Using ActionScript to pause and loop the timeline in Flash

Adobe® Flash® CS3 has come a long way from its vector animation roots and has improved significantly with ActionScript 3.0. It’s a more powerful language than ever. The really neat thing about ActionScript is it is relatively accessible for navigational programming of the sort used in presentations, banner ads, and other interactive projects you may undertake.

Here’s a recap of our recommendations:

• Get into the habit of creating a Scripts or Actions layer in the main timeline and movieclip timelines, if you choose to add code to nested symbols. When everything has its place, it’s easier to find, which means it’s easier to update.
• Take a pragmatic approach. Hardcore programmers may insist that you put all your code in a single frame, or better, in external files. In complex situations, that may be the best way to go. When you’re ready to undertake complex coding and the circumstances require it, go for it. In the meantime, don’t lose any sleep over doing this the old-fashioned way in Flash, which amounts to little snippets of code among many keyframes. Remember, nobody cares how it was done. They only care that it works.
• Strongly type your variables.
• Use comments to leave footnotes through your code. Even if you are the only one working on your files, you’ll appreciate your efforts later, when the client asks for a change. Comments help you get your bearings quickly.
• Use the trace() function to help yourself see where you are in a published SWF.

Note: ActionScript has matured to the point where there are a lot of people making a very good living from writing ActionScript code. If code isn’t your thing, learn it anyway. The odds are almost 100% that you will eventually work with an ActionScript programmer, and being able to speak the language will make your design efforts even smoother.

With the advice out of the way, let’s look at two practical uses for ActionScript by applying it to two very popular requests on the Adobe support forums. People often want to know how to pause the main timeline for a certain amount of time before moving on, and they often want to know how to loop a movie a certain number of times before stopping at the end. Let’s wire them up.

Reqiuirements

To complete this article, you will need the following software and files:

Flash CS3 Professional

• Try
• Buy

Sample files:

timeline_samples.zip (ZIP, 9K)

Prerequisite knowledge:

Some experience coding with ActionScript

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