i have a little problem with getDefinitionByName.
My purpose is to instantiate an FXG object(Number10.fxg) in a document mxml on runtime.
The name of the Class is in a string variable that is used by getDefinitionByName
to return the name of the class to insantiate. The code doesn't work even if doesn't send an error message. The code is as follows:
import assets.Number10;
import flash.utils.getDefinitionByName;
import mx.core.IVisualElement;
private function onClick(event:MouseEvent):void
{
var value:String = "Number10";
var ClassDefinition:Class = getDefinitionByName(value) as Class;
var ten:IVisualElement = new ClassDefinition() as IVisualElement;
this.contentGroup.addElement(ten);
}
I tried also with... var ten:IVisualElement = new ClassDefinition();
but nothing. It Doesn't work!
Please, Help me!
First of all, i refer to the adobe documentation pages that covering the topic so telegraphic. Here it is:
Option includes class [...]
Description Links one or more classes to the resulting application SWF file, whether or not those classes are required at compile time.
To link an entire SWC file rather than individual classes, use the include-libraries option.
Ok.In Flash Builder i go to the Additional compiler arguments where there is just this option
-locale en_US
So i add my option under this
-includes class = assets.Number10
or
-includes class assets.Number10
or
-includes class Number10
When the application runs i get the Error #2032.
I think that the option declaretion is wrong. I do not have a good reference for using option.
So...Help me!
How can i declare the Number10 class or the assets package with the other fxg object using the includes class option?
Ok! I find the solution...
Is to put a reference to Number10 class somewhere in the code, for instance:
import assets.Number10;
import flash.utils.getDefinitionByName;
import spark.core.SpriteVisualElement;
//case1
var myNumber:Number10;
//or
//case2
Number10;
private function onClick(event:MouseEvent):void
{
var value:String = "assets.Number10";
var ClassDefinition:Class = getDefinitionByName(value) as Class;
var ten:SpriteVisualElement = new ClassDefinition() as SpriteVisualElement;
this.contentGroup.addElement(ten);
}
and the code works :-)
This is a problem that comes from the way that Flex compiles its code. Flex compiles its code so that if a class is not used, it will keep this class off the final compiled program.
But the problems are not over yet! If i have hundreds of Fxg objects that could be instantiate, declaring all classes is little difficult and tedious.
So, how i can delclare in one time all classes of a package?
You can add classes to SWCs and SWFs using the include and includeClasses compiler options. Using these, you don't have to reference the classes in the code. Consult the documentation for proper usage.
Be sure to use the fully qualifed class name.
Also, the approach of casting your FXG class as an IVisualElement is new to me. I thought you had to use real classes in casting and the sort. Try using a SpriteVisualElement.
private function onClick(event:MouseEvent):void
{
var value:String = "assets.Number10";
var ClassDefinition:Class = getDefinitionByName(value) as Class;
var ten:IVisualElement = new ClassDefinition() as SpriteVisualElement.;
this.contentGroup.addElement(ten);
}
Related
Following the answer here, I have created a file called MyGlobals.as and placed some global variables and functions so that I can access it from anywhere within my project just like AS3 buil-in functions such as trace() method.
This is MyGlobals.as which is located in the src folder (top level folder)
package {
public var MessageQueue:Array = new Array();
public var main:Main;
public var BOOKING_STATUS_DATA:Object;
public function postMessage(msg:Object):void {
MessageQueue.push(msg);
}
public function processMessage():void {
var msg:Object = MessageQueue.pop();
if (msg) {
switch (msg.type) {
}
}
}
Looks like my IDE (FD4) is also recognizing all these functions and variables and also highlighting the varibles and functions just like any other built-in global functions. However, I am getting compilation errors "Accessing possibly undefined variable xxx". The code is as simple as trace(MessageQueue) inside my Main (or another classe).
I am wondering if there was any change Adboe has done recently that it can't be done now or am I missing something? I am not sure if I need to give any special instructions to FD to include this MyGlobals.as?
I am using FD4, Flex SKD 3.1, FP12.0
I am aware of the best practices which suggests to avoid using this type of method for creating global variables but I really need it for my project for my comfort which I feel best way (right now) when compared to take any other path which involves daunting task of code refactoring. I just want do something which can be done in AS3 which I guess is not a hack.
I've done some playing around; it looks like you can only define one (1) property or method at package level per .as file. It must be the same name (case-sensitive) as the .as file it is contained in.
So no, nothing has changed since the older Flash Versions.
In your case that would mean you need five separate ActionScript files along the lines of:
MessageQueue.as:
package
{
public var MessageQueue:Array;
}
main.as:
package
{
public var main:Main;
}
...etc. As you can see this is very cumbersome, another downside to the many others when using this approach. I suggest using the singleton pattern in this scenario instead.
package{
public class Singleton{
private static var _instance:Singleton=null;
private var _score:Number=0;
public function Singleton(e:SingletonEnforcer){
trace(‘new instance of singleton created’);
}
public static function getInstance():Singleton{
if(_instance==null){
_instance=new Singleton(new SingletonEnforcer());
}
return _instance;
}
public function get score():Number{
return _score;
}
public function set score(newScore:Number):void{
_score=newScore;
}
}
}
then iin your any as3 class if you import the singleton class
import Singleton
thn where u need to update the global var_score
use for example
var s:Singleton=Singleton.getInstance();
s.score=50;
trace(s.score);
same thing to display the 50 from another class
var wawa:Singleton=Singleton.getInstance();
trace(wawa.score)
My current project is in as3, but this is something I am curious about for other languages as well.
I'm attempting to use a factory object to create the appropriate object dynamically. My LevelFactory has a static method that returns a new instance of the level number provided to the method. In the code calling that method, I am able to dynamically create the buttons to call the levels like so:
for (var i:int = 1; i < 4; i++) {
var tempbutton:Sprite = createButton("Level " + i, 25, 25 +(60 * i), start(i));
_buttons.push(button);
}
This code just creates a simple button with the given arguments (ButtonText, x, y, function). It's working fine. The buttons are created, and clicking on one of them calls this method with the appropriate argument
private function start(level:int):Function {
return function(e:MouseEvent):void {
disableButtons();
newLevel = LevelFactory.createLevel(level);
addChild(newLevel);
}
}
This is all working fine; I'm just providing it for background context. The question I have is this: Is it possible to dynamically choose the type of object that my static function returns? Currently, I have am doing it as follows
public static function createLevel(level:int):Level {
var result:Level;
switch(level) {
case 1: result = new Level1(); break;
case 2: result = new Level2(); break;
//etc
}
return result;
}
I should note that all of these Level1, Level2, etc. classes extend my base level class. (Yay polymorphism!) What I would like to do is be able to do something along the lines of
public static function createLevel(level:int):Level {
var result:Level;
var levelType:String = "Level" + level;
return new levelType();
}
Obviously it's not going to work with a string like that, but is there any way to accomplish this in as3? What about other languages, such as Java or Python? Can you dynamically choose what type of child class to instantiate?
Update:
import Levels.*;
import flash.events.*;
import flash.utils.*;
public class LevelFactory
{
public static function createLevel(level:int):Level {
var ref:Class = getDefinitionByName('Levels.' + 'Level' + level) as Class;
var result:Level = new ref();
return result;
}
}
Update/Edit: getDefinitionByName seems to be what I'm looking for, but it has a problem. It seems that the compiler will strip unused imports, which means that unless I declare each subclass in the code ahead of time, this method will get a reference error. How can I get around the need to declare each class separately (which defeats the purpose of dynamic instantiation)?
Yes, you sure can, and it's very similar to the string thing that you've provided. The only thing that you are missing is the getDefinitionByName method: http://help.adobe.com/en_US/FlashPlatform/reference/actionscript/3/flash/utils/package.html#getDefinitionByName()
You can generate whatever class name you want, and what this method does is that it searches for that class in it's namespace, and if it finds it - it returns it as a class:
var ClassReference:Class = getDefinitionByName("flash.display.Sprite") as Class;
var instance:Object = new ClassReference();
This piece of code will instantiate a Sprite. This way you can instantiate your classes without all those switches and cases, especially when you have to make a hundred levels :)
Hope that helps! Cheers!
Edit:
In your case, the code should be:
var ref:Class = getDefinitionByName('com.path.Level' + index) as Class;
var level:Level = new ref(); // it will actually be Level1 Class
Since Andrey didn't quite finish helping me out, I am writing up a more complete answer to the question after much research.
getDefinitionByName definitely has the use I am looking for. However, unlike its use in Java, you HAVE to have a hard reference to the class you want instantiated somewhere in your code. Merely imported the class is not enough; the reason for this is that the compiler will strip the reference from any unused import to save space. So if you import the package of classes you want to choose dynamically but don't have a hard reference to them, the compiler will de-reference them. This will lead to a run-time error when the program cannot find the appropriate reference to your class.
Note that you don't actually have to do anything with the reference. You just have to declare a reference so that it can be found at run-time. So the following code will work to eliminate the switch-case statement and allow me to dynamically declare which class I am using at run-time.
{
import Levels.*;
import flash.events.*;
import flash.utils.*;
/**
*
* Returns the requested level using the createLevel class
* ...
* #author Joshua Zollinger
*/
public class LevelFactory
{
Level1, Level2, Level3, Level4, Level5, Level6, Level7;
public static function createLevel(level:int):Level {
var ref:Class = getDefinitionByName('Levels.Level' + level) as Class;
var result:Level = new ref(); // it will actually be the correct class
return result;
}}}
The obvious downside to this is that you still have to have a hard-coded reference to every class that can be instantiated like this. In this case, if I try to create a Level8 instance, it will through a run-time error because Level8 is not referenced. So every time I create a new level, I still have to go add a reference to it; I can't just use the reference dynamically.
There are supposedly ways around this that I have not tested yet, such as putting the code for the classes in a separate SWF and importing the SWF at run-time or using outside libraries that will have different functionality. If anyone has a solid way to get a truly dynamic reference that doesn't require a hard coded reference anywhere, I would love to hear about it.
Of course, it's still a lot cleaner this way; I don't have a extensive switch case statement to pack all the levels. And it's easier and faster to add a reference to the list than creating a new case in a switch. Plus it is closer to dynamic programming, which is usually a good thing.
Can variables be created dynamically without declaration when we write as Document class in AS3?
For example, from a library I'm importing sound files. Some 20 sound files.
If the code is in fla itself, we can assign in for loop like:
this["SOUND"+increasingNumber]
But in documentClass this is not working , since this refers the class here not the stage.
Any method to create variables?
When imported into your library, right click the sound file and go to its properties. Click the actionscript tab and check 'export for actionscript'. Give it a class name which you can then use in your document class to instantiate that sound.
If you named it Sound1:
var sound:Sound = new Sound1();
sound.play();
more detailed info here
[Edit to loxxy's reply] above shows how to create the variables in the document class.
To dynamically create all the sound variables, I'd recommend using an array, like so:
Suppose you named all your sounds in your library Sound1 to Sound20
import flash.utils.getDefinitionByName;
var sounds:Array = [];
var soundClass:Class;
for(var i:int = 1; i<21; i++){
soundClass = getDefinitionByName("Sound" + i) as Class;
sounds.push(new soundClass());
}
In fla when you add code, you add it into a framescript.
A framescript is a block of code repeated at a regular interval (framerate).
You can achieve that using addFrameScript like this.
However a better approach would be to not mix up framescript & the regular class methods.
You can access the 'stage' from the code but only after the added_to_stage event to be sure.
addEventListener(Event.ADDED_TO_STAGE, init);
function init(e:Event):void{
// Access 'stage' here
}
UPDATE: OK I am about ready to give up on Pacakages and classes. No answers coming. Not sure what to do. I tried to make the question easier and made a new post but I was down voted for it. as3 calling a function in another class
I am TOTALLY NEW to using PACKAGES and CLASSES. I am finally converting over from the timeline after having so many issues. Please be patient with my lack of knowledge. I need to know how to call a function in the child swf file I loaded from code in the maintime in the parent swf.
There are 2 swf files. Main.swf and pConent.swf
1. Main.swf has code in the timeline of the first frame.
2. pConent.swf is loading a PACKAGE CLASS as file.
QUESTIONS
I am trying to call a function in it from its parent Main.swf. How do I do this?
Here is sections of the code from both. Thanks
Main.swf CODE /// is an AIR for Andrid swf
function LoadContent()
{
TheContent.load(new URLRequest( "pContent.swf"));
TheContent.contentLoaderInfo.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE, LoadContentTWO);
function LoadContentTWO(e:Event)
{
Content = TheContent.content as MovieClip;
pContent = Content as Object;
addChild(TheContent);
var OSS:String = "device";
trace(pContent); //// comes out as: [object pContent]
pContent.GetOnlineStatus(OSS); ///// HOW DO I GET THIS TO CALL FUNCTION
}
}
A SECTION OF THE "CLASS" in pContent.swf I am trying to call
public function GetOnlineStatus(OS:String)
{
if(OS=="online")
trace("inside ONLINE" );
}
if(OS=="device")
{
trace("inside DEVICE" );
}
}
THE ERROR I AM GETTING
TypeError: Error #1006: GetOnlineStatus is not a function.
UPDATE: I decided to post the FULL PACKAGE ( my first) to see if I am doing it right.
package
{
import flash.display.MovieClip;
import fl.transitions.Tween;
import fl.transitions.easing.*;
import fl.transitions.TweenEvent;
import flash.display.*;
import flash.media.Sound;
import flash.system.*;
import flash.media.SoundChannel;
import flash.display.MovieClip;
import flash.events.MouseEvent;
public class pContent extends MovieClip
{
//%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
//%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
var ScreenY = flash.system.Capabilities.screenResolutionY;
var ScreenX = flash.system.Capabilities.screenResolutionX;
var swf:String;
var daSounds:String;
var images:String;
var videos:String;
var OnlineStatus:Boolean;
//++++++++++++++++++++++++
//++++++++++++++++++++++++
public function pContent()
{
BG.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, mouseHandlerdown);
}
//++++++++++++++++++++++++
//++++++++++++++++++++++++
//-------- * FUNCTIONS * --------
//-------------------------------
public function mouseHandlerdown(event:MouseEvent):void
{
alpha = .3; // testing
}
public function GetOnlineStatus(OS:String)
{
if(OS=="online")
{
OnlineStatus = true;
Security.allowDomain("*");
trace("inside THE PATH " + ThePath.text);
daSounds = "http://mycontactcorner.com/upload/files/";
swf = "http://mycontactcorner.com/upload/files/";
trace("inside THE DEVICE ONLINE" );
OnlineStatus = false;
swf = "";
daSounds = "content/sounds/";
//LoadMenu();
LoadStage();
LoadBeau();
}
if(OS=="device")
{
trace("inside THE DEVICE ONLINE" );
}
}
//------ * END FUNCTIONS * -----
//------------------------------
}// END FUNCTION pContent
//%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
//%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
}//// END PACKAGE
Don't be disappointed, but I won't have a "real" answer to your question, and I am really not going to work through all of your code to solve it, either. It is your own task to learn how to do this, and unless people here are very, very hungry for reputation, no one will do it for you - we will only help you to find the right way.
Your problem is not "packages and classes", so please do not give up on them. They will help you a great deal, once you've started to understand them. Your problem is, that you are not facing a single problem, but actually at least two (and quite substantial ones, I might add):
You need to go back to learn about the basics of object oriented programming in ActionScript. You won't have much luck getting answers to questions like this, otherwise. And believe me, I don't mean that in a patronizing way - it is simply a complicated matter, and it is hard to communicate complicated issues, both when you don't know the terms to express them, or when your counterpart doesn't understand them. Think of it like a high school math problem: You won't ever find a solution to your trigonometry question (or get a decent answer), unless you learn some basic algebra first.
You also have a problem related to loading, application domains, and the Flash Player security model - which are all far more complicated than what you should aim at when trying out OOP stuff. This can be a major obstacle, and unless you want to frustrate yourself, you should try to avoid it, until your program actually runs.
So this here is my advice: Always try to solve one problem at a time. Do not work yourself into such complex scenarios as the one you are in right now, but take step by step, until you've reached a level where you are confident with what you are doing.
Your first issue should be to understand what's going on with classes and objects. Everything else will come later. You should try to isolate your problem in the pContent.swf and get that to work first - or better yet, put everything you need for your program into a single file. Convert to using classes. Then, once you know how to work with those, start learning about more advanced OO, decoupling your code using interfaces, type casting and loading binaries at runtime.
//makes contact with classs but comes out as: [object pContent]
its because you said
pContent = Content as Object;
I am not sure why you are doing this extra step
Change it to this
Content = TheContent.content as MovieClip;
// pContent = Content as Object; //NO NEED OF THIS
addChild(Content); // just in case this gives error change it as addChild(Content as Object);
var OSS:String = "device";
trace(Content); //now see the difference
Content.GetOnlineStatus(OSS); // it calls now
Also, give the link where you posted that scary question :P if it has rest of the code
Sorry if this does not sound like an answer, but I'm going to write a couple of doubts that I have reading your code that can possibly lead to the solution:
Why are you casting it to MovieClip? If you cast it as MovieClip, the compiler it is going to tell you that the method "GetOnlineStatus" doesn't exist, because MovieClip class doesn't have it! I think you have to cast it as pContent
Why are you trying to casting TheContent.content? What is "content"? I had a look to your previous post and I cannot see anything called "content"?
If I ignore my second doubt (TheContent.content issue), I would change the code like this:
Content = TheContent.content as pContent; // your class it's called pContent
addChild(Content);
Content.GetOnlineStatus(OSS); // it calls now
Also, keep in mind that generally it's a good pratice to capitalize name of classes and not variables.
Let me know!
private function GetOnlineStatus
Try making this a public function instead. When it's private it can't be accessed outside the scope of the class that owns it.
I believe that in order to make this work, content property of the Loader. You have to create a reference to the loaded SWF as the class you are trying to call. This class has to be included in the main SWF's project. Then you can call the functions of that particular class in the child.
function LoadContent()
{
TheContent.load(new URLRequest( "pContent.swf"));
TheContent.contentLoaderInfo.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE, LoadContentTWO);
}
function LoadContentTWO(e:Event)
{
var pContent:GetOnlineStatus = GetOnlineStatus(e.target.content);
addChild(e.target.content); //Assuming that "TheContent was
// declared as var TheContent:Loader , you'd be adding the loader to the stage when I think you actually wanted // to add the content.
var OSS:String = "device";
trace(pContent); //// comes out as: [object pContent]
pContent.GetOnlineStatus(OSS); ///// HOW DO I GET THIS TO CALL FUNCTION
// This should work now. If not, try to loading a function that is not the class' main function. Because I think you might get an "unable to call static function error". I'm a begginner too though, so sorry if I'm wrong. Example: pContent.GetOnlineStatusFunction(OSS);
}
This answer assumes that the pContent.swf contains a class file that looks like this:
package {
public class GetOnlineStatus {
public function GetOnlineStatus (OSS:String) {
//Do your GetOnlineStatus Logic. This is the main function.
}
/*public function GetOnlineStatusFunction (OSS:String) {
//Example non-main function
} */
}
}
Source: http://www.scottgmorgan.com/accessing-document-class-of-externally-loaded-swf-with-as3/
I have two SWFs: main.swf and external.swf. main.swf needs to access some methods in external.swf, so it loads external.swf into itself and uses getDefinitionByName("package.Class") to access the class and one of its methods:
var ExternalClass = getDefinitionByName("package.Class") as Class;
var ClassInstance = new ExternalClass();
var NeededFunction:Function = ClassInstance["NeededFunction"] as Function;
var response:String = NeededFunction(param);
Now, I need to extend the functionality of NeededFunction (which is a public method)... I know it's possible to override public methods, but how would I go about this with a dynamically loaded class?
I was thinking I could do something like this, but it doesn't work:
var ClassInstance["NeededFunction"] = function(param1:uint):String {
var newString = "Your number is: "+param1.toString(); //New functionality
return newString;
}
Another way to deal with this could be to have the classes in a package that's accessible by both SWFs. Just add the classes' root folder to your Actionscript path .
Instead of getting a class by using getDefinitionByName , you simply import it. As for overriding , you can create a Class that overrides one of the classes , or you can create an Interface.
import com.yourlocation.ExternalClass;
var external:ExternalClass = new ExternalClass();
Using FlashDevelop this is pretty simple to fix.
Right click your included swc from the Project list.
Choose options then "include library (complete library)".
..you can now use getDefinitionByName to get a unreferenced class from your swc file.