Re: flasher digest: March 24, 2001

[Michael Rhodes]

> Subject: Variable Question

>

From: Steve Gadlin <stevetypea [dot] net>

> Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2001 18:08:27 -0600

> X-Message-Number: 2

> 

> I'm trying to declare a variable, but the variable name itself is dynamic,

> depending on the value of "n".  For example, I want variables called x1, x2,

> x3, x4, etc... depending on n.

> 

> Here's how I'm trying to do it:

> 

> eval("x" add n "=" add _xmouse);

> 

> That's giving me an error... saying that I'm missing a ' or a )... which

> makes no sense to me.  Hmph!

> 

> If someone could point me in the right direction, I'd be uberappreciative.

> 

> Thanks a zillion!

> 

> OH!  Also, is it possible to have a Flash movie loop in one frame, or do you

> always have to have a 2nd frame with a gotoAndPlay(1) in it?

> 

> Take care,

> 

> Steev

> www.steveandstevedanceparty.com



Steev, you may want to try Arrays. These nifty lil' thangs allow for *one* name -- but it can

contain lots of individual data-bits. Sort of like a egg carton. 


In your case you would want to declare  your array:

----

myXmousePos = new Array;


//then you would fill the arrays with information:


myXmousePos[0] = _xmouse



---


It's important to realize that to either fill an array's "member" or to change it you have to use

the syntax: variableName[n] (where [n] is the member you want to work with). These members are

numbered *begining* with Zero (because computers do count Zero as being a value, just try to tell my

bank that!) and ending with the last member of the array. To get the number of members, just do:


howMany = arrayName.length;


and in the howMany variable you'll have the total number of members! Again, don't forget that

members are counted begining with Zero, so --


first member -- arrayName[0]

second member-- arrayName[1]


and so on. 



For more info check out the Array(Object) entry in the ActionScript guide (Pg 214 in  my book).



hth,


Mike Rhodes