How to convert a string to an object - actionscript-3

Question

I'm trying to use a sharedObject to coordinate the movement of several objects on the stage between multiple game players. I think that I'm very close but I seem to be having a problem converting a string stored in the sharedObject into an instance of the Ball class.
My problem is in the soSync function.
I think I need to convert into an object the value of 'objectMoved' that is stored in the sharedObject. I can trace the name of the selected object, but I cannot retrieve it as an object.
How do I store the selected object in a sharedObject and then use it to coordinate motion with the other game players?
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<mx:Application xmlns:mx="http://www.adobe.com/2006/mxml" layout="absolute" creationComplete="init()">
<mx:Script>
<![CDATA[
import mx.core.UIComponent;
public var nc:NetConnection;
private var connectionURL:String = "rtmp://server address...";
public var remoteSO:SharedObject;
private var checker:Ball;
public function init():void{
//Create new checkers; place them and create listeners
for (var i:int = 0; i < 3; i++){
checker = new Ball;
checker.x = 150 + (i * 110);
checker.y = 150;
checker.name = String(i);
this.addChild(checker);
checker.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN,handleMouseDown);
}
// Establish connection to the server
nc = new NetConnection();
//Listener triggered by the NetConnection connection
nc.addEventListener(NetStatusEvent.NET_STATUS, netStatusHandler);
nc.connect(connectionURL);
}
private function netStatusHandler(e:NetStatusEvent):void {
if(e.info.code == "NetConnection.Connect.Success"){
createRemoteSO();
}
}
private function handleMouseDown(e:MouseEvent):void{
//Show which object has been selected
objectInfo.text = "Clicked: "+String(e.currentTarget);
e.currentTarget.startDrag();
e.currentTarget.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_MOVE,dragging);
e.currentTarget.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP,handleMouseUp)
//Update the remote shared object from this client
function dragging(e:MouseEvent):void{
objectInfo.text = "Dragging: "+String(e.currentTarget);
//Set the shared object
remoteSO.setProperty("objectMoved",e.currentTarget.name);
remoteSO.setProperty("x",e.currentTarget.x);
remoteSO.setProperty("y",e.currentTarget.y);
}
function handleMouseUp(e:MouseEvent):void{
e.currentTarget.stopDrag();
objectInfo.text = ""
e.currentTarget.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_MOVE,dragging)
}
}
private function createRemoteSO():void{
// Create reference to the remote shared object
remoteSO = SharedObject.getRemote("remoteSO",nc.uri,false);
remoteSO.connect(nc);
//Listener to handle changes to the remote shared object
remoteSO.addEventListener(SyncEvent.SYNC, soSync);
}
//Called when a change is made to the remote shared object by other clients
private var counter:int;
private function soSync(se:SyncEvent):void {
if(remoteSO.data.objectMoved){
this.getChildByName(remoteSO.data.objectMoved).x = remoteSO.data.x;
this.getChildByName(remoteSO.data.objectMoved).y = remoteSO.data.y;
}else{
trace("Object does not exist")
}
}
]]>
</mx:Script>
<mx:Text x="147" y="51" text="Selected object"/>
<mx:TextArea id="objectInfo" x="237" y="50"/>
</mx:Application>
Ball.mxml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<mx:UIComponent xmlns:mx="http://www.adobe.com/2006/mxml" creationComplete="init()">
<mx:Script>
<![CDATA[
import mx.events.FlexEvent;
private function init():void{
var child:Shape = new Shape();
child.graphics.beginFill(0xff0000, .5);
child.graphics.drawCircle(0, 0, 50);
child.graphics.endFill();
this.addChild(child);
}
]]>
</mx:Script>
</mx:UIComponent>

Answer 1

I think you could use getChildByName("String/ObjectName here").
So in your case...
this.getChildByName(remoteSO.data.objectMoved).y = remoteSO.data.y;
Alternatively, could you not just add the physical object itself when using setProperty as opposed to the objects name. Like so...
remoteSO.setProperty("objectMoved",e.currentTarget);

Answer 2

Your Ball object seems to be a DisplayObject, which are unable to be saved in a shared object as a whole. You can, however, instantiate a Ball object, read properties out of the SO and assign them to your ball. The properties in question seem to be x and y, and not objectMoved, as your ball's name will most likely be in line of instance389 which does not spell a thing if you lose the naming context, and even if not, you can only find a child by name if it still exists. So, if you have only one object of type Ball, you assign it the X and Y read from the SO, if not, you should store several balls in your SO, so you will instantiate them later and preserve all of their coordinates.