erm..., can a moderator check this challenge is right for me?

[Jon B]

I would like to start a challenge based on a cool idea I've had - trouble is I'm not a good coder and have none of my own examples to post.

The idea comes from dynamic file trees, you see I have this php script that pulls out all files from my website into an array (php array). For useability purposes I wanted to put this info into a explorer type file tree as an aid to navigation on my site. Whilst working on this I was struck with what I consider an interesting idea:

Basically take the term 'tree' literally and actually dynamically construct a three dimensional file tree that looks like an actual tree in structure. I had seen this code competition before where somebody created a random 3d rotating tree like object and I was thinking it would be cool to create a dynamic tree that actual has it's roots in the hosting site's contents. Sorry for the pun.

Does that constitute a challenge? it is something that is just for kicks, I'm not sure of it's practical benefits other than the fact that it'd look cool.

Please can a moderator check this and remove it if necessary. Just see if it's worthy.

Thanks,

Jon

[annexion]

In 25 lines??

I've NEVER seen a 3D engine for Flash that's less than 25 lines long.

However, it is a novel idea. Perhaps you could start a thread in Flash MX and get people to help you.

[Jesse]

I guess it's worthy. Everythign is worth a try. It's not really what I was aiming for in terms of challenges though; the scope is a bit too limited to be honest.

[Jon B]

This is the code, lump it in the first frame of an empty flash movie and let rip. Impressive, even tho it does eat the cpu.

I can't remember who did this and there is no identifying info with the script so I'm sorry to the guy who made it. It was an entry into a flash competition, I think I even found the link for the site through actionscript.org - it was a while back now tho.

this.createEmptyMovieClip("c3d", 1);
c3d._y = center_y = (center_x = 150) * 2;
angles = new Array (40, 80, 120, 160, 200, 240, 280, 320, 360);
for (var j = 0; j < (num_menu_items = (radius = 1) * 9); j++) {
    c3d.attachMovie ("item", "item" + j, j);
}
c3d.onEnterFrame = function () {
    for (var j = 0; j < num_menu_items; j++) {
        menu_x = radius * Math.cos ((angles[j] += (center_x - _root._xmouse) / 20) * (trans = Math.PI / 180));
        c3d["item" + j]._x = center_x + menu_x;
        c3d["item" + j]._alpha = Math.abs(c3d["item" + j]._xscale);
        c3d["item" + j]._xscale = 100 * Math.cos (angles[j] * trans);
    }
}

doesn't really offer the level of interactivity that would be cool for a 3d site map, so if you guys reckon to make this cool it would take more than 25 lines then could one of you move this post to the flash mx section or whatever the next best section is for this challenge.

[farafiro]

wow
very cool, reminds me of Penner's movies
but I think the attachMovie() isn't for this kinda challenges


Jesse !!??

[xxlm]

I really like it.
Can you zip your src with it pls?

Thx...

[Jon B]

zip my src? what src do you mean? the src as in actionscript or the src as in creator? I don't remember who the creator was, it was on a competition site but no names were included in the .fla file.

If it's the .fla you are after here it is:

[xxlm]

Thx you...