Hello all 
I am having a horrible time getting a news module I picked up off of Ultrashock to work. I have managed to fic numerous bugs in it, but here are my two leftover problems.
-
I tried turning off the autoscroll function in both the News.as and the xml file itself. This works, until I get to a story that loads the vertical scroll bar. If I move the vertical scroll bar to read the story the autoplay comes back on in spaz mode so I cannot do anything with my site anymore. It gets caught in some odd code loop.
-
The second problem is that when I reload the news module by hitting the Latest News button again after it has already been loaded, or any other naviagtion button on my site that unloads level2 (where the news module lies), then it will duplicate the scrolling news buttons at the bottom on me. So instead of 4 stories it will show 8.
I am about at my wits end with this news module, so if anyone could help I would really appreciate it!
Here is the News.as file:
import flash.display.BitmapData;
class News {
public var news:Array=new Array(); //the array that will hold XML file data
public var inter3:Number; //interval used for autoPlay
public var newsPause:Number=-1; //pause between news when autoplaied
public var currentIndex:Number=0; //current index for autoplay
public var free_content:MovieClip; //this is the movie clip that is hidden
public var used_content:MovieClip; //this is the movie clip that is currently shown
private var nextBtn:MovieClip; //the button that is next to be brought down
private var inter1:Number; //interval used for setInterval action
private var inter2:Number; //interval used to check if a picture is loaded
private var left:Boolean=true; //should the buttons shift left or right
private var target:String; //target read from XML file, where to load links _parent/_self.. etc.
static var instance:News; //this class
function News(){
instance=this; //i am me :)
trace("- news started.");
init(); //begin initializations
}
function init(){
//begin laoding XML file
XMLRead("http://www.levelforge.com/Latest News/latestnews.xml?nocache=" + random(1515));
//assign event handlers
_root.buttons.arrow_LB.onPress=instance.arrow_LBonPress;
_root.buttons.arrow_LR.onPress=instance.arrow_LRonPress;
_root.buttons.arrow_RR.onPress=instance.arrow_RRonPress;
_root.buttons.arrow_RB.onPress=instance.arrow_RBonPress;
_root.arrow_left.onPress=instance.arrow_leftonPress;
_root.arrow_right.onPress=instance.arrow_rightonPress;
//display current date
showCurrentDate();
//disable items that are not needed now
_root.buttons.arrow_RR.enabled=_root.arrow_right.enabled=_root.buttons.arrow_LB.enabled=false;
_root.buttons._visible=false;
//set the names of the MovieClips that will hold news data on the stage
instance.free_content=_root.content2; //this is the movie clip that is hidden
instance.used_content=_root.content1; //this is the movie clip that is currently shown
}
//display a JS alert in browser window
public static function JSAlert(str:String) {
var alert:String = "javascript:alert('"+str+"');";
getURL(alert);
}
//read XML file
function XMLRead(fileName) {
var xml:XML= new XML;
xml.ignoreWhite=true;
xml.onLoad = function (success:Boolean) {
_root.news_text._x=570;
if (success) {
trace("-XML file: "+fileName+" successfully loaded.");
instance.target=xml.firstChild.firstChild.firstChild.toString ();
if (xml.firstChild.firstChild.nextSibling.firstChild.toString ()=="on") {
instance.newsPause=(xml.firstChild.firstChild.nextSibling.attributes["newspause"].toString ())
}
var itemsNode:XMLNode=xml.firstChild.firstChild.nextSibling.nextSibling.firstChild;
var mainNode:XMLNode;
//this will parse "items" node of the XML file
while (itemsNode!=null) {
mainNode=itemsNode.firstChild;
var news_object:Object = new Object(); //creates an object
//this will parse "item" node of the XML file
while (mainNode!=null) {
mainNode.nodeName.toLowerCase()=="title"?news_object.title=mainNode.firstChild.toString():false;
mainNode.nodeName.toLowerCase()=="date"?news_object.date=mainNode.firstChild.toString():false;
mainNode.nodeName.toLowerCase()=="picture"?news_object.picture=mainNode.firstChild.toString():false;
mainNode.nodeName.toLowerCase()=="description"?news_object.description=mainNode.firstChild.toString():false;
mainNode.nodeName.toLowerCase()=="piclink"?news_object.piclink=mainNode.firstChild.toString():false;
mainNode.nodeName.toLowerCase()=="titlelink"?news_object.titlelink=mainNode.firstChild.toString():false;
mainNode=mainNode.nextSibling;
}
instance.news.push(news_object); //push the object into news array
itemsNode=itemsNode.nextSibling;
}
/* --------------- DEBUG --------------
for (var i=0; i<instance.news.length; i++) {
for (var name in instance.news*) {
trace("-->" +name+" = "+instance.news*[name]);
}
}
------------------------------------ */
_root.buttons._visible=true;
instance.initButtons(instance.news.length);
//load first item
instance.loadAllPictures();
instance.addContent(_root.content1,0,null);
if (instance.newsPause!=-1) {
trace("- autoplay enabled");
//instance.inter3 = setInterval(instance.autoPlay,instance.newsPause*1000);
}
} else {
trace("Unable to load XML file: "+fileName);
JSAlert("Unable to load XML file: "+fileName);
_root.buttons._visible=false;
}
}
//load xml file
xml.load(fileName);
}
function autoPlay() {
//are all the pictures loaded?
for (var i=0; i<=instance.news.length-1; i++) {
if (_root.container["picture"+i]!=undefined) {
trace("- exit because pictures are not loaded");
return;
}
}
var x=_root.buttons;
//if buttons are disabled we can not play
var cont=false;
for (var i=1; i<=5; i++) {
if (x["b"+i].enabled==true) {cont=true;}
}
if (!cont) {
return;
}
if (instance.currentIndex==instance.news.length-1) {
instance.currentIndex=0;
instance.addContent(instance.free_content,0,instance.arrow_LBonPress);
return;
}
instance.left=true;
instance.addContent(instance.free_content,instance.currentIndex,instance.arrow_leftonPress);
}
//shows the current date in the upper right corner
function showCurrentDate() {
//this will display current date in the upper-right corner of the screen
var dayOfWeek_array:Array = new Array("Sunday", "Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday", "Saturday");
var monthNames_array:Array = new Array("January", "February", "March", "April", "May", "June", "July", "August", "September", "October", "November", "December");
var today_date:Date = new Date();
var day_str:String = dayOfWeek_array[today_date.getDay()];
_root.current_date.text=dayOfWeek_array[today_date.getDay()]+", "+today_date.getDate()+" "+monthNames_array[today_date.getMonth()]+" "+today_date.getFullYear();
}
//draws a border around the picture
function drawBorder(m:MovieClip, h:Number, w:Number, iX:Number, iY:Number) {
//the border will be drawn in a separate movieClip that will stay over the picture
//it will be removed and re-constructed for every picture
m.borders.removeMovieClip();
m.createEmptyMovieClip("borders",m.getNextHighestDepth());
m.borders._y=5;
m.borders.clear();
m.borders.lineStyle(2,0x727272,100);
m.borders.moveTo(iX, iY);
m.borders.lineTo(h, iY);
m.borders.lineTo(h, w);
m.borders.lineTo(iX, w);
m.borders.lineTo(iX, iY);
}
//initialize buttons
function initButtons(no:Number) {
var x=_root.buttons;
if (instance.news.length==0) {
x._visible=false;
trace("-unable to build news array or 0 length XML file.");
return;
}
function displayButtons(btnNo:Number) {
for (var i=1; i<=btnNo; i++) {
i<=3?x["b"+i].txt.text=i:0;
x["b"+i]._x=x["a"+(i+2)]._x; x["b"+i]._y=x["a"+(i+2)]._y; x["b"+i]["pos"]=(i+2);
if (x["a"+(i+2)]==undefined) {
if (instance.nextBtn==undefined) {instance.nextBtn=x["b"+i];}
x["b"+i]._x=x["a"+(i-2)+(i-2)]._x;
x["b"+i]["pos"]=-1;
}
x["b"+i]._visible=true;
}
x.b1.gotoAndStop(3);
}
displayButtons(no);
//disbale the arrows if there is only one item
no==1?appearance(false):0;
}
//enable or disable the buttons on the stage
function appearance(enabled:Boolean) {
_root.arrow_left.enabled=_root.arrow_right.enabled=_root.buttons.arrow_LR.enabled=_root.buttons.arrow_LB.enabled=_root.buttons.arrow_RR.enabled=_root.buttons.arrow_RB.enabled=enabled;
for (var i=1; i<=5; i++) {
_root.buttons["b"+i].enabled=enabled;
}
}
//reset all buttons headers to the first frame
function resetButtons() {
for (var j=1; j<=5; j++) {
_root.buttons["b"+j].gotoAndStop(1);
}
}
//this will shift buttons to the left or to the right. trigger is the function that will be called
//after the actions completed. parameters - the parameters that will be passed to this function
function shiftButtons(left:Boolean, trigger:Function, parameters:Object) {
//disable all buttons
appearance(false);
//reset buttons appearance
resetButtons();
//find the left most button and the right most button that is not masked
var x=_root.buttons;
var leftMost=-1;
var rightMost=-1;
var test:Boolean=false;
for (var i=1; i<=5; i++) {
if (x["b"+i]._y<x.a1._y) continue;
if (!test) {
leftMost=i; rightMost=i; test=true;
} else {
if (x["b"+i]._x<x["b"+leftMost]._x) {leftMost=i;}
if (x["b"+i]._x>x["b"+rightMost]._x) {rightMost=i;}
}
}
//bring down new button
var bringDown:Function = function (tt:String) { //------------------------------- BRING DOWN ----------------------------
clearInterval(instance.inter1);
if (Number(x["b"+rightMost].txt.text)>=instance.news.length) {
middleButton();
trace("- nu mai trebuie coborate butoane..");
return;
}
newLabel();
instance.nextBtn._x=x.a22._x; instance.nextBtn._y=x.a22._y;
if (ascended) {
instance.nextBtn.tween("_y",x.a5._y,0.2,"linear",0,middleButton);
} else {
instance.nextBtn.tween("_y",x.a5._y,0.2,"linear",0,findNext);
}
}
//find next new button
var findNext:Function = function () { //------------------------------- FIND NEXT ----------------------------
var found:Boolean=false;
for (var i=1; i<=5; i++) {
if (x["b"+i]._y<x.a1._y) {
instance.nextBtn=x["b"+i];
instance.nextBtn.txt.text="0";
found=true;
break;
}
}
!found?instance.nextBtn=undefined:0;
middleButton();
}
//assign new label
var newLabel:Function = function () { //------------------------------- NEW LABEL ----------------------------
instance.nextBtn.txt.text=(Number(x["b"+rightMost].txt.text)+1);
instance.nextBtn.pos=5;
}
//modify the state of the centered button
var middleButton:Function = function () { //------------------------------- MIDDLE BUTTON ----------------------------
if (trigger!=undefined) {
trigger.call(this, parameters.left,parameters.trigger,parameters.parameters);
return;
}
var arr:Array=new Array();
for (var j=1; j<=5; j++) {
if (x["b"+j]._y>x.a11._y && x["b"+j].pos==3) {
x["b"+j].gotoAndStop(3);
instance.currentIndex=(x["b"+j].txt.text)-1;
} else {
x["b"+j].gotoAndStop(1);
}
if (x["b"+j]._y>x.a11._y) {
arr.push(x["b"+j].pos);
}
}
//enable all buttons because animation ended
instance.appearance(true);
//check if there are some buttons that should be disabled
var arr2:Array = new Array(3,4,5);
var arr3:Array = new Array(1,2,3);
for (var i=0; i<arr.length; i++) {
for (var j=0; j<arr2.length; j++) {
if (arr*==arr2[j]) {
arr2.splice (j,1);
}
if (arr*==arr3[j]) {
arr3.splice (j,1);
}
}
}
x.arrow_RB.enabled=x.arrow_LB.enabled=true;
if (arr.length==3) {
if (arr2.length==0) {x.arrow_RR.enabled=_root.arrow_right.enabled=x.arrow_LB.enabled=false;}
if (arr3.length==0) {x.arrow_LR.enabled=_root.arrow_left.enabled=x.arrow_RB.enabled=false;}
}
if (arr.length==2) {
if (arr2.length==1) {x.arrow_RR.enabled=_root.arrow_right.enabled=x.arrow_LB.enabled=false;}
if (arr3.length==1) {x.arrow_LR.enabled=_root.arrow_left.enabled=x.arrow_RB.enabled=false;}
}
//call the function given as a parameter
trigger.call(this, parameters.left,parameters.trigger,parameters.parameters);
}
if (left) {
//scroll left 1 position //------------------------------- MOVE LEFT ----------------------------
var ascended:Boolean=false;
for (var i=1; i<=5; i++) { //move buttons to the left
if (x["b"+i]._y<x.a1._y) {continue;} //not interesed in masked buttons
if (x["b"+i].pos==1) {//bring first button up if necessary
ascended=true;
instance.nextBtn=x["b"+i]; //the button that ascended is the next button to descend
x["b"+i].tween("_y",x.a11._y,0.2,"linear",0,function(){bringDown("asked to descend");}); //move up and then call bringDown function to descend
continue; //continue with next iteration
}
x["b"+i].tween("_x",x["a"+(x["b"+i].pos-1)]._x,0.4,"linear");
x["b"+i].pos-=1;
}
//if a new button was not descended due to a call made by the button that went up, the descend function must be called when last button finished tweening to the left side
!ascended?instance.inter1 = setInterval(bringDown,500,"automatic"):0;
} else {
// //------------------------------- MOVE RIGHT ----------------------------
//bring down new button
var bringDown2:Function = function (tt:String) { //------------------------------- BRING DOWN2 ----------------------------
clearInterval(instance.inter1);
if (label1) {
middleButton();
return;
}
newLabel2();
instance.nextBtn._x=x.a11._x; instance.nextBtn._y=x.a11._y;
if (ascended) {
instance.nextBtn.tween("_y",x.a1._y,0.2,"linear",0,middleButton);
} else {
instance.nextBtn.tween("_y",x.a1._y,0.2,"linear",0,findNext);
}
}
//assign new label
var newLabel2:Function = function () { //------------------------------- NEW LABEL2 ----------------------------
instance.nextBtn.txt.text=(Number(x["b"+leftMost].txt.text)-1);
instance.nextBtn.pos=1;
}
//check if the button with label 1 is visible. knowing this, we won't bringDown another button when scrolling right
var label1:Boolean=false;
for (var j=1; j<=5; j++) {
if (x["b"+j]._y>x.a11._y && x["b"+j].txt.text=="1") {
label1=true;
break;
}
}
//scroll right 1 position
var ascended:Boolean=false;
for (var i=1; i<=5; i++) { //move buttons to the RIGHT
if (x["b"+i]._y<x.a1._y) {continue;} //not interesed in masked buttons
if (x["b"+i].pos==5) {//bring last button up if necessary
ascended=true;
instance.nextBtn=x["b"+i]; //the button that ascended is the next button to descend
x["b"+i].tween("_y",x.a55._y,0.2,"linear",0,function(){bringDown2("asked to descend");}); //move up and then call bringDown function to descend
continue; //continue with next iteration
}
x["b"+i].tween("_x",x["a"+(x["b"+i].pos+1)]._x,0.4,"linear");
x["b"+i].pos+=1;
}
//if a new button was not descended due to a call made by the button that went up, the descend function must be called when last button finished tweening to the left side
!ascended?instance.inter1 = setInterval(bringDown2,500,"automatic"):0;
}
}
function shiftWithBlur(left:Boolean) {
_root.mask._visible=false;
instance.left?instance.free_content._x=_root.aR._x:instance.free_content._x=_root.aL._x;
instance.used_content.filters = _root.blurfilterArray;
instance.free_content.filters = _root.blurfilterArray;
//tween
instance.left?instance.used_content.tween("_x",_root.aL._x,0.3,"linear"):instance.used_content.tween("_x",_root.aR._x,0.3,"linear");
instance.free_content.tween("_x",_root.aC._x,0.3,"linear",0,function(){instance.used_content.filters=[];instance.free_content.filters=[];_root.mask._visible=true;});
//reintialize
var x=instance.used_content;
instance.used_content=instance.free_content;
instance.free_content=x;
}
function loadAllPictures() {
_root.createEmptyMovieClip ("container",0); _root.container._y=1000;
var loadListener:Object = new Object();
loadListener.onLoadInit = function(target_mc:MovieClip) {
_root.preloader._visible=false;
trace("Finished loading: "+target_mc+" x="+target_mc._x);
//copy the picture from the loaded clip to another one so we can use it later ( duplicatemovieclip
//extas from help:If you used MovieClip.loadMovie() or the MovieClipLoader class to load a movie clip, the contents of the SWF file are not duplicated. This means that you cannot save bandwidth by loading a JPEG, GIF, PNG, or SWF file and then duplicating the movie clip.
//Contrast this method with the global function version of duplicateMovieClip(). The global version of this method requires a parameter
var bitmapPic = new BitmapData(target_mc._width, target_mc._height);
bitmapPic.draw(target_mc);
//mc wich will hold the copied movieclip
var newMC=_root.container.createEmptyMovieClip(target_mc._name+"N", _root.container.getNextHighestDepth());
newMC.attachBitmap(bitmapPic, _root.container.getNextHighestDepth());
newMC._x=target_mc._x;
newMC._y=target_mc._y;
//remove old movieclip
target_mc.removeMovieClip();
}
var mcLoader:MovieClipLoader = new MovieClipLoader();
mcLoader.addListener(loadListener);
for (var i=0; i<instance.news.length; i++) {
var mc:MovieClip=_root.container.createEmptyMovieClip("picture"+i,_root.container.getNextHighestDepth());
mc._x+=i*199;
mcLoader.loadClip(instance.news*.picture+"?nocache=" + random(1515), mc);
//mcLoader.loadClip(instance.news*.picture, mc);
}
}
function addContent(mainMovie:MovieClip, index:Number, trigger:Function) {
clearInterval(instance.inter2);
//reinitialize the scroll bar for the new text content
mainMovie.scroll_text.scroll_bar.setText(instance.news[index].description);
mainMovie.scroll_text.scroll_bar.reconstruct();
//set new title
mainMovie.scroll_text.title.text=instance.news[index].title;
//dummy border
instance.drawBorder(mainMovie.btn.pic,199,132,0,0);
//set date
mainMovie._visible=true;
mainMovie.date.setWorkingSkin(1);
mainMovie.date.showDate(instance.news[index].date);
//wait until the needed photo is loaded, then display it
function waitUntilLoaded(thisObject, pic:MovieClip, index){
if (pic.getBytesLoaded()==pic.getBytesTotal() || pic==undefined) {
if (_root.container["picture"+index+"N"]==undefined) {
return;
}
clearInterval(instance.inter2);
_root.preloader._visible=false;
//copy a picture "N"=normal from _root.container movieClip
instance.used_content.picture.removeMovieClip();
instance.used_content.inverted.removeMovieClip();
var newMC = instance.used_content.createEmptyMovieClip ("picture", instance.used_content.date.getDepth()-2);
var newMCI = instance.used_content.createEmptyMovieClip ("inverted", instance.used_content.date.getDepth()-3);
//copy the normal movie clip
var bitmapPic = new BitmapData(_root.container["picture"+index+"N"]._width, _root.container["picture"+index+"N"]._height);
bitmapPic.draw(_root.container["picture"+index+"N"]); newMC._y+=5;
newMC.attachBitmap(bitmapPic, newMC.getNextHighestDepth());
//copy the mirrored movie clip
bitmapPic.draw(_root.container["inverted"+index+"N"]); newMCI._y+=5+newMC._height;
newMCI.attachBitmap(bitmapPic, newMCI.getNextHighestDepth());
newMCI._yscale=-100;
newMCI._y+=newMCI._height;
//prepare and set the mask
instance.used_content.mask._x=newMCI._x;
instance.used_content.mask._y=newMCI._y-newMCI._height;
instance.used_content.mask._width=newMCI._width;
instance.used_content.mask.cacheAsBitmap=true;
newMCI.cacheAsBitmap=true;
newMCI.setMask(instance.used_content.mask);
//draw border
instance.drawBorder(newMC,newMC._width,newMC._height-5,0,-5);
//add event handler
if (instance.news[index].piclink!=undefined) {
newMC.onPress = function () {
getURL(instance.news[index].piclink,instance.target);
}
} else {
delete(newMC.onPress);
}
if (instance.news[index].titlelink!=undefined) {
instance.used_content.title_link.onPress = function() {
getURL(instance.news[index].titlelink,instance.target);
}
} else {
delete(instance.used_content.title_link.onPress);
}
}
}
if (_root.container["picture"+index]!=undefined) {
trigger.call();
_root.preloader._visible=true;
instance.inter2=setInterval(waitUntilLoaded,100,this,_root.container["picture"+index],index);
} else {
_root.preloader._visible=false;
//copy a picture "N" +inverted "I" from _root.container movieClip
instance.free_content.picture.removeMovieClip();
instance.free_content.inverted.removeMovieClip();
var newMC = instance.free_content.createEmptyMovieClip ("picture", instance.free_content.date.getDepth()-2);
var newMCI = instance.free_content.createEmptyMovieClip ("inverted", instance.free_content.date.getDepth()-3);
//copy the normal movie clip
var bitmapPic = new BitmapData(_root.container["picture"+index+"N"]._width, _root.container["picture"+index+"N"]._height);
bitmapPic.draw(_root.container["picture"+index+"N"]); newMC._y+=5;
newMC.attachBitmap(bitmapPic, newMC.getNextHighestDepth());
//copy the mirrored movie clip
bitmapPic.draw(_root.container["inverted"+index+"N"]); newMCI._y+=5+newMC._height;
newMCI.attachBitmap(bitmapPic, newMCI.getNextHighestDepth());
newMCI._yscale=-100;
newMCI._y+=newMCI._height;
//prepare and set the mask
instance.free_content.mask._x=newMCI._x;
instance.free_content.mask._y=newMCI._y-newMCI._height;
instance.free_content.mask._width=newMCI._width;
instance.free_content.mask.cacheAsBitmap=true;
newMCI.cacheAsBitmap=true;
newMCI.setMask(instance.free_content.mask);
//add border
instance.drawBorder(newMC,newMC._width,newMC._height-5,0,-5);
//add event handler
if (instance.news[index].piclink!=undefined) {
newMC.onPress = function () {
getURL(instance.news[index].piclink,instance.target);
}
} else {
delete(newMC.onPress);
}
if (instance.news[index].titlelink!=undefined) {
instance.free_content.title_link.onPress = function() {
getURL(instance.news[index].titlelink,instance.target);
}
} else {
delete(instance.free_content.title_link.onPress);
}
//call the function given as a parameter
trigger.call();
}
}
//------------------- BUTTON HANDLERS ---------------------
function arrow_LBonPress() {//for arrow LB=left & from begining
this["enabled"]=false;
_root.buttons.arrow_RB.enabled=true;
var x=_root.buttons;
instance.resetButtons();
//all buttons masked
for (var i=1; i<=5; i++) {
x["b"+i]._x=x["a"+i+i]._x;
x["b"+i]._y=x["a"+i+i]._y;
}
//bring first 3 buttnos on start position
for (var i=0; i<=3; i++) {
if (i>=instance.news.length) {break;}
x["b"+(i+1)]._x=x["a"+(i+3)]._x;
x["b"+(i+1)]._y=x["a"+(i+3)]._y
x["b"+(i+1)].pos=i+3;
x["b"+(i+1)].txt.text=String(i+1);
}
x.b1.gotoAndStop(3);
x.arrow_LR.enabled=_root.arrow_left.enabled=true;
x.arrow_RR.enabled=_root.arrow_right.enabled=false;
instance.nextBtn=x["b"+(i+1)];
instance.arrow_leftonPress(Number(x.b1.txt.text)-1,true);
}
function arrow_RBonPress() {//for arrow LB=left & from begining
instance.currentIndex=instance.news.length-1;
if (instance.news.length<=3) {
instance.arrow_LBonPress();
return;
}
this["enabled"]=false;
_root.buttons.arrow_LB.enabled=true;
var x=_root.buttons;
instance.resetButtons();
//all buttons masked
for (var i=1; i<=5; i++) {
x["b"+i]._x=x["a"+i+i]._x;
x["b"+i]._y=x["a"+i+i]._y;
}
//bring last 3 buttons on end position
for (var i=instance.news.length; i>instance.news.length-3; i--) {
if (i<=0) {break;}
x["b"+(Math.abs (instance.news.length-i)+1)]._x=x["a"+(Math.abs (instance.news.length-i)+1)]._x;
x["b"+(Math.abs (instance.news.length-i)+1)]._y=x["a"+(Math.abs (instance.news.length-i)+1)]._y
x["b"+(Math.abs (instance.news.length-i)+1)].pos=Math.abs (instance.news.length-i)+1;
x["b"+(Math.abs (instance.news.length-i)+1)].txt.text=String(Math.abs (instance.news.length-i)+(instance.news.length-2));
}
x.b3.gotoAndStop(3);
instance.nextBtn=x["b"+(Math.abs (instance.news.length-i)+1)];
x.arrow_LR.enabled=_root.arrow_left.enabled=false;
x.arrow_RR.enabled=_root.arrow_right.enabled=true;
instance.arrow_leftonPress(Number(x.b3.txt.text)-1,true);
}
function arrow_LRonPress() {//for arrow LR=left + rew
instance.arrow_leftonPress();
}
function arrow_RRonPress() {//for arrow RR=right + rew
instance.arrow_rightonPress();
}
function arrow_leftonPress(index:Number, skip:Boolean){//for lateral left arrow. if skip=true buttons won't be shifted
//set current index for autoplay
if (index==undefined) {
//find the selected button
for (var i=1; i<=5; i++) {
if (_root.buttons["b"+i]._currentFrame==3) {
index=Number(_root.buttons["b"+i].txt.text);
break;
}
}
}
//last resort
if (index==undefined) {
trace("-- continue with index="+instance.currentIndex);
index=instance.currentIndex;
}
!skip?instance.shiftButtons(true,undefined,null):0;
//addContent to the lateral hided movieClip (prepare it to be shown)
instance.left=true;
instance.addContent(instance.free_content,index,instance.shiftWithBlur);
}
function arrow_rightonPress(index:Number, skip:Boolean){//for lateral left arrow. if skip=true buttons won't be shifted
//set current index for autoplay
if (index==undefined) {
//find the selected button
for (var i=1; i<=5; i++) {
if (_root.buttons["b"+i]._currentFrame==3) {
index=Number(_root.buttons["b"+i].txt.text)-2;
break;
}
}
}
//last resort
if (index==undefined) {
trace("- continue with index="+instance.currentIndex);
index=instance.currentIndex;
}
!skip?instance.shiftButtons(false,undefined,null):0;
//addContent to the lateral hidded movieClip (prepare it to be shown)
instance.left=false;
instance.addContent(instance.free_content,index,instance.shiftWithBlur);
}
}
Here is my current XML data file:
<news>
<linktarget>_blank</linktarget>
<autoplay newspause="12">on</autoplay>
<items>
<item>
<title>Heretic and Hexen Reborn!</title>
<description>
<html>
The guys over at Newgrounds have ported Heretic, HeXen and Doom into Flash making them playable online! Go check out the Newgrounds front page by clicking the picture or title for the full story!
</html>
</description>
<picture>http://www.levelforge.com/LatNewsImg/Newground.jpg</picture>
<date>22.05.2009</date>
<piclink>http://www.newgrounds.com/</piclink>
<titlelink>http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/470460</titlelink>
</item>
<item>
<title>The Yamato Franchise Awakens!</title>
<description>
<html>
While perusing the latest anime news on the <u><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/" target="_blank">Anime News Network</a></u>, I came across the following incredible story! <u><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=5554" target="_blank">Yoshinobu Nishizaki</a></u>, the 74-year-old producer of the <u><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=338" target="_blank">Space Battleship Yamato</a></u> science-fiction anime franchise, provided some more details to the Sports Nippon newspaper on Monday on his newest attempt to revive the franchise this year. As chief director, Nishizaki is planning to complete the <u><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=3923" target="_blank">Uchuu Senkan Yamato Fukkatsu-hen film</a></u> in October for a December opening in Japanese theaters, 26 years after the last Yamato film. Out of the 1,860 cuts (shots) in the film, 700 are being produced with computer graphics. In particular, the battle scenes will composite 3D sequences and computer graphics. Nishizaki established a new studio called <u><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/company.php?id=2439" target="_blank">Enagio</a></u> last year just to produce this film. Check out the <u><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-05-18/december-yamato-film-detailed-by-director-nishizaki" target="_blank">full story</a></u> on the Anime News Network!
</html>
</description>
<picture>http://www.levelforge.com/LatNewsImg/Yamato.jpg</picture>
<date>18.05.2009</date>
<piclink>http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=3923</piclink>
<titlelink>http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-05-18/december-yamato-film-detailed-by-director-nishizaki</titlelink>
</item>
<item>
<title>Brian Raffel Hits the Charts!</title>
<description>
<html>
The Edge-Online put togther their top 100 game developers list and Raven's own co-founder <u><a href="http://www.edge-online.com/features/the-hot-100-game-developers-2009?page=0%2C5" target="_blank">Brian Raffel</a></u> pops-in at #58. Here is the juice: The venerable studio the Raffel brothers founded in 1990 continues to be a driving force in the industry. The company’s most recent release was 2006’s monster hit Marvel Ultimate Alliance, so it’s been several years since Raffel and his team have seen the limelight. 2009 sees the company return to the forefront of the industry however, as the company is working on three announced games. The first two, X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Wolfenstein, are surefire license projects that will see release before the end of the year. But the third, Singularity, is the most compelling as it’s the first original IP from the studio in a very, very long time, and has a fresh new direction for the ever-popular time manipulation design mechanic. Way to go Brian and Steve!
</html>
</description>
<picture>http://www.levelforge.com/LatNewsImg/Brian.jpg</picture>
<date>04.03.2009</date>
<piclink>http://www.ravensoft.com/</piclink>
<titlelink>http://www.edge-online.com/features/the-hot-100-game-developers-2009?page=0%2C5</titlelink>
</item>
<item>
<title>A New Alice!</title>
<description>
<html>
I have to admit that I am not a fan of people that are arrogant enough to put their name in giant letters in the title of a shipped game, but the first Alice was a true PC favorite of mine and this latest news has me excited! Electronic Arts is teaming up with Spicy Horse and cough...cough, American McGee, in order to create a sequel to the original Alice. I, for one, have high hopes for this one!!! Head on over to <u><a href="http://kotaku.com/5156821/the-return-of-american-mcgees-alice-set-for-pc-consoles" target="_blank">Kotaku</a></u> and check out the full article.
</html>
</description>
<picture>http://www.levelforge.com/LatNewsImg/Alice.jpg</picture>
<date>19.02.2009</date>
<piclink>http://kotaku.com/5156821/the-return-of-american-mcgees-alice-set-for-pc-consoles</piclink>
<titlelink>http://kotaku.com/5156821/the-return-of-american-mcgees-alice-set-for-pc-consoles</titlelink>
</item>
</items>
</news>
Here is the link to my site with my flakey news: http://www.levelforge.com/
Just hit the Latest News Button at the bottom. Just hit the latest news button twice and watch the dynamic buttons on the bottom go from 4 to 8, or try navigating the site with any of the buttons on the left.
Thanks for any help you guys can give me. I am really frustrated at this point and I figure that I am making it harder than it is.