Yes, I saw it. Here’s a modified version of YOUR script, with the line erasing added. The circle detection still appears to work. Use a larger number with the splice if you want a faster erase.
// *******************************************************\
// Detect whether a drawn path encircles one or more points.
// Any movieclip in the movieclip called "iconPanel" will
// be tested, and corresponding .swf will be loaded. E.g.,
// if an icon called "bill" is circled, then "bill.swf" will be
// loaded into a holder movieclip.
//
// Michael J. Kantor 2004.03.21
// \*******************************************************
// set line thickness and color here
var lineThickness = 2;
var lineColor = 0x000000;
isDrawing = false;
pencil._visible = false;
var canvas = iconPanel.createEmptyMovieClip("canvas", 1);
writeDetail = 2; // higher numbers make movie more responsive, but make pencil path jaggier
// jim note: we create path at the beginning, and keep it around
canvas.path = [];
// jim note: this function is new - it draws the current path, and erases line
canvas.onEnterFrame = function()
{
this.clear();
this.lineStyle(lineThickness, lineColor);
var len = this.path.length;
if (len) {
this.moveTo(this.path[0].x, this.path[0].y);
for (var i = 1 ; i < len; ++i) {
if (this.path*.startStroke != undefined)
this.moveTo(this.path*.x,this.path*.y);
else
this.lineTo(this.path*.x,this.path*.y);
}
this.path.splice(0,1); // eat the beginning of the stroke
}
}
// jim note: This function has been modified - it no longer draws, just
// adds points to the path. We know use a small increment than 10 for
// writeDetail, because we're gonna view the path and we want it to look nice.
canvas.onMouseDown = function() {
if (!isDrawing) {
return;
}
if (!iconPanel.hitTest(_root._xmouse, _root._ymouse, true)) {
return;
}
var currX = this._xmouse;
var currY = this._ymouse;
this.path.push({x:currX, y:currY,startStroke:1});
// add point to path
this.onMouseMove = function() {
// record only movements of more than 10 pixels
if (Math.abs(this._xmouse-currX)<writeDetail && Math.abs(this._ymouse-currY)<writeDetail) {
return;
}
// update position and add point to path
currX = this._xmouse;
currY = this._ymouse;
this.path.push({x:currX, y:currY});
};
};
canvas.onMouseUp = function() {
delete this.onMouseMove;
if (!iconPanel.hitTest(_root._xmouse, _root._ymouse, false)) {
return;
}
var iconX, iconY, point, theIcon;
for (var icon in iconPanel) {
theIcon = iconPanel[icon];
// the icon being tested
iconX = theIcon._x;
iconY = theIcon._y;
point = {x:iconX, y:iconY};
if (this.isEncircled(point)) {
// Here's where the action takes place when an icon has
// been circled. Here, we call the play() method of the
// icon, and also call a custom function which loads a
// .swf file. We pass the instance name of the icon to
// the movie-loading function.
theIcon.play();
loadAMovie(theIcon._name);
break; // load only ONE movie, even if multiple items circled
}
}
};
// test whether the points in this.path encircle given point
canvas.isEncircled = function(point) {
var x, y, angle, prevAngle, windingChange, p;
var bx = point.x;
var by = point.y;
windingNumber = 0;
// how many times around the point we wind
// get initial angle from icon to mouse position
p = this.path[0];
x = p.x;
y = p.y;
prevAngle = Math.atan2(y-by, x-bx);
// now follow the path, keeping track of the winding number
for (var i = 1; i<canvas.path.length; i++) {
p = this.path*;
x = p.x;
y = p.y;
angle = Math.atan2(y-by, x-bx);
windingChange = (angle-prevAngle)/(2*Math.PI);
prevAngle = angle;
// adjust for the sudden jumps between -180 and 180 degrees
windingChange -= Math.round(windingChange);
windingNumber += windingChange;
}
// it counts if it's almost all the way around
if (Math.abs(windingNumber)>.8) {
return true;
}
return false;
};
pencil.onMouseMove = function() {
if (iconPanel.hitTest(_root._xmouse, _root._ymouse, false)) {
isDrawing = true;
this._visible = true;
Mouse.hide()
canvas.lineStyle(lineThickness, lineColor);
} else {
isDrawing = false;
this._visible = false;
Mouse.show()
canvas.lineStyle(lineThickness, lineColor, 0);
return;
}
this._x = _root._xmouse;
this._y = _root._ymouse;
};
// This function gets called when an icon is encircled.
// The incoming parameter movieName is the instance name of
// the icon that was circled.
loadAMovie = function (movieName) {
if (_root.holder == null) {
_root.createEmptyMovieClip("holder", _root.getNextHighestDepth());
}
// these lines set the position of the loaded movie
holder._x = 100;
holder._y = 200;
holder.loadMovie("http://us.a1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/a/1-/flash/hp/pb/" + movieName + ".swf");
}
// diagnostic routine to list things that will be tested for circling
trace("iconPanel : " + iconPanel);
for(var m in iconPanel) {
trace(" " + iconPanel[m]);
}
I guess i’ll just wait patiently while you work your magic.