The documentation says: "You cannot create a StaticText object using ActionScript. Only the authoring tool can create a StaticText object. An attempt to create a new StaticText object generates an ArgumentError."
Why is that? How does Flash Professional create StaticText, and why can't I do the same with AS3?
StaticText is just a DisplayObject, with a readonly text property. It's the Flash Authoring tool that actually creates a graphical element (the text) and draws it onto the stage like a circle or a square.
Just use Textfield instead if you need to add text with AS3.
import flash.text.TextField;
var myText:TextField = new TextField();
myText.text = "Hello World";
addChild(myText);
The fact that you created the text with code, rather than on stage with the authoring tool, means that by definition, it is a dynamic text field, not a static text field.
Related
I'm trying to learn ActionScript 3, but right now I'm hung up on getting a basic interface set up. I've found out that newTextField will make one, but I don't know how to put it where I want.
I've checked out some source code for other projects using the same IDE (Adobe Flash CS6) and they seem to have access to a textbox symbol. So how do I make one of the textbox symbols with the IDE, or using some code?
var tf:TextField = new TextField;
tf.text = "Hello World!";
addChild(tf);
These will create black text reading 'Hello World!'.
Find out more about text fields here: http://help.adobe.com/en_US/FlashPlatform/reference/actionscript/3/flash/text/TextField.html
I recently picked up Emanuele Feronato's Flash Game Development by Example to try and help expand my knowledge of game design and actionscript 3, and I'm stuck on the first chapter where we're building basically a memory match two game where you have ten sets of tiles and you try and match them up by clicking on them.
In the code I'm stuck on, Mr. Feronato is adding the tiles to the stage using a for loop and addChild, here's the code in particular:
// tile placing loop
for (i:uint=0; i<NUMBER_OF_TILES; i++) {
tile = new tile_movieclip();
addChild(tile);
tile.cardType=tiles[i];
tile.x=5+(tile.width+5)*(i%TILES_PER_ROW);
tile.y=5+(tile.height+5)*(Math.floor(i/TILES_PER_ROW));
tile.gotoAndStop(NUMBER_OF_TILES/2+1);
tile.buttonMode = true;
tile.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK,onTileClicked);
}
// end of tile placing loop
In the 5th line, you can see that he creates a custom property of the tile variable called "cardType," but when I try and run the code I get the error "Access of possibly undefined property cardType through a reference with static type Tile." I have the class Tile extending MovieClip, and the main class extends Sprite, but as far as I can tell I've written the code exactly as in the book and can't get past this. I thought about just using a normal int variable cardType to hold tiles[i] but later on you use the cardType property on a mouse event so I'm a little stuck.
Has something changed in Flash that no longer allows you to create custom properties in this way? Or did I just do something stupid that I'm not catching.
As always, thank you so much for the help.
ActionScript supports dynamic classes, in which properties may be added during runtime. Without the dynamic keyword, a class is sealed, meaning its properties may not be altered.
MovieClip is an example of a dynamic class.
Instantiating a MovieClip from code (or MovieClip instance created in Flash Professional), adding this property would be supported:
var tile:MovieClip = new MovieClip();
tile.cardType = "custom value";
However from code, even if extending MovieClip you must add the dynamic keyword:
package {
import flash.display.MovieClip;
public dynamic class Tile extends MovieClip {
/* ... */
}
}
Now, you may add properties to your Tile instance:
var tile:Tile = new Tile();
tile.cardType = "custom value";
I created a text area on my stage using the text tool, then converted it to a MovieClip symbol. I called it ScoreLabel and I clicked "Export for ActionScript". I named the instance of the text area scoreLabel. However, when I do this in my code:
scoreLabel.text = this.score;
it doesn't change. That line is in my Main.as file, which is the document class. How can I change the text shown in this text area using ActionScript? Maybe I need to import a library?
Thanks.
Like I said, don't export for ActionScript - it's not necessary in your case.
You also need to assign a String to the .text property, so you have do something like this if score is a Number type:
scoreLabel.text = score.toString();
Do you get any errors, and is scoreLabel within scope from your document class, or nested in another container?
I have created a Flex project in Flash Builder 4.5.
Next I added fl.controls libraries (and then mx.controls libraries) in the project.
I am adding a screenshot so you can see the setup and the code.
However when I run/debug it, nothing appears in there. Totally white.
I've worked with fl.controls before, I used Flash CS5 to compile the ActionScript project and they worked correctly.
Is there any particular reason why it does not work in Flash Builder?
UPDATE: When I add graphics to the text input, i.e.
ti.graphics.beginFill(0xFF0000);
ti.graphics.drawRect(0, 0, 100, 30);
ti.graphics.endFill();
I do see a red rectangle shape. But still no editable text input box. I tried setting ti.editable = true but no use.
Try this:
Create a new FLA in Flash Professional. Add the TextInput component to your library. Notice that not only does the TextInput class get added to the library, but also a folder of "Component Assets" - skins and such. Flash Professional components are not just code - they are code and graphics.
If you want to use fl.controls.TextInput in Flash Builder, you can publish that FLA you just created with the "export swc" option checked. Include that swc in your Flash Builder project, and you'll be able to instantiate the TextInput in your code. If you want to add other Flash components, add them to the library in the FLA and republish the swc.
I would prefer using Flex itself, it will speed up your development. It's simple and does a lot of work for you.
If you do not want to do this you should give your text some properties like width, height, textFormat or use a css document for the text format. You could also give your text a border ( it should be a property of the TextInput ).
Do not forget to set the text format, otherwise the TextField doesn't know which font to use.
Sample for TextInput ( Bottom of Page )
http://help.adobe.com/de_DE/FlashPlatform/reference/actionscript/3/fl/controls/TextInput.html
Sample for Flex
http://help.adobe.com/de_DE/FlashPlatform/reference/actionscript/3/spark/components/RichEditableText.html
You can try this code:
private var ti:TextField = new TextField();
public function FormText(){
//adds ti possibly underneath 'this': stage.addChild(ti);
//adds ti on top of 'this':
stage.addChildAt(ti,getChildIndex(this));
// makes the TextField editable:
ti.type = TextFieldType.INPUT;
}
This should not only make sure that the TextField exists when the class is instantiated, but also puts the form in front of the class.
But this also assumes that the class has been added to the stage; so it may be better to add it like this:
private var ti:TextField = new TextField();
public function FormText(){
addEventListener(Event.ADDED_TO_STAGE, addedHnd);
}
private function addedHnd(e:Event)
{
removeEventListener(Event.ADDED_TO_STAGE, addedHnd);
//adds ti possibly underneath 'this': stage.addChild(ti);
//adds ti on top of 'this':
stage.addChildAt(ti,getChildIndex(this));
// makes the TextField editable:
ti.type = TextFieldType.INPUT;
}
Please review the TextField docs, too.
Why do you add your control to the stage? You should just add it to your form. i.e. this.addChild(ti)
I have this dynamic textfield on stage, and I want to access it from my xmlloader class, so it can display text from my xml file. I just can't figure out a way to do it.
I found the answer:
MovieClip(root).thetextfieldonstage.text = "yep";
can call the textfield from class.