loadMovie in mcHolder doesn't work

[thede]

This is driving me nuts! (short trip)

I'm using

loadMovie ("http://www.xxx.com/xxx/xxx/flashscroll.swf", "flashscrollHolder");

to load an image scroller (flashscroll.swf) into the main movie, and when the external SWF loads into the "flashscrollHolder" it doesn't work (the buttons on the scroller don't move the images back and forth)

The flashscroll.swf (image scroller) DOES work when it's loaded onto the main movie in _level1 when the "flashscrollHolder" target container is NOT used, but then I can't position it on the stage where I want it.


arggh. I finally get an image scroller to work how I want, and I STILL can't make it work WHERE I want

Someone... please help??.......

Either...

How do I position the X, Y, of the external SWF on the stage, or

How to make the external SWF play properly when loading into the MC Instance holder?

I have named the MC instance to "flashscrollHolder" in the Instance panel.

[Billy T]

check your paths in the actions on the buttons and check out the attached file

cheers

[thede]

Hi Billy - thanks so much for the movies, I really appreciate your time, and the suggestion to check the paths on the buttons, but I'm afraid I'm still very confused

I don't know if I'm not explaining it right or just not understanding.. which is more likely.

I'm loading an external single SWF into my main Movie . This SWF is an image scroller that is complete and works fine upon testing as a standalone movie.

SWF also works fine when loaded onto the main Movie into a _level1. The buttons work, and the images scroll. But I cannot position the SWF to where I want it on the Movie stage.

When I load the external SWF into a movieclip holder on the main Movie, that is when the buttons don't function and I can't play the scroller (but I can position it).

I followed instructions exactly for loadMovie from the Flash 5 Bible on page 575 if that helps.. Steps 1 - 6, 7, by adding the loadMovie script to the keyframe of the Holder. I also tried it on another layer above the Holder layer.

When you say "check your paths in the actions on the buttons" - check as to what? The SWF works except when it's in the Holder clip.

I'm not using buttons on my mainMovie to load the SWF... if that's what you mean..?


Thanks!

[Billy T]

I mean check the actions on the buttons in your external swf

if they have anything like

_root.scroller.dothis

then it needs to be changed to

_root.flashscrollHolder.scroller.dothis

or

_level0.flashscrollHolder.scroller.dothis

hope that helps

[thede]

Hey, Billy... thanks for getting back with me.



Ok... II don't know what I'm doing wrong, I tried and it still isnt working

Recap:
Code: loadMovie ("flashscroll.swf", "flashscrollHolder");
external swf: "flashscroller.swf"
mcHolder for external swf: "flashscrollHolder"


On the buttons on the external "flashscroll.swf", I tried each of these and none work:

=========================

on (release) {
left = "fast";
_root.flashscrollHolder.flashscroll.gotoAndPlay (8);
}


=========================

on (release) {
left = "fast";
_level0.flashscrollHolder.flashscroll.gotoAndPlay (8);
}

==========================

on (release) {
left = "fast";
_level1.flashscrollHolder.flashscroll.gotoAndPlay (8);
}

==========================

I assume where you said "scroller" should be the name of my external SWF without the .swf extension, yes?

Why won't this work for me?....

p.s. I'm using a relative path now in my main Movie to the external SWF as they're all in the same directory and level... still works fine on the _level1 load except I can't position the external swf

Edit - btw, your 'tableau" site looks great, nice work

[Billy T]

umm no when I said scroller I was referring to an instance name in your external mc

you dont need the name of the external swf in your actions (except for the load movie of course)

if they are not too big send me the files and I'll take a look - [email protected]

cheers

[thede]

Thanks....... =) YGM

[thede]

I just had to come back and give big props to you, Billy, for your help.

Thank you!

[tenthdeity]

positioning-wise, I came here looking for how external swfs are positioned when loaded into their external movie clip. This is where Google pointed me, but I generally rely on actionscript.org for my answers and collaboration anyway.

Anyway- when you load an external swf into a movie clip, no matter what the size is (some kind of holder_mc), its registration point will be the top left of the external swf you load in.

In more detail: it's common (and best) practice to create an empty movie clip which will basically be a dot with an instance name on the stage. That dot will be the 0,0 (x and y) position in the external swf you load into that swf.

If I have clipHolder_mc at x=150, y=110 in my main (parent) flash file, and my external swf has a red box at x=0, y=20 with relation to its stage, then when my red box swf is loaded into clipHolder_mc using loadMovie(), the red box will appear on the screen at x=150, y=130.

If for some reason your clip holder isn't just an empty movie clip, keep in mind it will be completely replaced by the external swf you load in- this means that size and content in your clip holder will be completely wiped and replaced with the size and contents of your external swf. This also means you'll need to keep tighter track of the "holder" clip's registration point, because that's still the top-left point for your external swf.

Clear as mud? Great. Happy scripting.