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Writing target paths

To control a movie clip, loaded movie, or button, you must specify a target path. In order to specify a target path for a movie clip or button, you must assign the movie clip or button an instance name. A loaded document 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:

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 becomes the controlling Timeline.

  2. Select Window > Development Panels > Actions to display the Actions panel if it's not already open.
  3. In the Actions toolbox (at the left of the panel), select 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, select a syntax: Dots (the default) or Slashes.
  7. Select Absolute or Relative for the target path mode.

    See Using 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:

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, select 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();

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