# Help controlling nested movieclips

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/help-controlling-nested-movieclips/260748>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Created:** [May 19, 2008, 3:43pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/help-controlling-nested-movieclips/260748 "2008-05-19T15:43:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![stumped](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/46a35a/32.png) [@stumped](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/stumped)\
**Post date:** [May 19, 2008, 3:43pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/help-controlling-nested-movieclips/260748/1 "2008-05-19T15:43:36Z")

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This is more a request for direction than a specific question. I have a nested movieclip that I need to control. I have searched the net and to this point I have been able to make it gotoAndStop at frame 1 and play(). I can’t make it stop. I understand that actionscript can be attached to the movieclip instance or placed on the root timeline. Pointers would be appreciated but what I would like is direction to websites and or tutorials that might teach me how to control a nested movieclip.

Thanks in advance for the help … Michael

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**Author:** ![Michael\_Chen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5ac83/32.png) [@Michael\_Chen](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Michael_Chen)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2008, 4:34am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/help-controlling-nested-movieclips/260748/2 "2008-05-21T04:34:47Z")

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For example let’s say you’ve got a mc called **rootMC**. Within **rootMC** you’ve got another movie clip called **childMC**.

// To play the **childMC** from the root timeline.  
rootMC.childMC.play();

// To stop the\*\* childMC\*\* from the root timeline.  
rootMC.childMC.stop();

// To play the **childMC** from within the **childMC** timeline.  
this.play();

The **.** dot operator is used to navigate mc hierarchies and also used to access properties of the mc.

For more info search for **About scope and targeting** , **About controlling movie clips with ActionScript** , and **nested movie clip** from the help docs.

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**Author:** ![stumped](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/46a35a/32.png) [@stumped](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/stumped)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2008, 4:53am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/help-controlling-nested-movieclips/260748/3 "2008-05-24T04:53:47Z")

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Michael … thanks for the help