# A question of Paths? \_root vs. \_parent
**URL:** https://forum.kirupa.com/t/a-question-of-paths--root-vs--parent/21412
**Category:** flash
**Created:** [May 21, 2003, 11:55am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/a-question-of-paths--root-vs--parent/21412 "2003-05-21T11:55:34Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@jOEL](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/jOEL)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2003, 11:55am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/a-question-of-paths--root-vs--parent/21412/1 "2003-05-21T11:55:34Z")
I have several SWFs that I need to work when loaded into another container SWF file as well as work when they are stand-alone SWF files.
Because of this, in circumstances where a movieClip is being talked to from another MovieClip I am using \_parent as opposed to \_root.
It has been working fine until now. I have one circumstance that only works with \_root and will not work with \_parent.
\_root.content\_mc.anim\_mc.screenShots\_mc.gotoAndStop(2);
Obvously this works fine as a stand alone but not of course once loaded into the container movie.
Any suggestions?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2003, 11:59am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/a-question-of-paths--root-vs--parent/21412/2 "2003-05-21T11:59:27Z")
well, you have to use some kind of relative relation between the mc thats calling, and the mc that’s being called. you havent stated where you’re calling that from, so i cant really help… if you’d state whats the calling mc’s path, i could help you build a relative path statement.
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2003, 12:16pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/a-question-of-paths--root-vs--parent/21412/3 "2003-05-21T12:16:39Z")
Relative paths: [http://www.kirupa.com/developer/actionscript/tricks/relativeaddressing.asp](http://www.kirupa.com/developer/actionscript/tricks/relativeaddressing.asp)
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2003, 12:19pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/a-question-of-paths--root-vs--parent/21412/4 "2003-05-21T12:19:18Z")
Well…I’ll try.
the MC anim\_mc has a stop action on it. At that point on it’s time line there is a layer with an instance of the MC 'mcCursor" on it that plays…that MC has a frame action on it that tells another MC on the anim\_mc timeline (screenShots\_mc) to play:
\_root.content\_mc.anim\_mc.screenShots\_mc.gotoAndStop(2);
I didnt think it was possible to make a relative path without using …/ type stuff cuz you have to go up a level and then down another level type thing.
this description proabably doesnt help you much?
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2003, 12:39pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/a-question-of-paths--root-vs--parent/21412/5 "2003-05-21T12:39:41Z")
uhm, up a level, and than down a level is totally possible…
well, im not sure i got it right, but you’re calling this from ‘mcCursor’ which sits inside anim\_mc? so the call would be:
```auto
_parent.screenShots_mc.gotoAndStop(2);
```
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2003, 12:46pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/a-question-of-paths--root-vs--parent/21412/6 "2003-05-21T12:46:08Z")
THANX BRAINY!
worked sweet.
I was adding too many steps…all I needed to do was go up one level and down one.
what i was doing was going up 3 and down 3! (like you would using \_root)
Thanx a bunch!
jOEL