Chapter 7. Working with Library and Linkage Changes
Like its forerunner, ActionScript 3.0 supports the attachment of
library assets at runtime, but the mechanics have changed. The only class
methods that now contain the word “attach” relate to connecting the SWF file
to an external device, such as NetStream.attachCamera(), which lets the user
transmit webcam input. You don’t find familiar methods like MovieClip.attachMovie() and Sound.attachSound() anywhere, so how can you
access the library now at runtime? The answer’s gratifyingly elegant, and
even in its simple approach, ActionScript 3.0 gives you more elaborate
options than before.
Linkages Now Reference Classes
Prior to ActionScript 3.0, you could optionally assign library assets a linkage identifier in the Library panel. This procedure provided a unique label for the chosen asset, so that you could single it out at runtime when needed, and pull it to the stage. Linkage identifiers are still possible in Flash CS4 Professional when a FLA file is configured for an older version of ActionScript. To access an asset’s linkage properties, right-click (Ctrl-click) the asset as shown in Figure 7-1, and then select Properties.
Selecting Properties opens the Symbol Properties dialog box, whose Linkage area is initially the same for documents configured for any version ...
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