timing a duplicate movie repeat

[Rupert]

Hi - I have an animation where I am duplicating a movieClip that then moves from one side of the screen to the other. I want to be able to control the repeat rate of this duplication (possibly from a variable) so that end result would be like being able to control the speed of a conveyer belt. I have tried setting up something with getTimer (and even tried a controlled "random" scenario) without much success. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance!
Rupert

[Marx]

Hi Rupert...
Try following this example. It contains two MC's, one contains the timer and the other is duplicated at desired intervals:

1) Place an MC to the left of your stage, name it 'myMc'.

2) Attach this action to the MC:

onClipEvent (enterFrame) {
_root.newMc._x+=5;
}


Now for the timer MC:

3) Insert/New Symbol/Movie. You should be in MC editing mode.

4) Add an Input textfield, name it 'time'.

5) Add the actions that control the repeat rate;

a) Frame1:
stop ();


b) Frame2:
startTime = getTimer ()/1000;


c) Frame3:
timeNow = getTimer()/1000;
repeatRate = time;
timeDiff = timeNow-startTime;
if (timeDiff>=repeatRate) {
_root.myMc.duplicateMovieClip("newMc",1);
gotoAndStop (1);
}


d) Frame4:
gotoAndPlay (3);


6) Add the control button:

on (release) {
play ();
}


When you are in test movie mode type the amount of seconds you want the delay to be in the 'time' textfield then press the button.

Hope this helps.

[Rupert]

Thanks for that! I am now well on the way to getting this thing finished - At last!!

Cheers,

Rupert