This
FLA is a new and easier preloading system for
Wild FX effects. With this user-friendly method,
there is no need to adjust script -- it's a "smart-loader".
In
the first frame of the main timeline, define
the names of the external .swf files which will
need to be loaded. You will find the following
actionscript:
Set Variable: "swf1" = "external1.swf"
Set Variable: "swf2" = "external2.swf"
Set Variable: "swf3" = "external3.swf"
Set Variable: "swf4" = "external4.swf"
You are not bound to use these names, but remember
that the Movie Clip containers (see explanation
below) will search for the value of Wild FX (where
X is the number) according to their instance
name (e.g. external2 or external7 etc). If you
have not defined this particular Wild FX value,
the movie will "hang" (i.e. get stuck
in a infinite check/load loop).
In the next 3 frames you see a simple system
/ loop which checks if the main movie is completely
loaded. (It checks to see if frame with label "end" is
loaded). If it is, then it plays label "go".
Once
the first step is complete, in the following
frames the according Movie Clip "external" is
placed as many times as you need to show/load
external .swf's. The instance names are named
numerically (e.g. external1, external2, etc.)
and will load the external .swf based on its
name. (It uses a substring actionscript to see
what its name is and loads the value of swf+"that_number",
where "that_number" is the number of
the Movie Clip instance (e.g. external4 will
load the value of swf4). Since you defined these
values in frame 1 of the main timeline, it will
read this value and load this particular .swf
file.
Notice that all instances of MC 'external' are
placed on their own layer. This makes it very
easy to fade them out by motiontweening or alphatweening
and it maintains a better editing overview.
Also notice that they appear on stage/keyframe
in sequence. The preloading system is based on
this sequesnce. The MC 'external' is a self-preloading
movieclip. You should not start more than one
on the same keyframe because every movieclip
does the following -->
pause the main timeline
wait till the appropriate external .swf
is loaded
tell the main timeline to continue playing
If you start more than one at the same keyframe,
then it will start the main timeline as soon
as one of them is loaded. This may lead to effects
not showing up when they are told to (see next
step) because they may not have fully preloaded.
In
the main timeline, to start one of the external
.swf's simply add the actionscript telling it
to play. For example, this code will tell MC
external4 to play:
Begin Tell Target
("/external4")
Play
End Tell Target
That's about it. In the .FLA accompanying this
tutorial, you can also see how to use simple
motion tween or alpha tween/fade to the loaded
.swf. (Remember that this can only be done so
easily, because you use a MC and not a level
to load into.)
