ActionScript for Flash MX: The Definitive Guide, Second Edition

This is the Title of the Book, eMatter Edition

Copyright © 2007 O’Reilly & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved.

Loading External Variables

|

59

create a new variable in the movie clip listed in the Scope chain column of the table.

We’ll examine this topic more closely in Chapter 10.

Loading External Variables

While most variables are created directly inside Flash, it’s also common to load vari-

ables from an external text file, server script, or web page. Loading external variables

does not mean simply assigning a value from an external source to existing variables.

Loading external variables actually creates new variables at runtime. The following

entries in the Language Reference explain various variable-loading techniques:

• LoadVars

• loadVariables( )

• fscommand( )

Additionally, in some browsers, JavaScript can set a variable in Flash at runtime

using the syntax:

movieObj.SetVariable("/someClip:firstName", "Colin");

where movieObj is an object reference to the Flash movie embedded in the page. This

technique works only in the following browsers:

• Internet Explorer on Windows

• Netscape 4 on Windows, Macintosh, and Linux

• Netscape 6.2 with Flash Player 6.0.40.0 (or higher) on Windows, Macintosh,

and Linux

For complete details, see:

http://www.moock.org/webdesign/flash/fscommand/

Table 2-2. Event handler scope

Event handler type Scope chain

Callback function Global object

Clip in which the function was ...