# F5: Beginner -- use button to change color of other buttons

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/f5-beginner-use-button-to-change-color-of-other-buttons/136370>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Created:** [February 4, 2005, 5:19am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/f5-beginner-use-button-to-change-color-of-other-buttons/136370 "2005-02-04T05:19:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jenner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac8455/32.png) [@Jenner](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Jenner)\
**Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 5:19am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/f5-beginner-use-button-to-change-color-of-other-buttons/136370/1 "2005-02-04T05:19:21Z")

</div>

I need to create an application where I select a button, which would  
color other button objects.

My layout is similar to the following:

I have a “circle” object that is subdivided into 3 parts. Each part is  
a button. In order to make this object, I created the button, placed  
it inside a Movie clip object (b/c you can only color movie clip objects),  
and assembled the 3 movie clip objects into the “circle” object.

So far, I can color my own button when you press it, and I can color  
other objects of the main movie by referencing \_root, but I can’t seem  
to reference the other MovieClip objects of my “circle” object. I tried  
referencing \_parent.\_parent (thinking that the onRelease \_parent.\_parent  
would reference the circle object). Regular \_parent didn’t work.

Any help is greatly appreciated. I know I’ll be back for more help as I  
evolve my application.