# Quick noob question - reference null object problem

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/quick-noob-question-reference-null-object-problem/304398>\
**Category:** flash\
**Created:** [February 7, 2010, 8:16am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/quick-noob-question-reference-null-object-problem/304398 "2010-02-07T08:16:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sampson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/22d042/32.png) [@sampson](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/sampson)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 8:16am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/quick-noob-question-reference-null-object-problem/304398/1 "2010-02-07T08:16:22Z")

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Hi,  
if i make say a button in my timeline, convert it to a button. and then remove it from the stage (it is still in the library)  
in my exeternal .as file how can i then place that movieclip on the stage? i know how to do this within the timeline, but not when it is an external .as file. any help?

Thanks