# Correct path to movieclips

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/correct-path-to-movieclips/234325>\
**Category:** flash\
**Created:** [August 1, 2007, 12:29pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/correct-path-to-movieclips/234325 "2007-08-01T12:29:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Lionzion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea5d25/32.png) [@Lionzion](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Lionzion)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2007, 12:29pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/correct-path-to-movieclips/234325/1 "2007-08-01T12:29:08Z")

</div>

Hi  
I have a tutorial on how to preload external content by clicking a button.

I manage to make it work, but only when it is in the main time line, once I put it into a movie clip I cant seem to get the referencing right, and was hoping someone could help me out?

I know it shouldn’t be to much of a problem, it is just I cant figure it out.

The script I use is on the first frame in the main timeline, the buttons that the user can click, will be inside a movieclip called, " mainmovie "  
the button is called " movie1\_btn " and I have tried like :

_\_root.mainmovie.movie1\_btn.onPress = function(){  
startPreload(“load/tankoverhead.swf”);  
}_

but it doesnt work.

Anyway here is the script I use appreciate any help I can get. Thanks in advance

// this function runs the preloader  
// it is to be used with the onEnterFrame  
// of the preloader animation  
function preloadContainer(){

```
// get bytes loaded and total from container_mc
var bytes_loaded = container_mc.getBytesLoaded();
var bytes_total = container_mc.getBytesTotal();

// stop and hide the movie so it wont play or
// be seen while progressively downloading
// (keep trying if it exists or not just to be sure)
container_mc.stop();
container_mc._visible = false;

// if bytes_total is a valid number and greater than 0
if (bytes_total &gt; 0){
	
	// get percent loaded
	var percent_loaded = bytes_loaded/bytes_total;
	
	// update the value in the preloader
	preloader_mc.value = percent_loaded;
		
	// check if preloading is complete
	if (percent_loaded == 1){
		
		// play and show the container clip
		container_mc.play();
		container_mc._visible = true;
		
		// remove the preloader movie clip
		preloader_mc.removeMovieClip();
		
		// delete the onEnterFrame event handler running this function
		delete onEnterFrame;
	}
}

```

}

// movie 1 loads the tankoverhead swf using startPreload  
movie1\_btn.onPress = function(){  
startPreload(“load/tankoverhead.swf”);  
}

// movie 2 loads the tankturn swf using startPreload  
movie2\_btn.onPress = function(){  
startPreload(“load/tankturn.swf”);  
}

// this function begins preloading a swf url  
function startPreload(url){

```
// use loadMovie to load the swf url into container_mc
container_mc.loadMovie(url);

// attach the preloader animation
// this will be removed when preloading is complete
attachMovie("preloader anim", "preloader_mc", 500, {_x:275, _y:165});

// set the onEnterFrame event to call preloadContainer
onEnterFrame = preloadContainer;

```

}