Flash AS3 Error: 1013: The private attribute may be used only on class property definitions - actionscript-3

Question

C:\Users\Lab3project\MainDocument.as, Line 103, Column 7 1013: The
private attribute may be used only on class property definitions.
The lines of code concerned:
package {
//these are flash built-in classes
import flash.display.MovieClip;
import flash.events.TimerEvent;
import flash.utils.Timer;
import flash.events.Event;
//Our own custom class
import MainTimer;
public class MainDocument extends MovieClip{
private var gameTimer:MainTimer;
private var thePlayer:Player;
private var theEnemy:Enemy;
private var maxEnemies: int = 3;
private var e:int = 0;
private var childrenOnStage:int;
public function MainDocument() {
// constructor code
trace("the main document is alive");
// new instance MainTimer class
gameTimer = new MainTimer();
// must add it to the stage
addChild(gameTimer);
//adjust its postion on stage
gameTimer.x = 20;
gameTimer.y = 20;
//add the player
thePlayer = new Player();
addChild(thePlayer);
// adjust its postion on the stage
thePlayer.x = stage.stageWidth * 0.5;
//assign the name property
thePlayer.name = "player";
while(e < maxEnemies){
createEnemy();
e++;
} //end while
//Update this variable every time a child is added to the stage
childrenOnStage = this.numChildren
// Add event listener to control timing of main game loop
addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME,mainGameLoop);
}//end function MainDocument
private function createEnemy():void{
trace("create enemy");
theEnemy = new Enemy();
addChild(theEnemy);
//Place in a random spot on stage
theEnemy.x = (Match.random() * stage.stageWidth);
theEnemy.y = 0;
//assign the name property
theEnemy.name = "enemy";
//Update this variable every time a child is added to the stage
childrenOnStage = this.numChildren
} //end function createEnemy
//the main loop for the game
private function mainGameLoop(event:Event): void{
checkForGameReset();
processCollisions();
scrollStage();
} // end functiom mainGameLoop
private function checkForGameReset():void{
//define conditions
} //end function checkForGameReset
private function processCollisions():void{
//set up the main loop to look through all collidale objects on stage
for(var c:int;c < childOnStage;c++){
//trace ("Child on stage c= " + c +
//test for a player of enemy child on stage
if (getChildAt(c).name == "player" || getChildAt(c).name == "enemy"){
//see if object is touching the game stage
if( theGameStage.hitTestPoint(getChildAt(c).x, getChildAt(c).y,true)){
//while it is still touching the game stage
while( theGameStage.hitTestPoint(getChildAt(c).x, getChildAt(c).y,true)==true){
//called from CollisionObject class,so force the connection
CollisionObject(getChildAt(c)).incrementUpward();
if( theGameStage.hitTestPoint(getChildAt(c).x, getChildAt(c).y,true)==false){
}CollisionObject(getChildAt(c)).keepOnBoundary(); //make it stick
} // end if
} // end while
} //end if touching
} //end if player or enemy
} //end for loop
} //end function processCollisions
The lines of code concerned: is here where im getting the error
private function scrollStage(): void
{
// figure out logic
}
// end function scrollStage
//add the enemy for testing
theEnemy = new Enemy();
addChild(theEnemy);
// adjust its postion on the stage
theEnemy.x = stage.stageWidth * 0.5;
theEnemy.y = 200;
} // end public function MainDocument
} // end public class
} // end package
After I have change that code ,it then says I have a extra character at the end but the characters I have to have at the end.

Answer 1

Problems like this often occur because of a slight typo in syntax. Perhaps you have accidentally declared your private function within another function?
public function doSomething() {
//a whole bunch of stuff
//then we forget to close the function with a brace "}"
private function scrollStage() {
//but we're still defining doSomething! Throw error!
}
Go and look for errors like this, and hopefully you can find the problem.