# as3 preloading question

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/as3-preloading-question/253386>\
**Category:** flash\
**Created:** [February 29, 2008, 4:53pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/as3-preloading-question/253386 "2008-02-29T16:53:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![FlashHed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e480ec/32.png) [@FlashHed](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/FlashHed)\
**Post date:** [February 29, 2008, 4:53pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/as3-preloading-question/253386/1 "2008-02-29T16:53:20Z")

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Hi guys,

Anyone see this type of error when preloading an external SWF using the loader class???

**TypeError: Error #1009: Cannot access a property or method of a null object reference.  
at Ball$iinit()  
at Bowling$iinit()**

I’m bringing in the game SWF reference in using XML, and the file reference traces properly and even loads properly when I load the game SWF into a dummy file, but the moment I load the game SWF into my game shell this is the error I get.

Also I load the game SWF the same way in both the dummy and game shell files.

Has anyone seen anything like this? a null object reference when you know it should load?