Timer Explanation

programming flash
1

Hello,

I have limited knowledge to ActionScripts and wanted to have a timer that stops for a moment, then continues to play on the timeline. I found this that works but I really don’t understand the whole thing. All I do is replace some values and hope they don’t screw up along the way.

Can someone explain to me how this script works that I found in the web?

stop();
 
sec = 1;
fn = new Number(_root._currentframe);
 
_global.fwd = function() {
            fn = new Number(_root._currentframe);
            sec--;
            if (sec == 0) {
                        gotoAndPlay(fn + 1);
                        clearInterval(countDown);
                        sec = 1;
            }
}
 
countDown = setInterval(fwd, 1000);

Thank you so much!

2

Hey there

Let’s start with the last line:

countDown = setInterval(fwd, 1000);

The setInterval is used to start a timer and there are 2 arguments here:

  • fwd : which is the function that will be called once the timer has reached the preset time
  • 1000 : which is the amount of time passed in miliseconds to call the fwd function. 1000 miliseconds is 1 second

The setInterval is assigned to the countDown variable so it can be used to clear or remove the timer. Which is what you get in the line:

clearInterval(countDown);

Back to the top:

sec = 1

This is used to keep track of the time left in seconds.

fn = new Number(_root._currentframe);

This is used to keep track of the current frame on the timeline where the playhead is. There is no need to convert it into a number as the _currentframe value s already a number.

_global.fwd = function() {

The _global keyword is used to ensure you can call the fwd function from anywhere in your Flash movie.

sec--;

This basically changes the current sec value by -1. It is the same as:

sec = sec - 1;

if (sec == 0) {

This checks to see if the value of sec has the value of 0. This line and the previous line is redundant because the setInterval only runs after 1 second.

gotoAndPlay(fn + 1);

Goes to the next frame in the timeline and continue playing.

There is a simpler way to write this script:

stop();
 
_global.fwd = function() {
     gotoAndPlay(_root._currentframe + 1);
     clearInterval(countDown);
}

countDown = setInterval(fwd, 1000);

Hope that helps :smile:

3

Some further boiling down:

stop()
setTimeout(gotoAndPlay, 1000, _currentframe + 1)

(I guess, depending on where the code was placed in the .fla, you might still need the _root., but you often wouldn’t.)

1 Like
4

Hi @krilnon zeke_chan

appreciate the time. I’m not going to pretend I understand what you just wrote. hehehehehehe it’s a lot to swallow for a beginner like me.

I forgot to add this to my question which is my only concern:

changing the first code which is

sec = 1;

does the job right? I want it to pause for 1 second and play. but I also change the other set located after

 gotoAndPlay(fn + 1);
          clearInterval(countDown);
          sec = 1;

or is there no need to do that?

5

The thing that controls how long to pause for is the number 1000… but I’m not sure what you’re asking now.

6

Hi Krilnon,

What I’m currently doing right now is if I want to have a 3 second stop, I do this:

stop();
 
sec = 3;
fn = new Number(_root._currentframe);
 
_global.fwd = function() {
            fn = new Number(_root._currentframe);
            sec--;
            if (sec == 0) {
                        gotoAndPlay(fn + 1);
                        clearInterval(countDown);
                        sec = 3;
            }
}
 
countDown = setInterval(fwd, 1000);

notice I changed this one ----> sec = 1 to sec = 3

7

Oh. In that case, you don’t need to change the second one.

8

appreciate the time :smile:

thank you