Button component instance syntax error

programming flash
1

I have 3 insances of the button component on stage named 2_btn, 3_btn and 4_btn.

They all are broadcasters and have been initialized.

I want them to broadcast an event and pass a variable along each time they are pressed.

This code is attached to frame of main timeline


this.2_btn.onRelease = function(){
    broadcastMessage("onBtnPressed", 1); 
}
_root.3_btn.onRelease = function(){
    this.broadcastMessage("onBtnPressed", 2); 
}
4_btn.onRelease = function(){
    this.broadcastMessage("onBtnPressed", 3); 
}

Now i’d really like to know why do i get these errors :


**Error** Scene=Scene 1, layer=actions, frame=1:Line 11: Syntax error.
     this.2_btn.onRelease = function(){

**Error** Scene=Scene 1, layer=actions, frame=1:Line 14: Syntax error.
     _root.3_btn.onRelease = function(){

**Error** Scene=Scene 1, layer=actions, frame=1:Line 17: Syntax error.
     4_btn.onRelease = function(){

I use flash 8 and AS2.

thanks for helping out