait.alpha = 0;
          }

       }

       public function next() {
             ...
             ...
             public var portraitsArray:Array = [
                                                   [instance1, instance2, instance3],   
                                                   [instance4, instance5, instance6]
                                                   ];

             for each (var portrait:MovieClip in portraitsArray[1])
          {
              portrait.alpha = 1;
          }
        }
}

Does anyone know why I can't access those instances as global array?

[CyanBlue]

It is generally a bad idea to define a value of a property when you declare it. You'd want to define it inside a constructor or consequent methods from the constructor like this.

package  {
    
    //imports

       public var portraitsArray:Array;
        
       public function Story() {
             ...
             portraitsArray  = [
                        [instance1, instance2, instance3],   
                        [instance4, instance5, instance6]
             ];
       }
       ...
       ...

       public function start() {
             ...
             ...
             for each (var portrait:MovieClip in portraitsArray[0])
          {
              portrait.alpha = 0;
          }
        }

       public function next() {
             ...
             ...
             for each (var portrait:MovieClip in portraitsArray[1])
          {
              portrait.alpha = 1;
          }
        }
}

I have a feeling that you will still get null with that because I see nowhere you are setting those instance1, instance2 and so on. So just make sure you are setting the value of portraitsArray array after you define those instances.

[LanLing]

Those instances already exist on stage. They're all movieclips placed on the same frame in the Story class. I didn't have to define those instances when I put the array into each function though. It's just when I move the array globally, they turn null for some reason.

[CyanBlue]

Try this and see if this works for you.
[as]

package  {
    
    //imports

    public var instance1:MovieClip;
    public var instance2:MovieClip;
    public var instance3:MovieClip;
    public var instance4:MovieClip;
    public var instance5:MovieClip;
    public var instance6:MovieClip;
    
       public var portraitsArray:Array;
        
       public function Story() {
             ...
             portraitsArray  = [
                        [instance1, instance2, instance3],   
                        [instance4, instance5, instance6]
             ];
       }
       ...
       ...

[LanLing]

Nope still says the instances are null... Damn it. "TypeError: Error #1009: Cannot access a property or method of a null object reference.
at Story/nextTextBlock()"
I don't get this at all, if I define the array in the function each time I use it, it works, if I define it globally, it doesn't.
All the instances are on the same frame!