Understanding the ActionScript Language > Creating functions > Calling a user-defined function

 

Calling a user-defined function

You can use a target path to call a function in any Timeline from any Timeline, including from the Timeline of a loaded movie. If a function was declared using the _global identifier, you do not need to use a target path to call it.

To invoke a function using the Actions panel in normal mode, you use the call function action. Pass the required parameters inside parentheses. You can call a function in any Timeline from any Timeline, including a loaded movie. For example, the following statement invokes the function sqr in the movie clip MathLib on the main Timeline, passes it the parameter 3, and stores the result in the variable temp:

var temp = _root.MathLib.sqr(3);

 
To call a user-defined function in normal mode:

1

Choose Window > Actions to open the Actions panel.

2

In the Actions toolbox (at the left of the panel), click the Actions folder, then click the User-Defined Functions folder.

3

Double-click the call function action.

4

In the Object box, enter the target path of the movie clip in which the function was defined. You can use the Insert Target Path button to enter the target path.

5

In the Method box, enter the name of the function.

6

In the Parameters box, enter the names of parameters, if any, separated by commas.

For information on target paths, see Writing a target path. For more information on each function, see individual entries in the online ActionScript Dictionaryin the Help menu.

 
To call a function in expert mode:

Enter the target path to the name of the function. Pass any required parameters inside parentheses.

The following example uses an absolute path to call the initialize function that was defined on the main Timeline and requires no parameters:

_root.initialize();

The following example uses a relative path to call the list function that was defined in the functionsClip movie clip:

_parent.functionsClip.list(6);

For more information about using the Actions panel, see Working in normal mode and Working in expert mode.