# Suggestions for knowing when an 'external' animation has ended

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/suggestions-for-knowing-when-an-external-animation-has-ended/219570>\
**Category:** programming\
**Created:** [March 18, 2007, 1:05am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/suggestions-for-knowing-when-an-external-animation-has-ended/219570 "2007-03-18T01:05:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Neverbirth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c77e96/32.png) [@Neverbirth](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Neverbirth)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2007, 1:05am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/suggestions-for-knowing-when-an-external-animation-has-ended/219570/1 "2007-03-18T01:05:00Z")

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I guess the thread title says it all heh. I’m working on a turn-based RPG, and it’s shaping up nice so far, fully OOP, database and some basic socket connection, etc.

The thing is I’m managing my characters using external data, XML for their initial stats, names, and SWFs for their graphics. So now I’m wondering which is the best way to determine when an action has ended, so the following character acts, or I continue to some other action.

What would you suggest? I haven’t tried anything for this yet, and I have my doubts. Since I load the SWFs I don’t know if LocalConnection is possible (and even so, if it’s the best way of doing this), if I should use EventDispatcher (I haven’t made any custom event in Flash up to this moment), or if I should go for some other thing.

What would you suggest? I guess looking at custom events would be nice so I could also make one for other things, like knowing when someone’s life has reached 0 or something else. Thanks in advance for your replies.

EDIT: Forgot to mention… I’m using Flash 8 and AS 2.