How can I use a function parameter to refer to a variable? - actionscript-3

Question

Sorry if this question is a bit vague, but this has been driving me nuts recently. It's nothing too complicated, but all I want to do is have the variable 'targetVariable' be affected by a formula. The actual problem lies in the fact that the referenced variable, being 'masterVolume' in this case, is not getting affected by the formula, but rather 'targetVariable' instead. I run the 'makeSlider' function at the bottom of the script. Here's the code:
var masterVolume:Number = 0;
var panning:Number = 0;
function makeSlider(sliderType, X, Y, targetVariable) {
var sliderHandle:MovieClip = new sliderType();
addChild(sliderHandle);
sliderHandle.x = X;
sliderHandle.y = Y;
var dragging:Boolean = false;
stage.addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, updateSlider);
function updateSlider(e:Event):void {
panning = (mouseX/(stage.stageWidth/2))-1;
targetVariable = ((sliderHandle.x-bar.x)/bar.width);
output.text = masterVolume.toString();
if (dragging == true && mouseX >= bar.x && mouseX <= (bar.x + bar.width)) {
sliderHandle.x = mouseX;
}
}
sliderHandle.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, beginDrag);
function beginDrag(e:MouseEvent):void {
dragging = true;
}
stage.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, endDrag);
function endDrag(e:MouseEvent):void {
dragging = false;
}
}
function playSound(target, intensity:Number, pan:Number) {
var sound:Sound = new target();
var transformer:SoundTransform = new SoundTransform(intensity, pan);
var channel:SoundChannel = new SoundChannel();
channel=sound.play();
channel.soundTransform = transformer;
}
stage.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, make);
function make(e:MouseEvent):void {
playSound(test, masterVolume, panning);
}
makeSlider(SliderHandle, bar.x, bar.y, masterVolume);

Answer 1

Okay, so I studied the Object class and found out that I could reference the variable by making it an object in the function. Here's the updated, working script:
var panning:Number = 0;
var masterVolume:Number = 0;
function makeSlider(sliderType, barType, soundType, hitBoxScale:Number, X, Y, targetVariable) {
var reference:Object = { targetVariable: 0 };
var slider:MovieClip = new sliderType;
var newBar:MovieClip = new barType;
addChild(newBar);
newBar.x = X;
newBar.y = Y;
addChild(slider);
slider.x = X;
slider.y = Y;
var dragging:Boolean = false;
stage.addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, updateSlider);
function updateSlider(e:Event):void {
panning = (mouseX/(stage.stageWidth/2))-1;
reference.targetVariable = (slider.x-newBar.x)/newBar.width;
if (dragging == true && mouseX >= newBar.x && mouseX <= (newBar.x + newBar.width)) {
slider.x = mouseX;
}
if (reference.targetVariable <= 0.01) {
output.text = ("None");
}
if (reference.targetVariable >= 0.99) {
output.text = ("Max");
}
if (reference.targetVariable > 0.01 && reference.targetVariable < 0.99) {
output.text = (Math.round((reference.targetVariable*100))+"%").toString();
}
}
stage.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, beginDrag);
function beginDrag(e:MouseEvent):void {
if (mouseY >= newBar.y-hitBoxScale && mouseY <= (newBar.y + newBar.height)+hitBoxScale) {
dragging = true;
}
}
slider.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, beginDragFromSlider);
function beginDragFromSlider(e:MouseEvent):void {
dragging = true;
}
stage.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, endDrag);
function endDrag(e:MouseEvent):void {
if (dragging == true) {
playSound(soundType, reference.targetVariable, 0);
}
dragging = false;
}
stage.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, make);
function make(e:MouseEvent):void {
if (dragging == false) {
playSound(test, reference.targetVariable, panning);
}
}
}
function playSound(target, intensity:Number, pan:Number) {
var sound:Sound = new target();
var transformer:SoundTransform = new SoundTransform(intensity, pan);
var channel:SoundChannel = new SoundChannel();
channel=sound.play();
channel.soundTransform = transformer;
}
makeSlider(defaultSlider, defaultBar, volumeIndicator, 10, 134, 211, masterVolume);