# Instance referencing

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/instance-referencing/252385>\
**Category:** flash\
**Created:** [February 19, 2008, 5:52pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/instance-referencing/252385 "2008-02-19T17:52:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![N\_IGMA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9dc877/32.png) [@N\_IGMA](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/N_IGMA)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 5:52pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/instance-referencing/252385/1 "2008-02-19T17:52:07Z")

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Hi All,

I am new to Flash and would like some help understanding how instances on the timeline are referenced.

I have a movie that needs to load all the text via XML, this I can do. I am storing all the text values in an array and would like to update all dynamic text instances at the start of the movie (to keep all the code in one place for easy maintenance).

If I use the following code on the first frame of the movie, nothing happens:

```auto

_root.movieclip_name.instance_name.text = value;

```

If I use the same code on the frame where the instance is placed on the stage it works. Why can I not refer to an instance on the timeline in my first frame or am I just doing something wrong?

TIA

Phil.

P.S - I am using Flash 8 Pro