Writing a target path

Understanding the ActionScript Language > Writing a target path

To use an action to control a movie clip or loaded movie, you must specify its name and its address, called a target path.

In ActionScript you identify a movie clip by its instance name. For example, in the following statement, the _alpha property of the movie clip named star is set to 50% visibility:

star._alpha = 50;

To give a movie clip an instance name:

1

Select the movie clip on the Stage.

2

Enter an instance name in the Property inspector.

To identify a loaded movie:

Use _levelX, where X is the level number specified in the loadMovie action that loaded the movie.

For example, a movie loaded into level 5 has the target path _level5. In the following example, a movie is loaded into level 5 and its visibility is set to false:

onClipEvent(load) {
	loadMovieNum("myMovie.swf", 5);
}
onClipEvent(enterFrame) {
	_level5._visible = false;
}

To enter a movie's target path:

In the Actions panel (Window > Actions), click the Insert Target Path button and select a movie clip from the list that appears.

For more information about writing target paths, see Working with Movie Clips and Buttons.

1	Select the movie clip on the Stage.
2	Enter an instance name in the Property inspector.