# Refer to the main timeline within a movieclip?

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/refer-to-the-main-timeline-within-a-movieclip/208987>\
**Category:** flash\
**Created:** [December 5, 2006, 12:02am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/refer-to-the-main-timeline-within-a-movieclip/208987 "2006-12-05T00:02:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![chaoti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47c2d/32.png) [@chaoti](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/chaoti)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 12:02am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/refer-to-the-main-timeline-within-a-movieclip/208987/1 "2006-12-05T00:02:40Z")

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Is there a way to refer to an object on the main timeline from inside another movie clip?  
The “\_root.” function does not work and I am still unfamiliar with the “\_parent.” functions purpose.

the code is being placed in a movieclip within a movieclip not the timeline of the movieclip.