Loading external swf: 1009 Error

programming flash
1

Having a problem here. I can load external swf files, but once I started on one the pages I end up with the 1009 error.

They work fine on their own

and the placebo page still loads inside the main

REALLY need to get this working. What should I be doing?

index.swf


var xmlPath:String = "index.xml";

var settingsXML:XML;

var tweensArray:Array = new Array();

var buttonTween:Tween;

var loader = new URLLoader();
loader.load (new URLRequest(xmlPath));
loader.addEventListener (Event.COMPLETE, xmlLoaded);

stage.addEventListener(Event.RESIZE,resized);

function xmlLoaded (e:Event):void
{	
	if ((e.target as URLLoader) != null )
	{
		settingsXML = new XML(loader.data);
		createMenu ();
	}
}

function createMenu ():void
{
	var but:butMC;

	var i:uint = 0;
	
	i++;

	for each (var mI:XML in settingsXML.menuitem)
	{
		
		var stageW:Number = stage.stageWidth;
		var stageH:Number = stage.stageHeight;
		
		var nameTxt:String = mI.name.toString();
		
		var pageMC:String = mI.mov.toString();
		
		var pageLdr:Loader = new Loader();
		var pageURL:String = pageMC;
		var pageURLReq:URLRequest = new URLRequest(pageURL);
		pageLdr.load(pageURLReq);

artists.swf


var xmlPath:String = "artists.xml";
var settingsXML:XML;

var tweensArray:Array = new Array();

var buttonTween:Tween;


var xPlacement:int = 0; 
var yPlacement:int = 0;

var loader = new URLLoader();
loader.load (new URLRequest(xmlPath));
loader.addEventListener (Event.COMPLETE, xmlLoaded);

function xmlLoaded (e:Event):void
{	
	if ((e.target as URLLoader) != null )
	{
		settingsXML = new XML(loader.data);
		createMenu ();
	}
}

function createMenu ():void
{
	var but:butMC;

	var i:Number = 0;
	
	i++;

	for each (var mI:XML in settingsXML.menuitem)
	{
		
		var stageX:Number = stage.stageWidth;
		var stageY:Number = stage.stageHeight;
		
		var nameTxt:String = mI.name.toString();


TypeError: Error #1009: Cannot access a property or method of a null object reference.
	at artists_fla::MainTimeline/createMenu()
	at artists_fla::MainTimeline/xmlLoaded()
	at flash.events::EventDispatcher/dispatchEventFunction()
	at flash.events::EventDispatcher/dispatchEvent()
	at flash.net::URLLoader/onComplete()