Using the _visible command to save space and time (so to speak) - Page 3

The Action Scripting:

Ok, so we effectively have made a mess, what now? Now we add the action scripting.

On the frame, add the following actions:

vis();
function vis(){
_root.one._visible=false;
_root.two._visible=false;
_root.three._visible=false;
_root.four._visible=false;
_root.five._visible=false;
}

Here's what it does:

vis(); calls the function with the name "vis" below:

function vis(){
_root.one._visible=false;
_root.two._visible=false;
_root.three._visible=false;
_root.four._visible=false;
_root.five._visible=false;
}

This function makes all of the content movie clips you created invisible. It calls each movie clip by its instance name and tells it to go invisible. When a movie clip is invisible, it acts just like it is on another frame altogether: no buttons work, no animations play.

Now, On each button add the following code:

on(release){
vis();
_root.one._visible=true;
}

These actions above are for the button that corresponds to the content movie clip with the instance name "one". These actions do a couple things:

1. It calls the "vis" function and makes everything invisible again (just in case this button is not the first one they push)

2. It tells the content movie clip "one" to become visible. This makes it seem as though the movie has changed frames, when it actually has not. Only the content in the movie clip "one" is visible. (The _visible command works like this: false = invisible, true = visible)

Change "_root.one" to each movie clip instance name for each corresponding button.

Keep in mind that this can be triggered from a frame, another movie, a movie clip, etc..

That's it!! Test your movie.

If it does not work, make sure that the "vis" function is on the main timeline and that you have given all content movie clips instance names. Also check that all the names in the action scripting correspond to the actual movie clips' instance names.

Good Luck! I hope you find this little trick as useful as I have!!

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