About actions

Actions are ActionScript statements, or commands. Multiple actions assigned to the same frame or object create a script. Actions can act independently of each other, as in the following statements:

mc1.swapDepths(mc2);
gotoAndPlay(15);

You can also nest actions by using one action inside another; this allows actions to affect each other. In the following example, the if action tells the gotoAndPlay action when to execute:

if (i >= 25) {
	gotoAndPlay(10);
}

Actions can move the playhead in the Timeline (gotoAndPlay), control the flow of a script by creating loops (do while) or conditional logic (if), or create new functions and variables (function, setVariable). The following table lists all ActionScript actions:

break #endinitclip loadMovie printAsBitmap switch
call evaluate loadMovieNum printAsBitmapNum tellTarget
call function for loadVariables printNum toggleHighQuality
case for..in loadVariablesNum removeMovieClip trace
clearInterval fsCommand method return unloadMovie
comment function nextFrame set variable unloadMovieNum
continue getURL nextScene setInterval updateAfterEvent
default gotoAndPlay on setProperty var
delete gotoAndStop onClipEvent startDrag with
do while if play stop while
duplicateMovieClip ifFrameLoaded prevFrame stopAllSounds  
else include prevScene stopDrag  
else if #initclip print swapDepths  

For syntax and usage examples of each action, see individual entries in ActionScript Dictionary.

Note: In this manual, the ActionScript term action is synonymous with the JavaScript term statement.