Explain _root _parent and this

programming flash
1

Ok, I’m a noob, and I’ve been reading for about 18 hours while working with a flash file, but I’m still confused about a couple simple things.

First,
Adobe says that if the Timeline has multiple levels, _root refers to the script on the current movie timeline. That’s a little confusing. Are they speaking of Scene1, or if _root is in movie1 in scene1, is it in movie1. Does it always refer to scene1? I’m guessing yes.

example:

on (release) {
    if (_root.link<>num) {
        _root.link_prev = _root.link;
        _parent["but"+_root.link].gotoAndPlay("s2");
        _root.smenu["butt"+_root.link].gotoAndPlay("s2");
        _root.link = num;
        _root.smenu["butt"+_root.link].gotoAndPlay("s1");
        getURL("index.html");
    }

This might not be the best way to have written this, I know, it’s a template so blame them, but smenu is a movie clip name in scene1. “but” is a symbol name in one of 6 layers controlling a navigation menu in the symbol named “menu”. Inside “but” are frame labels s1 and s2 I’m guessing that’s what _parent is calling. I can’t find link anywhere except in the scripts.

The scripts assign each symbol in the six layers a number, that’s how it gets but+root.link, I’m guessing… If it gets but + num2, it knows to look at the symbol named but2.

What I’d eventually like to do is have 6 swf files that default to the stopped animation of each menu button, without having to re-learn how to write anything, for now.

Right now, if I click on a button, it plays an animation, then opens a window, with the button I clicked on stopped. When someone clicks on a menu button, I want it to goto the button’s separate html page, freeze on that buttons animation, but still keep the others working. It’s late, so sorry if this doesn’t make sense.

Here is the link to the flash file…
http://www.overdrivetechgrp.com/portals/0/header_v8.fla

Any help would be appreciated! =)