# Making line draw itself
**URL:** https://forum.kirupa.com/t/making-line-draw-itself/10621
**Category:** flash
**Created:** [January 4, 2003, 8:52am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/making-line-draw-itself/10621 "2003-01-04T08:52:40Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Ophion](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Ophion)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2003, 8:52am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/making-line-draw-itself/10621/1 "2003-01-04T08:52:40Z")
I’ve hit a wall. I need to make a line look like it’s drawing itself, as if an invisible hand is drawing on the screen. For some reason, though, I can’t figure out or find how to do this.
Could anybody link me to a tutorial or tell me how I might do this? I really appreciate any input in advance. 😏
-Jacob
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2003, 10:39am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/making-line-draw-itself/10621/2 "2003-01-04T10:39:11Z")
Take a look at the drawing board tutorial on this site, and maybe also the thinggy in the AS tricks section about the drawing API.
Cheers.
pom :hangover:
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2003, 11:59am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/making-line-draw-itself/10621/3 "2003-01-04T11:59:52Z")
Thanks, but the drawing API tutorial doesn’t show me how to make it look like the drawing is being done as you watch it…it just makes the shapes/lines.
The drawing forum covers artwork mostly too, which is off-topic. :-\
Thanks, though, for the reply! I learned some new stuff from the API tut.
-J
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2003, 12:14pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/making-line-draw-itself/10621/4 "2003-01-04T12:14:35Z")
Put your points in a array and then draw onEnterFrame. Something like this:
```auto
// Array of points
myPoints=[];
// Fill the array with random points
for (var i=0;i < 50;i++){
myPoints.push({x:Math.random()*Stage.width,y:Math.random()*Stage.height});
}
// handler that draws
this.lineStyle(1,0,100);
this.moveTo(myPoints[0].x,myPoints[0].y);
this.onEnterFrame=function(){
++j;
if (j < myPoints.length){
this.lineTo(myPoints[j].x,myPoints[j].y);
}
else delete this.onEnterFrame
}
```
pom :hangover:
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2003, 1:15pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/making-line-draw-itself/10621/5 "2003-01-04T13:15:51Z")
check this out and let me know if this is what you want to do
[http://www.expocaribbean.com/uwantmore/bmv\_menu.swf](http://www.expocaribbean.com/uwantmore/bmv_menu.swf)
if so you just make shape tweens and put a alpha on the first frame of each shape tween
Grim
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2003, 1:22pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/making-line-draw-itself/10621/6 "2003-01-04T13:22:54Z")
> \*Originally posted by grimdeath \*
> \*\*check this out and let me know if this is what you want to do
> [http://www.expocaribbean.com/uwantmore/bmv\_menu.swf](http://www.expocaribbean.com/uwantmore/bmv_menu.swf)
> if so you just make shape tweens and put a alpha on the first frame of each shape tween
Yeah, that’s what I had in mind. The shape tweens work like I need them too. Thanks grimdeath and ilyaslamasse for your help.
-J
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2003, 1:33pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/making-line-draw-itself/10621/7 "2003-01-04T13:33:04Z")
np glad i could help 😃
Grim