# Using text variable to control MC timelines

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/using-text-variable-to-control-mc-timelines/3190>\
**Category:** programming\
**Created:** [February 7, 2001, 2:06am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/using-text-variable-to-control-mc-timelines/3190 "2001-02-07T02:06:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2001, 2:06am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/using-text-variable-to-control-mc-timelines/3190/1 "2001-02-07T02:06:30Z")

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I have an external text file that flash loads variables from. each variable contains a number that corresponds to a frame in a movie clip instance. What I would like to do is - have the main time line tell each instance name of each movie clip to goto and stop on it’s corresponding value.

My text file includes the following: bapparel=5&bfootwear=70&bretail=35

there are thee instances of a MC on the main time line.  
Each one is named (bappaerl, bfootwear, bretail, respectively.)

I would like to set up an action on the main time line that would tell each of the MC instance to go to it’s corresponding frame number and stop.

I have been at this for days to no avail - Please help or direct me if you can.

Many thanks.

Calvin

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2001, 10:52pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/using-text-variable-to-control-mc-timelines/3190/2 "2001-02-07T22:52:52Z")

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Hello Calvin,  
Unfortunately, I really don’t know what may be causing this problem. Try contacting the ActionScript gurus at Were-here. The URL is: [http://www.were-here.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?forumid=2](http://www.were-here.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?forumid=2)

I hope that helps. If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to reply back.

Regards,  
Kirupa Chinnathambi  
[kirupa@kirupa.com](mailto:kirupa@kirupa.com)