Unload and load in actionscript 3 - actionscript-3

There is a button in a sprite. I want to click that button and load menu.swf and unload the current swf. But only that sprite is removed, not the entire swf. What can I do?
go.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, fl_ClickToLoadUnloadSWF);
import fl.display.ProLoader;
var fl_ProLoader: ProLoader;
//This variable keeps track of whether you want to load or unload the SWF
var fl_ToLoad: Boolean = true;
function fl_ClickToLoadUnloadSWF(event: MouseEvent): void {
if (fl_ToLoad) {
var x: Number = this.numChildren;
while (x--) {
this.removeChildAt(x);
}
fl_ProLoader = new ProLoader();
fl_ProLoader.load(new URLRequest("menu.swf"));
addChild(fl_ProLoader);
fl_ProLoader.graphics.clear();
fl_ProLoader.x = -245;
fl_ProLoader.y = -140;
fl_ProLoader.width = 600;
fl_ProLoader.height = 850;
fl_ProLoader.scaleX = 1
fl_ProLoader.scaleY = 1
} else {
fl_ProLoader.unload();
removeChild(fl_ProLoader);
fl_ProLoader = null;
for (var i: int = fl_ProLoader.numChildren - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
fl_ProLoader.removeChildAt(i);
}
}
// Toggle whether you want to load or unload the SWF
fl_ToLoad = !fl_ToLoad;
}

var rootContainer:DisplayObjectContainer = DisplayObjectContainer (root);
This gives you a reference to root cast to DisplayObjectContainer. You can now replace this with rootContainer

Related

AS3: Why is a line created with .graphics appearing in two different places and when removed with parent.visible = false, only one goes?

Nobody seems to have this question already so I asked it because I've spent a few hours trying to debug this and can't find a solution;
Essentially, I have a function called draw, which is declared in my document class:
public function draw(Target: MovieClip,mX: int,mY: int,lX: int,lY: int):void {
Target.graphics.clear();
Target.graphics.lineStyle(1,0x000000,1);
Target.graphics.moveTo(mX,mY);
Target.graphics.lineTo(lX,lY);
}
I call it later to draw two lines, on two different MovieClips:
draw(Line,Line.mX,Line.mY,Mirror.x + (Mirror.width / 2),Line.lY);
draw(nextLine,(Mirror.x + (Mirror.width / 2)),200,(Mirror.x + (Mirror.width / 2)),0);
where
var Line: MovieClip = new MovieClip();
var Mirror: MovieClip = new mirror();
and Mirror is draggable, so Mirror.x changes whenever it is dragged.
Line is a line made using .graphics and Line.mX is equal to the Line.graphics.moveTo X value last time it was modified. Line.mY is the same, but for the Y coordinate. I set these values by doing this:
Line.mX = 0;
Line.mY = 200;
Line.lX = 550;
Line.lY = 200;
But with whatever values I want to draw the line, with lX and lY being equal to the X and Y coordinates of Line.graphics.lineTo. Then I draw Line using my draw function like this:
draw(Line,Line.mX,Line.mY,Line.lX,Line.lY);
Then it gets more complex because, actually, Line is just one line in an array of lines, created like this:
public var lines = [line0,line1,line2,line3,line4,line5,line6,line7,line8];
and each of those lines is created like this (with 0 being replaced by the line's number, respectively):
public var line0: MovieClip = new MovieClip();
then I give each line a number and a name, add them to the stage and hide them like this:
for each(var setupLine:MovieClip in lines) {
setupLine.num = (lines.indexOf(setupLine));
setupLine.name = ('line' + setupLine.num);
addChild(setupLine);
setupLine.visible = false;
}
Then, after making line0 visible, because I need to see it at the start, I loop through each line in a function that runs on ENTER_FRAME, and set the value of nextLine to a different value each time I run the loop like this:
for each(var Line:MovieClip in lines) {
nextLine = this['line' + (Line.num + 1)];
}
Within that loop, I then loop through a few other arrays, then check for a collision with the selected Line and another selected MovieClip from another array, which I wont go into or this question will be longer than the code for node.js.
So essentially, if the collision with the two MovieClips is present, I draw the line that I mentioned at the top of my question. But for some reason, although Line draws correctly, nextLine draws correctly, but a duplicate of it is drawn across the Y axis at 0, and stops where nextLine is on the Y axis (nextLine is vertical, so it has the same Y value at the start as at the end).
Even stranger, when I try to hide nextLine if the collision with the two MovieClips is no longer present, using this code:
nextLine.visible = false;
it only hides the version of nextLine that runs along the top of the stage, which I didn't even intend to create in the start.
EDIT
here is a link to the current source code
Here is a link to the entire project files with the original source code
copy/paste the new source code from the pastebin link to get the new version
Thanks in advance,
-Raph
I figured out how to do this, code is
package {
import flash.events.*;
import flash.utils.*;
import flash.display.*;
[SWF(backgroundColor="0xbdc3c7")]
public class LightStage extends MovieClip {
//import classes
public var globeClass:Globe = new Globe();
public var mirrorClass:Mirror = new Mirror();
public var lineClass:Line = new Line();
//create all stage objects
public var curLine:Line
public var nextLine:Line;
public var curMirror:Mirror;
//create containers
public var mirrors:Vector.<Mirror> = new Vector.<Mirror>(); //a vector is an array, but every member has to be (or subclass) the specified class
public var globes:Vector.<Globe> = new Vector.<Globe>();
public var lines:Vector.<Line> = new Vector.<Line>();
trace('lightstage: working');
//create level object
public var curLevel:int = -1;
//create dependent variables
public var kill: Boolean = true;
//init function
public function LightStage() {
//setup MovieClips
var i:int = 0;
for (i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
mirrors.push(new Mirror());
}
for (i = 0; i < 4;i++ ) {
globes.push(new Globe());
}
var tmpLine:Line;
for (i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
tmpLine = new Line();
lines.push(tmpLine);
addChild(tmpLine);
tmpLine.visible = false;
}
//create ENTER_FRAME listener
stage.addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME,enterFrame);
//start the game
levelUp();
}
//levelUp function
public function levelUp() {
curLevel++;
curLine = lines[curLevel]; //set line to the current level
curLine.curX = 0;
curLine.curY = 200;
curLine.draw(550, 200);
curLine.visible = true;
//show and position mirrors and globes
curMirror = mirrors[curLevel];
addChild(curMirror);
curMirror.x = 250;
curMirror.y = 350;
var curGlobe:Globe = globes[curLevel];
addChild(curGlobe);
curGlobe.x = 100;
curGlobe.y = 50;
//set mirror types
curMirror.gotoAndStop(2);
trace("you are now on level " + (curLevel + 1) + "!");
}
//ENTER_FRAME function
public function enterFrame(event:Event) {
//line1.visible = true;
for (var i:int = 0; i < lines.length;i++){
if (i < lines.length - 1) nextLine = lines[i + 1]; //check for out of bounds before assignment next line
if (lines[i].visible == true) {
kill = true;
for each(var mirror:Mirror in mirrors) {
if (lines[i].visible && mirror.stage && mirror.hitTestObject(lines[i])) { //for efficiency, do the hit test last in the if statement
for each(var globe:Globe in globes) {
//Looped through Mirrors and Lines and checked for collision - if collision is present, we loop through globes here
if (nextLine && nextLine.stage) {
addChild(nextLine);
}
//check for active globes
if (lines[i].visible && lines[i].hitTestObject(globe)) {
//check if the selected line touches the selected globe - if it does then we will start the timer for that globe
if (!globe.running){
globe.start();
//trace('timing');
kill = false;
}
}
else {
globe.reset();
}
switch(mirror.currentFrame) {
case 1:
break;
case 2:
//trace('live a life you will remember' + Math.random());
if(nextLine) nextLine.visible = true;
lines[i].draw(mirror.x + (mirror.width / 2),lines[i].curY);
if (nextLine) {
nextLine.curX = mirror.x + (mirror.width / 2);
nextLine.curY = 200;
nextLine.draw(mirror.x + (mirror.width / 2), 0);
}
kill = false;
break;
case 3:
case 4:
case 5:
case 6:
case 7:
case 8:
case 9:
case 10:
case 11:
case 12:
trace(mirror.currentFrame);
kill = false;
break;
}
}
}
else if (lines[i].visible && mirror.stage && lines[i].stage){
if (kill && nextLine){
nextLine.graphics.clear();
nextLine.visible = false;
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
//MIRROR CLASS DECLARATION
import flash.events.MouseEvent;
class Mirror extends MovieClip {
trace('mirror: working');
public function Mirror() {
this.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN,onDown,false,0,true);
}
private function onDown(e:MouseEvent):void {
//add the mouse up listener on the stage, that way it's consistent even if the user drags so fast that the mouse leaves the bounds of the mirror
stage.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, onUp, false, 0, true);
this.startDrag();
}
private function onUp(e:MouseEvent):void {
//we need to remove the listener from the stage now
stage.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, onUp, false);
this.stopDrag();
}
}
//LINE CLASS DECLARATION
import flash.display.Graphics;
class Line extends MovieClip {
trace('line: working');
public var curX:int;
public var curY:int;
public function Line():void {
}
public function draw(toX:int,toY:int):void {
graphics.clear();
graphics.lineStyle(1,0x000000,1);
graphics.moveTo(curX,curY);
graphics.lineTo(toX, toY);
curX = toX;
curY = toY;
}
}
//GLOBE CLASS DECLARATION
import flash.display.MovieClip;
import flash.events.TimerEvent;
import flash.utils.Timer;
class Globe extends MovieClip {
trace('globe: working');
private var timer:Timer = new Timer(3 * 100, 5);
public function Globe():void {
timer = new Timer(300, 5);
timer.addEventListener(TimerEvent.TIMER, repeatShine, false, 0, true);
}
public function reset():void {
timer.reset();
}
public function start():void {
timer.start();
}
public function get running():Boolean { return timer.running; };
private function repeatShine(e:TimerEvent):void {
}
}

Added child stays invisible even though its container is visible

I have been struggling for a couple of days with an issue in Flash CS4. I am re-structuring an old game project into a Main class which handles the mainMenu, playGame, etc. functions. I have a ship added from the "game", which is added by Main.
The issue is "myShip" works as expected, except it's never visible. I've checked a lot of times, and both myShip and its containter (game) visible properties are always true. Alpha values are not the problem either, nor layers nor depth. Every other child I've added from "game" works just fine, but "myShip" refuses to be visible.
Any ideas as to why this could happen? I do not know how what to try next to solve the problem. Any help would be very appreciated. The code for the Main, Game and Ship class is below.
Thank you!
Code from the Main class:
public class Main extends Sprite {
public var mainMenuDisplay:MainMenuDisplay;
public var game:Game;
public var gameOverMenu:GameOverMenu;
public function Main() {
showMainMenu();
}
public function showMainMenu() {
mainMenuDisplay = new MainMenuDisplay(this);
gameOverMenu=remove_movie_clip(gameOverMenu);
addChild(mainMenuDisplay);
}
public function showGameOver() {
gameOverMenu = new GameOverMenu(this);
game=remove_movie_clip(game);
addChild(gameOverMenu);
}
public function playTheGame() {
game = new Game(this);
mainMenuDisplay = remove_movie_clip(mainMenuDisplay);
gameOverMenu=remove_movie_clip(gameOverMenu);
stage.addChild(game);
}
private function remove_movie_clip(clip:*) {
if (clip) {
removeChild(clip);
}
return null;
}
}
Code from the Game class:
package {
import flash.display.MovieClip;
import flash.display.Stage;
import flash.events.Event;
import flash.utils.Timer;
import flash.events.TimerEvent;
import com.coreyoneil.collision.CollisionList;
import flash.text.TextField;
import flash.text.TextFormat;
import flash.events.MouseEvent;
import com.greensock.*;
import flash.display.Sprite;
import flash.display.SpreadMethod;
import flash.display.GradientType;
import flash.geom.Matrix;
import com.sounds.music.Music_mainMusic;
import flash.events.KeyboardEvent;
import flash.ui.Keyboard;
import flash.display.DisplayObject;
public class Game extends MovieClip {
var mainClass:Main;
//Main menu
//var mainMenuDisplay:MainMenuDisplay = new MainMenuDisplay();
//static var inMenu:Boolean = true;
//
//Ship variables
static var myShip:Ship = new Ship();
var myDirectionBar:Direction_bar = new Direction_bar();
//
//Enemy variables
static var enemyShipTimer_1:Timer;
//
//PowerUp variables
static var powerUpTimer:Timer;
static var nuking:Boolean;
//
//Wall generation variables
static var wall_mov_speed:Number;
var randomize:Number = 1;
var wallArray:Array = new Array();
var index:int = 0;
//
//Wall collision variables (powered by CDK by Corey O'Neil)
var myWallCollisionList:CollisionList; // = new CollisionList(myShip);
var wall_collisions:Array = new Array();
//
//Score variables
static var score:Number;
static var scoreText:TextField = new TextField();
var scoreFormat = new TextFormat("LCD5x8H", 20, 0x0066FF, true);
var distance_score_counter:int;
//
//Health variables
static var healthMeter_1:HealthMeter = new HealthMeter();
//
//Game modes
//var levelSelectDisplay:LevelSelectDisplay = new LevelSelectDisplay();
//**NOTE: These are extremely important, because they are the functions, which in reality are attributes, that allow us to call,
//from an Event Listener, a function in which we have a parameter to pass. This way we call these variables instead of the
//function we are interested in, these will call it for us.
//var functionLevelSelect_1:Function = selectedLevel(1);
//var functionLevelSelect_2:Function = selectedLevel(2);
//var functionLevelSelect_3:Function = selectedLevel(3);
//var functionLevelSelect_4:Function = selectedLevel(4);
//var functionLevelSelect_5:Function = selectedLevel(5);
//The level composition (that's the numbers of the frame in the MC of the Walls, each number is a type. The last one stores all of them.
//var level_1_composition:Array = [1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1];
//var level_2_composition:Array = [1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1];
//var level_3_composition:Array = [1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1];
//var level_4_composition:Array = [1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1];
//var storyModeLevelCompositions:Array = new Array(level_1_composition, level_2_composition, level_3_composition, level_4_composition);
//
var levelPlaying:int = 0;
var wallPieceCount:int = 0;
//
//Pause variables
var pauseScreen:PauseScreen = new PauseScreen();
//This variables states whether we are in pause or not
static var isPause:Boolean = false;
//This other tells us if we can pause at the moment or not
static var isPauseable:Boolean = false;
//
//Game Over, new Game and Game menu variables
//static var gameOverMenu:GameOverMenu = new GameOverMenu();
static var inGameStopping:Boolean = false;
//
//Transition screen variables
var darkening:Boolean;
//NOTE: We do it this way because, when putting an Enter Frame event listener onto the function funcTransition,
//which has a pass variable, the variable changed all the time to true, giving us problems.
//Background graphics variables
var color1:uint = Math.floor(Math.random()*0xFFFFFF + 1);
var color2:uint = Math.floor(Math.random()*0xFFFFFF + 1);
var colors:Object = {left:color1, right:color2};
var newColor1:uint = Math.floor(Math.random()*0xFFFFFF + 1);
var newColor2:uint = Math.floor(Math.random()*0xFFFFFF + 1);
var newColors:Object = {left:newColor1, right:newColor2};
var mySprite:Sprite = new Sprite();
//
//Music variables
var myMainMusic:Music_mainMusic = new Music_mainMusic();
//
//Credits variables
//var myCredits:Credits = new Credits();
//var myVersion:VersionDisplay = new VersionDisplay();
//
//Other variables
//var initThingy:Boolean;
var initTransition:Boolean = true;
var allPurposeCounter:int = 0;
var myTransitionScreen:TransitionScreen = new TransitionScreen();
//
//New necessary variables
//
public function Game(passedClass:Main) {
mainClass = passedClass;
if (stage) {
init(null);
}else{
this.addEventListener(Event.ADDED_TO_STAGE, init);
}
}
public function init(e:Event) {
this.removeEventListener(Event.ADDED_TO_STAGE, init);
this.parent.addChild(this);
//Necessary initial booting:
mySprite.x = 0;
mySprite.y = 0;
stage.addChildAt(mySprite, 1);
drawGradient();
animateBackground();
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////
/*mainMenuDisplay.x = 400 - mainMenuDisplay.width/2;
mainMenuDisplay.y = 240 - mainMenuDisplay.height/2;
stage.addChild(mainMenuDisplay);*/
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////
/*levelSelectDisplay.x = 400 - levelSelectDisplay.width/2;
levelSelectDisplay.y = 240 - levelSelectDisplay.height/2;
levelSelectDisplay.visible = false;
stage.addChild(levelSelectDisplay);*/
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//Transitions
myTransitionScreen.visible = false;
stage.addChild(myTransitionScreen);
//
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//myCredits.x = 20;
//myCredits.y = 438;
//stage.addChild(myCredits);
//myVersion.x = 710;
//myVersion.y = 438;
//stage.addChild(myVersion);
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//myMainMusic.play(0,99999);
initGame(null);
//mainMenuIdleState();
//
}
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////
/*function mainMenuIdleState(){
stage.addChild(mainMenuDisplay);
stage.addChild(levelSelectDisplay);
inMenu = true;
mainMenuDisplay.visible = true;
mainMenuDisplay.mainMenuPlayStoryButton_instance.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, level_select);
mainMenuDisplay.mainMenuPlayEndlessButton_instance.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, endless_mode_selected);
}*/
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////
/*function endless_mode_selected(e:Event){
levelPlaying = 0;
initGame(null);
}*/
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////
/*function level_select(e:Event){
mainMenuDisplay.visible = false;
levelSelectDisplay.visible = true;
levelSelectDisplay.levelSelectButton1_instance.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, functionLevelSelect_1);
levelSelectDisplay.levelSelectButton2_instance.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, functionLevelSelect_2);
levelSelectDisplay.levelSelectButton3_instance.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, functionLevelSelect_3);
levelSelectDisplay.levelSelectButton4_instance.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, functionLevelSelect_4);
levelSelectDisplay.levelSelectButtonBack_instance.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, functionLevelSelect_5);
}
function selectedLevel(level:int):Function {
switch (level){
case 1:
return function(e:MouseEvent):void {
//trace("1 clicked");
levelPlaying = 1;
levelSelectDisplay.visible = false;
initGame(null);
}
break;
case 2:
return function(e:MouseEvent):void {
//trace("2 clicked");
levelPlaying = 2;
levelSelectDisplay.visible = false;
initGame(null);
}
break;
case 3:
return function(e:MouseEvent):void {
//trace("3 clicked");
levelPlaying = 3;
levelSelectDisplay.visible = false;
initGame(null);
}
break;
case 4:
return function(e:MouseEvent):void {
//trace("4 clicked");
levelPlaying = 4;
levelSelectDisplay.visible = false;
initGame(null);
}
break;
default:
return function(e:MouseEvent):void {
//trace("back clicked");
levelPlaying = 0;
levelSelectDisplay.visible = false;
mainMenuDisplay.visible = true;
levelSelectDisplay.levelSelectButton1_instance.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, functionLevelSelect_1);
levelSelectDisplay.levelSelectButton2_instance.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, functionLevelSelect_2);
levelSelectDisplay.levelSelectButton3_instance.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, functionLevelSelect_3);
levelSelectDisplay.levelSelectButton4_instance.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, functionLevelSelect_4);
levelSelectDisplay.levelSelectButtonBack_instance.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, functionLevelSelect_5);
}
break;
}
}*/
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////
function initGame(e:Event):void{
//This has so many redundancies, when everything is done, START CLEANING THIS!
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//Main menu
//mainMenuDisplay.visible = false;
//inMenu = false; THIS GOES AT THE END TO PREVENT PROBLEMS
//directNewGame tells us if we come from the newGame function (and thus we do not go through the mainMenuIdleState
//function and this instances have not been placed on stage) or not. If we come from the main menu, we DO need to
//remove them.
//
trace(myShip);
//Ship
myShip.x = -10; //Before there were numbers to implement stage.stageWidth/2;
myShip.y = 200; //Before there were numbers to implement stage.stageHeight/2;
myShip.visible = true;
//mainClass.addChild(myShip);
this.addChild(myShip);
//We make sure the ship doesn't enter to stage with 0 health
//(problems of working with only one instance of ship due to the static var references)
Ship.health = 100;
//Check "NOTE" below
myShip.alpha = 0.35;
myShip.visible = true;
//
trace(myShip.visible);
//Direction bar
myDirectionBar.x = stage.stageWidth/2;
myDirectionBar.y = stage.stageHeight/2;
this.addChild(myDirectionBar);
//
//Timers (enemies)
enemyShipTimer_1 = new Timer(1000)
enemyShipTimer_1.addEventListener(TimerEvent.TIMER, spawn_enemies);
enemyShipTimer_1.start();
//
//Timer (powerUps)
powerUpTimer = new Timer(10000);
powerUpTimer.addEventListener(TimerEvent.TIMER, spawn_powerUp);
powerUpTimer.start();
//
//PowerUps (other)
nuking = false;
//
myWallCollisionList = new CollisionList(myShip);
//Initial movement speed of the walls
wall_mov_speed = 8;
//Calling to the generating/adequating wallArray function
adequateArrayOfWalls(true);
wallArray[0].gotoAndStop(1);
wallArray[1].gotoAndStop(1);
myWallCollisionList.addItem(wallArray[0].theActualWall);
myWallCollisionList.addItem(wallArray[1].theActualWall);
//Collision managements
wall_collisions = 0 as Array;
//NOTE: Here we limit the alpha value to consider for collision just to make sure the game doesn't start with you killed, and that you are "invincible"
//for some time
myWallCollisionList.alphaThreshold = 0.95;
//
//Adding score format and text
scoreText.defaultTextFormat = scoreFormat;
scoreText.x = 700;
scoreText.y = 10;
score = 0;
scoreText.text = String(score);
stage.addChild(scoreText);
distance_score_counter = 0;
scoreText.visible = true;
//
//Adding health meter
healthMeter_1 = new HealthMeter();
healthMeter_1.x = 10;
healthMeter_1.y = 10;
stage.addChild(healthMeter_1);
//
//Adding the Pause screen & other pause variables
pauseScreen.x = 400 - pauseScreen.width/2;
pauseScreen.y = 240 - pauseScreen.height/2;
pauseScreen.visible = false;
stage.addChild(pauseScreen);
isPauseable = true;
//Adding a key managing event (for pausing, menu, etc.)
stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_DOWN, keyManaging);
//
/*//Adding a Game Over Menu
gameOverMenu = new GameOverMenu();
gameOverMenu.x = 400 - gameOverMenu.width/2;
gameOverMenu.y = 240 - gameOverMenu.height/2;
gameOverMenu.visible = false;
stage.addChild(gameOverMenu);
gameOverMenu.playAgainButton_instance.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, newGame);
gameOverMenu.backToMenuButton_instance.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, backToTheMenu);
//*/
//Shield
//
//Event listeners
addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, update_game);
//
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////
/*//Credits
myCredits.visible = false;
myVersion.visible = false;
//
initThingy = true;
inMenu = false;*/
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////
}
function update_game(e:Event){
myShip.visible = true;
//Look the adequate array function for more info. We are just moving the two pieces of the array on stage
wallArray[(index - 1)].x -= wall_mov_speed;
wallArray[index].x -= wall_mov_speed;
if(wallArray[index].x < 0){
spawn_wall_piece();
}
//
if(index == 5){
//We call this function for cleaning
adequateArrayOfWalls(false);
}
if(wall_mov_speed < 20){
wall_mov_speed += 0.003;
}
wall_collisions = myWallCollisionList.checkCollisions();
if(wall_collisions.length > 0){
trace("hit!");
if(myShip.visible == true){
//We only kill the ship if it's visible, if not, it means it is already dead
Ship.receiveDamage(Ship.max_health);
}
wall_collisions = 0 as Array;
}
if(distance_score_counter >= 10){
distance_score_counter = 0;
updateScore(1);
}
distance_score_counter++;
//NOTE2: We use this nuke variable in order not to make the "nuke()" function static, type in which we couldn't handle the stage property
//And we also make this variable false here so as to eliminate not only a single enemy but all on stage
Enemy1.enemies_1Nuked = false;
if(nuking == true){
Enemy1.enemies_1Nuked = true;
nuking = false;
}
//We put these all the time at the front so we can see them and the walls don't overpass them
scoreText.parent.setChildIndex(scoreText, scoreText.parent.numChildren - 1);
healthMeter_1.parent.setChildIndex(healthMeter_1, healthMeter_1.parent.numChildren - 1);
pauseScreen.parent.setChildIndex(pauseScreen, pauseScreen.parent.numChildren -1);
//gameOverMenu.parent.setChildIndex(gameOverMenu, gameOverMenu.parent.numChildren - 1);
var n:uint = stage.numChildren;
for(var i=0; i < n; i++){
if(stage.getChildAt(i) is Enemy1){
var anEnemy1:Enemy1 = Enemy1(stage.getChildAt(i));
anEnemy1.parent.setChildIndex(anEnemy1, anEnemy1.parent.numChildren -1);
}
else if(stage.getChildAt(i) is PowerUp){
var aPowerUp:PowerUp = PowerUp(stage.getChildAt(i));
aPowerUp.parent.setChildIndex(aPowerUp, aPowerUp.parent.numChildren -1);
}
}
//Done like this due to the impossibility of calling a function inside an static one (in this case, gameOver)
if(inGameStopping == true){
funcEasing();
}
//Probably not necessary later
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////
/*if(initThingy == true){
stage.focus = stage;
initThingy = false;
}*/
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////
}
function spawn_enemies(e:Event){
var myEnemy1:Enemy1 = new Enemy1();
stage.addChild(myEnemy1);
}
function spawn_wall_piece(){
index++;
wallArray[index].x = (wallArray[index - 1].x + wallArray[index - 1].width);
wallArray[index].y = 0;
stage.addChild(wallArray[index]);
myWallCollisionList.addItem(wallArray[index].theActualWall);
myWallCollisionList.removeItem(wallArray[index - 2].theActualWall);
stage.removeChild(wallArray[index - 2]);
}
function adequateArrayOfWalls(init:Boolean):void{
//This only executes if we are initialitizing the array
if(init == true){
for(index = 0; index < 10; index++){
var aWall:Walls = new Walls();
//We check if we got special blocks next (e.g. "ramp caves"). Then we only allow a certain type of blocks to come.
//If no special block is detected, then we just randomize the next one, except for those that are not allowed to
//show up unless a previous special one appeared.
if(randomize == 9 || randomize == 15){
randomize = 15 + Math.floor(Math.random()*1 + 1);
}else{
randomize = Math.floor(Math.random()*14 + 1);
}
aWall.gotoAndStop(randomize);
//TheActualWall is the raw shape of the wall, where the ship collides, and it is what we push into collisionList,
//but not into the wallArray which includes the Walls (comprised by graphics and actual walls)
aWall.theActualWall.gotoAndStop(randomize);
wallArray.push(aWall);
}
wallArray[0].gotoAndStop(1);
wallArray[0].theActualWall.gotoAndStop(1);
stage.addChild(wallArray[0]);
wallArray[1].x = 800;
wallArray[1].y = 0;
stage.addChild(wallArray[1]);
//if not, then we are just cleaning it and rearranging it so it doesn't grow bigger and bigger
}else{
for(var a:Number = 0; a < index - 1; a++){
wallArray.splice(0,1);
}
for(a = index - 1; a < (10-2); a++){
var aWall2:Walls = new Walls();
if(randomize == 9 || randomize == 15){
randomize = 15 + Math.floor(Math.random()*1 + 1);
}else{
randomize = Math.floor(Math.random()*14 + 1);
}
aWall2.gotoAndStop(randomize);
aWall2.theActualWall.gotoAndStop(randomize);
wallArray.push(aWall2);
}
}
//Then, either way, we tell index to be 1 since the reference in the function is [index - 1] and [index], so it starts with [0] and [1]
index = 1;
}
static function updateScore(points:Number){
score += points;
scoreText.text = score.toString();
}
static function resetScore(){
score = 0;
scoreText.text = score.toString();
}
function spawn_powerUp(e:Event){
var pU:PowerUp = new PowerUp();
stage.addChild(pU);
}
static function gameOver(){
wall_mov_speed = 8;
//gameOverMenu.end_game_score_display.text = score.toString();
//gameOverMenu.visible = true;
scoreText.visible = false;
enemyShipTimer_1.stop();
powerUpTimer.stop();
inGameStopping = true; //In game stopping only influentiates in the easing speed effect
isPauseable = false;
}
function funcEasing(){
if(wall_mov_speed >= 0.1){
wall_mov_speed /= 1.07;
}else{
wall_mov_speed = 0;
removeEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, update_game);
initTransition = true;
darkening = true; //See notes on variable declaration.
funcTransition(null);
}
}
function funcTransition(e:Event){
if(initTransition == true){
myTransitionScreen.init(darkening);
myTransitionScreen.parent.setChildIndex(myTransitionScreen, stage.numChildren - 1);
myTransitionScreen.parent.addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, funcTransition);
initTransition = false;
allPurposeCounter = 0;
}
if((darkening == true && myTransitionScreen.alpha == 1) || (darkening == false && myTransitionScreen.alpha == 0)){
trace("fsdfa");
allPurposeCounter++;
trace(allPurposeCounter);
if(allPurposeCounter >= 20){
myTransitionScreen.parent.removeEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, funcTransition);
initTransition = true;
allPurposeCounter = 0;
if(darkening == true){ //This means if we are now with a black screen coming from the game, which is when we will end our game process
endGameProcess();
}
}
}
}
function endGameProcess(){
mainClass.showGameOver();
}
function newGame(e:Event){
darkening = true; //See notes on variable declaration.
initTransition = true;
funcTransition(null);
}
//Check To-Do List below
function funcPause(pMode:String){
if(pMode == "pausing"){
pauseScreen.visible = true;
removeEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, update_game);
myShip.thePause("pausing");
//Check and stop the childs on stage (emitted by stage, so particles don't count)
var n:uint = stage.numChildren;
for(var i=0; i < n; i++){
if(stage.getChildAt(i) is Enemy1){
var anEnemy1:Enemy1 = Enemy1(stage.getChildAt(i));
anEnemy1.thePause("pausing");
}
else if(stage.getChildAt(i) is Trail){
var aTrailUnit:Trail = Trail(stage.getChildAt(i));
aTrailUnit.thePause("pausing");
}
else if(stage.getChildAt(i) is PowerUp){
var aPowerUp:PowerUp = PowerUp(stage.getChildAt(i));
aPowerUp.thePause("pausing");
}
}
enemyShipTimer_1.stop();
powerUpTimer.stop();
isPause = true;
isPauseable = false;
}else if(pMode == "unpausing"){
pauseScreen.visible = false;
addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, update_game);
myShip.thePause("unpausing");
//Check and re-run the childs on stage (emitted by stage, so particles don't count)
var m:uint = stage.numChildren;
for(var j=0; j < m; j++){
if(stage.getChildAt(j) is Enemy1){
var anotherEnemy1:Enemy1 = Enemy1(stage.getChildAt(j));
anotherEnemy1.thePause("unpausing");
}
else if(stage.getChildAt(j) is Trail){
var anotherTrailUnit:Trail = Trail(stage.getChildAt(j));
anotherTrailUnit.thePause("unpausing");
}
else if(stage.getChildAt(j) is PowerUp){
var anotherPowerUp:PowerUp = PowerUp(stage.getChildAt(j));
anotherPowerUp.thePause("unpausing");
}
}
enemyShipTimer_1.start();
powerUpTimer.start();
isPause = false;
isPauseable = true;
}
}
//Key pressing management
function keyManaging(e:KeyboardEvent){
var key:uint = e.keyCode;
trace("algo");
switch (key){
case Keyboard.P:
if(isPause == false && isPauseable == true){
funcPause("pausing");
}else if (isPause == true){
funcPause("unpausing");
}
break;
case Keyboard.M:
//go back to menu: still to complete
//Has to be only possible to do while in the pause menu
trace("going back to menu");
//
break;
}
}
//
//Background color management
function drawGradient():void {
var m:Matrix = new Matrix();
m.createGradientBox(805, 485, 0, 0, 0);
mySprite.graphics.clear(); // here we clean it
mySprite.graphics.beginGradientFill(GradientType.LINEAR, [colors.left, colors.right], [1, 1], [0x00, 0xFF], m, SpreadMethod.REFLECT);
mySprite.graphics.drawRoundRect(0,0,805,485, 0);
stage.setChildIndex(mySprite, 1);
}
function animateBackground(){
TweenMax.to(colors, 3, {hexColors:{left:newColor1, right:newColor2}, onUpdate:drawGradient, onComplete:reRandomize});
}
function reRandomize(){
color1 = newColor1;
color2 = newColor2;
newColor1 = Math.floor(Math.random()*0xFFFFFF + 1);
newColor2 = Math.floor(Math.random()*0xFFFFFF + 1);
animateBackground();
}
}
}
Code from Ship:
public class Ship extends MovieClip {
public function Ship() {
if (stage) {
init(null);
}else{
this.addEventListener(Event.ADDED_TO_STAGE, init);
}
}
public function init(e:Event) {
this.removeEventListener(Event.ADDED_TO_STAGE, init);
this.addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, update_ship);
}
public function update_ship(e:Event){
x_vel = Direction_bar.dX*power;
y_vel = Direction_bar.dY*power;
this.x += x_vel;
this.y += y_vel;
if((10 < Math.abs(Direction_bar.dX) || 10 < Math.abs(Direction_bar.dY)) || ((0.9 < Math.abs(x_vel)||(0.9 < Math.abs(y_vel))))){
this.rotation = Direction_bar.point_direction;
}
rotation_now = this.rotation;
if(myShield != null){
if(myShield.visible == true){
myShield.alpha -= 0.0005;
if(myShield.alpha == 0){
myShield.visible = false;
myShield.alpha = 1;
}
}
}
}
Some basics that you have to know in order to understand what's going on.
It's a very common mistake to add things to stage.
Here's what the documentation of addChild says
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/FlashPlatform/reference/actionscript/3/flash/display/DisplayObjectContainer.html#addChild%28%29
objects should not be added to the Stage, directly, at all
I guess people add DispalyObjects to stage because they think it is
"the stage" that they see and interact with in the Flash authoring
environment. But it's not. stage.addChild() is not the same
thing as dragging a symbol from the library onto the screen. What by
default represents the main time line is the root property.
However, if you add anything to stage directly, its root property and its stage property both reference the same object,
which is regularly only referenced by stage. stage is some
container that your .swf is added to when running in the flash
player.
The documentation of addChildAt says this about the index:
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/FlashPlatform/reference/actionscript/3/flash/display/DisplayObjectContainer.html#addChildAt%28%29
The child is added at the index position specified. An index of 0 represents the back (bottom) of the display list for this
DisplayObjectContainer object.
Applying these basics, the following happens:
FlashPlayer creates the stage object, instantiates your main class
and adds that instance to stage, it is the child with the index 0.
Among other things, stage.addChildAt(mySprite, 1); is executed,
adding mySprite as a second child to stage. With index of 1 it is
rendered in front of the object that is at index 0, which happens to
be the instance of your main class AKA your .swf file. I hope that
anything being rendered "outside the .swf file" illustrates well
enough why adding things to stage is not recommended.
Later, this.addChild(myShip); happens. (Which is actually the
proper way to do it; no need to use this here:addChild(myShip);
is all you need.) and adds the ship to the display list. Assuming all
of its parents are added to the display list as well, it will be
displayed.
But you still cannot see it, because you added mySprite in front of
the instance of your main class and filled it with a content in
drawGradient() which covers up everything else.
In all honesty, the best solution would be to start over from scratch.
Working with this code will not help you in any way. Even working yourself through it and making it work somehow will not make you understand anything better (except for how not to do things). It seems like the only motivation to modify this code to use classes was for the sake of doing it. Forcing such old code into the object oriented paradigm will not work very well. The benefits of oop will not be apparent, making this experience even more frustrating.
Last but not least, do not roll your own transition code. There are many libraries that do this (including flash's own Tween class http://www.republicofcode.com/tutorials/flash/as3tweenclass/ or the popular tweenlite http://greensock.com/tweenlite)
You could try adding an ADDED_TO_STAGE event. See this excellent explanation from the master of game programming
Understanding ADDED_TO_STAGE Event

Movie clips not on the scene automatically playing, when the scene loads

I'm developing an app for android using flash and adobe air for android.
In flash i have a set of Scenes which can be navigated in the following way.
in the lower scenes (morning, noon and evening scenes), i have one movie clip every 5 frames per scene, which have audio embedded in them. on the first frame of the movie clips i have, i call the stop(); function. and at the end of the clip an event is dispatched ( dispatchEvent(new Event ("MEANING_TEXT_COMPLETE")); ), so that code from the main timeline could act accordingly.
Here is the code on my main timeline
import flash.events.MouseEvent;
MovieClip(this.root).stop();
btn_home_parent.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, goto_dh_morn);
mc_sound.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, control_sound_morn);
btn_next_morn.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, goto_next_morn);
btn_prev_morn.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, goto_prev_morn);
//load all sound files
var mn_1:Mn1 = new Mn1();
var mn_2:Mn2 = new Mn2();
var mn_3:Mn3 = new Mn3();
var mn_4:Mn4 = new Mn4();
var mn_5:Mn5 = new Mn5();
var mn_6:Mn6 = new Mn6();
var mn_7:Mn7 = new Mn7();
var mn_8:Mn8 = new Mn8_();
var mn_9:Mn9 = new Mn9();
var mn_10:Mn10 = new Mn10();
var mn_11:Mn11 = new Mn11();
var mn_12:Mn12 = new Mn12();
var mn_13:Mn13 = new Mn13();
var mn_14:Mn14 = new Mn14();
var frameCount_morn:int = 1;
var lang1Init_morn:Boolean = false;
var lang1:Object;
var ar:Object;
playSound_morn();
function playSound_morn()
{
var currentSound:Sound = new Sound();
channel.stop();
trace("play sound");
currentSound = this["mn_" + frameCount_morn];
channel = currentSound.play();
channel.addEventListener(Event.SOUND_COMPLETE, soundComplete_morn);
trans.volume = 1;
channel.soundTransform = trans;
}
function soundComplete_morn(e:Event):void
{
if (showlang1Text)
{
trace("ar Sound Complete");
ar = getChildByName("arText" + (currentFrame - 1));
ar.visible = false;
trace("ar child acquired");
lang1 = getChildByName("lang1Text" + (currentFrame - 1));
lang1Init_morn = true;
lang1.visible = true;
lang1.play();
lang1.addEventListener("MEANING_TEXT_COMPLETE", translationComplete_morn);
}
}
function translationComplete_morn(e:Event)
{
trace("translate Complete");
ar= getChildByName("arText" + (currentFrame - 1));
ar.visible = true;
lang1 = getChildByName("lang1Text" + (currentFrame - 1));
lang1.visible = false;
}
function goto_next_morn(e:MouseEvent)
{
if (MovieClip(this.root).currentFrame <= 61)
{
var next_frame = MovieClip(this.root).currentFrame + 5;
frameCount_morn = frameCount_morn + 1;
channel.stop();
if (lang1Init_morn){lang1.stop();lang1Init_morn = false;}
MovieClip(this.root).gotoAndStop(next_frame);
playSound_morn();
}
trace("Current Frame: " + currentFrame);
}
function goto_prev_morn(e:MouseEvent)
{
if (MovieClip(this.root).currentFrame > 0)
{
var prev_frame = MovieClip(this.root).currentFrame - 5;
frameCount_morn = frameCount_morn - 1;
channel.stop();
if (lang1Init_morn){lang1.stop();lang1Init_morn = false;}
MovieClip(this.root).gotoAndStop(prev_frame);
playSound_morn();
}
trace("Current Frame: " + currentFrame);
}
function control_sound_morn(e:MouseEvent)
{
control_sound(e);
if (!showlang1Text) {
mc_sound.gotoAndStop(5);
if (lang1Init_morn){
lang1.stop();
lang1Init_morn = false;
ar.visible = true;
lang1.visible = false;
}
}
else {
mc_sound.gotoAndStop(1)
}
}
function goto_dh_morn(e:MouseEvent) {
if (lang1Init_morn){lang1.stop();lang1Init_morn = false;}
channel.stop();
goto_dh(e);
}
the movie clip object is lang1
when i load the scene "Morning Scene" it works perfectly well, as it should. however when i navigate to the "noon scene" or "evening scene", audio from all the movie clips that were put on the "morning scene" automatically starts to play. The funny thing is that those movie clips are not even added to the "noon scene" and "evening scene". Any idea on why this happens or how to fix it.
thanks
as I got no answers. the way I fixed it was to compile each scene to a separate swf file and then load/unload them when needed.

unload external swf (child) from the main screen when it has reached last frame?

I have an external swf loading into a main frame (the URL request), and when the swf reaches it's final frame I need it to UNLOAD itself. I need to do this without any code on the CHILD swf, as this is for an iOS application. Can anyone help?
//start button
start_button_aboriginal.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, fl_ClickToLoadUnloadSWF_3);
import fl.display.ProLoader;
var fl_ProLoader_3:ProLoader;
//This variable keeps track of whether you want to load or unload the SWF
var fl_ToLoad_3:Boolean = true;
function fl_ClickToLoadUnloadSWF_3(event:MouseEvent):void
{
if(fl_ToLoad_3)
{
fl_ProLoader_3 = new ProLoader();
fl_ProLoader_3.load(new URLRequest("myths/myth_aboriginal.swf"));
addChild(fl_ProLoader_3);
fl_ProLoader_3.x = 114;
fl_ProLoader_3.y = 41;
}
else
{
fl_ProLoader_3.unload();
removeChild(fl_ProLoader_3);
fl_ProLoader_3 = null;
}
// Toggle whether you want to load or unload the SWF
fl_ToLoad_3 = !fl_ToLoad_3;
//here, I want to UNLOAD the external SWF when it is finished playing.
var totFrames:Number=childMC.totalFrames;
var curFrame:Number;
childMC.addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, remove);
function remove(evt:Event):void {
curFrame=childMC.currentFrame;
if (totFrames==curFrame) {
removeChild(childMC);
}
}
You need to declare childMC in a global scope and the assign the loader content.
and dont declare functions inside of functions!!
something like this NOT TESTET
import fl.display.Loader; // impoerts belong at the top
var fl_ProLoader_3:ProLoader; // then your global vars
var childMC:MovieClip; // instatiate childMC with global scope
start_button_aboriginal.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, fl_ClickToLoadUnloadSWF_3,false,0,false); // listener with weak refference
var fl_ToLoad_3:Boolean = true;
function fl_ClickToLoadUnloadSWF_3(event:MouseEvent):void
{
if(fl_ToLoad_3)
{
fl_ProLoader_3 = new Loader();
var url:URLRequest = new URLRequest("myths/myth_aboriginal.swf");
var loaderContext:LoaderContext = new LoaderContext(false, ApplicationDomain.currentDomain, null); // IOS needs this
fl_ProLoader_3.load(url, loaderContext);
fl_ProLoader_3.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE, loadCompleteHandler,false,0,false);
}
else
{
if(childMC){
removeChild(childMC);
childMC.unloadAndStop();
childMC = null;
}
}
// Toggle whether you want to load or unload the SWF
fl_ToLoad_3 = !fl_ToLoad_3;
}
function loadCompleteHandler(evt:Event):void
{
childMC = evt.target.content as MovieClip;
childMC.addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, remove);
addChild(childMC);
childMC.x = 114;
childMC.y = 41;
}
function remove(evt:Event):void {
var totFrames:Number=childMC.totalFrames;
var curFrame:Number =childMC.currentFrame;;
if (totFrames==curFrame) {
childMC.removeEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, remove);
removeChild(childMC);
childMC.unloadAndStop();
childMC = null;
}
}

How to pass a variable into an Event.COMPLETE function?

I am running a loop to pull thumbs into a containing movieclip from an xml list. What I want to do is have the thumb's parent movieclip fade in after they are done loading, but I can't figure out how to reference the parent once it's loaded.
My code(which currently doesn't work the way I want it):
var vsThumb:articleBox;
var currentarticleX:Number = 0;
var articleLinkURL:String;
var articleImageURL:String;
var articleText:String;
var vsThumbLoader:Loader;
var next_x:Number;
next_x = 9;
var thumbAlphaTween:Tween;
var articlevsThumb:Array = new Array();
function loadarticleHeadlines():void
{
for (var i:int = 0; i < egarticleXml.articlelist.articleitem.length(); i++)
{
vsThumb = new articleBox();
vsThumb.alpha = 0;
vsThumbLoader = new Loader();
vsThumbLoader.load(new URLRequest(egarticleXml.articlelist.articleitem[i].articlethumbnail));
articleListContainter.addChild(vsThumb);
vsThumb.articleImage.addChild(vsThumbLoader);
vsThumb.articleTitle.text = egarticleXml.articlelist.articleitem[i].articletitle;
titleAutosize(vsThumb.articleTitle);
vsThumb.x = next_x;
next_x += 260;
articlevsThumb[i] = vsThumb;
vsThumbLoader.contentLoaderInfo.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE, showBox);
vsThumb.clickBtn.buttonMode = true;
}
function showBox(event:Event):void
{
thumbAlphaTween = new Tween(articlevsThumb[i],"alpha",None.easeNone,0,1,.25,true);
}
}
So how do I refer back to the loader's parent so I can fade in the whole movieclip? Can I pass a variable into the showBox function?
Don't use nested functions. They tend to make things more complicated.
i will always have the end value (articleitem.length()-1) in all of the event handlers you create, because its scope is the outer function, loadarticleHeadlines (it will increase by 1 on every iteration). That's probably why your code doesn't work.
The event will be fired on the loaderInfo of your loader, so you can find the loader's parent by using event.target.loader.parent:
function loadarticleHeadlines() : void
{
for (var i:int = 0; i < egarticleXml.articlelist.articleitem.length(); i++)
{
vsThumb = new articleBox();
vsThumb.alpha = 0;
vsThumbLoader = new Loader();
vsThumbLoader.load(new URLRequest(egarticleXml.articlelist.articleitem[i].articlethumbnail));
articleListContainter.addChild(vsThumb);
vsThumb.articleImage.addChild(vsThumbLoader);
vsThumb.articleTitle.text = egarticleXml.articlelist.articleitem[i].articletitle;
titleAutosize(vsThumb.articleTitle);
vsThumb.x = next_x;
next_x += 260;
articlevsThumb[i] = vsThumb;
vsThumbLoader.contentLoaderInfo.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE, showBox);
vsThumb.clickBtn.buttonMode = true;
}
}
function showBox(event:Event):void
{
thumbAlphaTween = new Tween(event.target.loader.parent,"alpha",None.easeNone,0,1,.25,true);
}
You don't need to pass a variable to your showBox, use the target property of the Event to retrieve the Loader:
function showBox(event:Event):void
{
var li:LoaderInfo=LoaderInfo(event.target);
// be nice remove your listener when your are done
li.removeEventListener(Event.COMPLETE, showBox);
var ldr:Loader=li.loader; // here is your loader
// do whatever you want with loader
thumbAlphaTween = new Tween(articlevsThumb[i],"alpha",None.easeNone,0,1,.25,true);
}