Path from one movie clip to another.

[tommytx]

This is entirely about variables, not controlling the clips.
I thoroughly understand the path from level 0 to any clip, but can't seem to figure out a path from one clip to another. _root.myclip1.myclip2 and etc work great, but when I try to address myclip1 from myclip2 it won't work. I have been required to use_global.variable to get variables to show up in one movie clip when it was generated in another clip. Here is an example. If I say that a=3 at level 0, it can easily be addressed in level1 with var a = _root.a but if it is generated in any movie clip, such as myclip2 then I can't get at it in myclip1 without the _global variable. I want to set a = 3 in myclip2 and be able to see it in myclip1 with some sort of path. Can anyone help?

[liam]

in order to address myclip1 from myclip2, you'd need to use _parent instead of _root. using _parent is called relative addressing. it facilitates how objects within objects can talk to their parent objects--that is, the objects they are sitting in.

since myclip2 resides in myclip1, myclip1 is its parent. (think of a box within a box.)

[tommytx]

Thank you liam for the quick response.

I understand that when you have myclip2 inside of myclip1, then myclip 2 can address variables in myclip1(parent).

example:
a=3 is set inside myclip1. myclip2 can access this variable with a=_parent.a and the myclip2 can now use the value of a.

Problem is how does myclip1 access a variable inside myclip2. Example:

Let's say inside myclip2 we set a variable a=3. How can myclip1 which is the parent find out what the child is doing. We don't have such a thing as a= _child.a do we?

I even have no problem when I have 3 clips, such as myclip1 thru three, and i want myclip3 to get a variable that was set in the root.

I can use inside myclip3 the following:
a=_root.a or a=_parent._parent.a
Also I can get variable a out of myclip 2 and into 3 with a simple a=_parent.a

But again I can't figure out how to get myclip2 to find out what is going on in the chid.

Example;
If I am in myclip3 and set a=3 I can't figure out how myclip2 or even the root can access that variable. I have tried all sorts of things to no avail. It seems like we need a child command, but I have not seen that used.
I hope I am not confusing this with my attempt at explanation.

[kode]

Originally posted by tommytx
Let's say inside myclip2 we set a variable a=3. How can myclip1 which is the parent find out what the child is doing. We don't have such a thing as a= _child.a do we?
myclip2.a ;)

[tommytx]

Kax, thanks for you response but it didn't work.

I made a clip in the library named myclip. Then drug it to the main screen.
Gave it an instance of myclip1, went to myclip1 and typed into action code a=3.
Went back to main level 0 and typed in the level 0 action area trace(myclip1) and got undefined.
I placed in myclip1 action area trace(a) and got 3.
Any other ideas, or did I misunderstand what you were saying.
Thanks

[tommytx]

kax, sorry about that...what I typed into level 0 action area was trace(myclip1.a) not jus trace(myclip1) as I stated.
Sorry that was just a typo.

[kode]

the scripts are executed first in the parent MovieClip.
therefore, when the trace action is executed, technically the variable a doesn't exist.

that's why it returns undefined. ;)

[tommytx]

Thanks Kax, you have been a big help I think. Will let you know tomorrow.

I will try the test again in the morning, as it is 4:00 am here. I will leave the same setup, but will make a button that when pressed, jumps to frame 1. That will rerun the parent code after the child has been set. It sounds like you are rite on cue...Thanks a lot.

I will post my results tomorrow.

[tommytx]

Ok Kax, I tried what you said unless I mis-understood what you were explaining. Here is what I did to no avail.

1. I made a simple clip with nothing in it except in the action Ifor myclip1 I typed:
line 1 a=3
line 2 _root.gotoandPlay(1).
line 3 gotoAndPlay(1).

2. I drug a copy of myclip to the stage and gave it an instance of myclip1. I made sure the same code was in myclip1 on the stage.

3. In the root, I typed trace(a) and I still get undefined.

4. Can you tell me what I am missing?

5. I understand as you said, the first time I scanned the root, the variable a has not been set at the time of the trace. But wouldn't the gotoAndPlay(1) that I placed in myclip1 have made the trace in the root run again to show the new value which has now been set in myclip1? Therefore I expected
1st entry = undefined
2nd entrh = 3
But I got undefined both times.


6. Still get undefined.