Working with Movie Clips and Buttons > About multiple Timelines > Writing target paths

 

Writing target paths

To control a movie clip, loaded movie, or button, you must specify a target path. Before you can specify a target path to a movie clip or button, you must assign it an instance name. A loaded movie doesn't require an instance name, because you use its level number as an instance name (for example, _level5).

You can specify a target path in several different ways:

Use the Insert Target Path button (and dialog box) in the Actions panel.

Enter the target path manually.

Create an expression that evaluates to a target path. You can use the built-in functions targetPath and eval.

 
To assign an instance name:

1

Select a movie clip or button on the Stage.

2

Enter an instance name in the Property inspector.

 
To insert a target path using the Insert Target Path dialog box:

1

Select the movie clip, frame, or button instance to which you want to assign the action.

This will be the controlling Timeline.

2

Choose Window > Actions to display the Actions panel if it's not already open.

3

In the Actions toolbox (at the left of the panel), choose an action or method that requires a target path.

4

Click the parameter box or location in the script where you want to insert the target path.

5

Click the Insert Target Path button above the Script pane.

6

In the Insert Target Path dialog box, choose a syntax: Dots (the default) or Slashes.

7

Choose Absolute or Relative for the target path mode.

See About absolute and relative target paths.

8

Select a movie clip in the Insert Target Path display list.

9

Click OK.

 
To insert a target path manually:

Follow steps 1-4 above and enter an absolute or relative target path in the Actions panel.

 
To use an expression as a target path:

1

Follow steps 1-3 above.

2

Do one of the following:

Enter an expression that evaluates to a target path in a parameter box.

Click to place the insertion point in the script. Then, in the Functions category of the Actions toolbox, double-click the targetPath function.

The targetPath function converts a reference to a movie clip into a string.

Click to place the insertion point in the script. Then, in the Functions category of the Actions toolbox, choose the eval function.

The eval function converts a string to a movie clip reference that can be used to call methods such as play.

The following script assigns the value 1 to the variable i. It then uses the eval function to create a reference to a movie clip instance and assigns it to the variable x. The variable x is now a reference to a movie clip instance and can call the MovieClip object methods, as in the following:

i = 1;
x = eval("mc"+i);
x.play();
// this is equivalent to mc1.play();

You can also use the eval function to call methods directly, as in the following:

eval("mc" + i).play();