# What are movie clips
**URL:** https://forum.kirupa.com/t/what-are-movie-clips/10502
**Category:** Uncategorized
**Created:** [January 2, 2003, 12:47pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/what-are-movie-clips/10502 "2003-01-02T12:47:50Z")
**Posts on this page:** 17
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Sabenth](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Sabenth)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2003, 12:47pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/what-are-movie-clips/10502/1 "2003-01-02T12:47:50Z")
Hi guys i am a newbie to flash mx and flash in genral I go to sites that use it but till now never even tried to make a flash movie so ive learnt a little bit but now i am having problems with movie clips I am trying to use a move clip as a button it has a component effect of zoom and i cant get the dam thing to work as a button to play an imortad movie file can some one please exsplain the whole movie clip thing and help me or show me how to make a movie clip a fully working button with my zoom effect
Thanks Sabenth
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2003, 1:23pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/what-are-movie-clips/10502/2 "2003-01-02T13:23:42Z")
My advice for you is to read the **basic** tutorials here @ Kirupa. They are really good and easy to understand, if you find something there that you can´t understand post your question here and we will be glad to help you.
[SIZE=1]by the way: movieclips (AKA **mc** ) are flash _objects_ that behave as movies inside the main movie.
In flash we have four basic _elements_:
**1- shapes:** (drawings and lines), usable in tweens - no Action Script can be used on/to them. Shapes are **not** objects;
**2- graphics:** objects with no special behavior;
**3- buttons:** objects that behave like buttons
**4- movieclips:** objects like mini movies, with idependant timelines
the **objects** (graphics, buttons and movieclips) are Action Script containers.
ps: if you find this too deep for ya, this means that you really need to follow the **basic** tutorials here @ Kirupa.:P[/SIZE]
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2003, 9:42am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/what-are-movie-clips/10502/3 "2003-01-03T09:42:01Z")
Thanks Guig0 This is really the first time ive actualy put flash to use I know that flash mx and flash 5 are more or less the same with mx having more options and things as well as these movie clips i am starting to get a rough idea i can do basic shape shiffting and stuff what i am strugling with is the actual movie clops them selfs ive been reading though the forums and found bits here and there that seem to help but then i get stumped again basicly i have the effect i make my button then change it to a movie clip add my commponent and nothing else really happens
So i ask how do i make a movie clip into a button with my commponent effect speaking of the compoenent its from [Flashcomponents.net](http://Flashcomponents.net) and that just confused me even more …
when i tried to work out how to use the effect …
Thanks sabenth
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2003, 9:45am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/what-are-movie-clips/10502/4 "2003-01-03T09:45:13Z")
hey another good idea would be to read the built in tutorials by Macromedia…for beginners they are pretty good as well!!
Guig0…you were really gentle wow…good job!! 😉
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2003, 11:24am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/what-are-movie-clips/10502/5 "2003-01-03T11:24:59Z")
I don´t use flash components, so, I think I can´t help you with that. But take mak´s advice and read some built in tutorials by Macromedia, that will sure help.🙂 Don´t give up flash, it can be very hard in the begining, but if you pass that you´ll see that flash is an amazing tool and not that complicated.
mak: thanks man, I do my best;)
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2003, 12:01pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/what-are-movie-clips/10502/6 "2003-01-03T12:01:36Z")
It would help too if we knew what component you were using.
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2003, 7:53am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/what-are-movie-clips/10502/7 "2003-01-04T07:53:13Z")
Hi guys thanks I cant say i want to give up on flash because its the only platform that allows me to have a solid site thats easy and entertaining to use … heres the components i am using or should i say i am strugling with hope this helps
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2003, 8:26am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/what-are-movie-clips/10502/8 "2003-01-04T08:26:36Z")
> \*Originally posted by Sabenth \*
> **… heres the components i am using or should i say i am strugling with**
Where?
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2003, 9:43am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/what-are-movie-clips/10502/9 "2003-01-04T09:43:26Z")
Sorry guys thought id pluged the site…
[www.flashcomponents.net](http://www.flashcomponents.net) special effects section collection of effects its called…
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2003, 10:02am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/what-are-movie-clips/10502/10 "2003-01-04T10:02:29Z")
So you just need to make it perform as a button as well as keep the zoom effect?
Drag and drop your zoom effect onto your movieclip. Then in the frame containing your movieclip, preferably on a separate layer named actions or scripts, place the following code:
```auto
*instanceName*.onRelease = function() {
trace(this + " was clicked");
//do some actions....
}
```
Where _instanceName_ is the instance name of the movieclip you want to function as a button.
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2003, 11:32am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/what-are-movie-clips/10502/11 "2003-01-05T11:32:56Z")
bembino thanks for the code but it still didnt work it might be me i am not to good with scripts just yet although i did copy and paste it and i did do what you said with instance name ie been what i call my button right clip that is i mean
My instance name is play\_mc i put the script in and sorted out the play\_mc and went to see if it worked and nothing happend
how do i put the fla on the site so that you guys can see what i am trying to do i think it would be better that way
thanks Sabenth
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2003, 12:45pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/what-are-movie-clips/10502/12 "2003-01-05T12:45:55Z")
Just Attach the file…
Anyway, I think,I know what you are talking about… I have some flashcomponents too…
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2003, 4:48pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/what-are-movie-clips/10502/13 "2003-01-05T16:48:41Z")
If you respond to a thread there is an option to attach a file. It’s in an area labeled **Attach File:** …just below the **Options** area…and two sections down from the text editing area. Or you can e-mail it to me: [flashHelp@xonesix.com](mailto:flashHelp@xonesix.com)
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2003, 11:36am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/what-are-movie-clips/10502/14 "2003-01-06T11:36:28Z")
scuse me dumb bloke here \<---- ok i cant put anything up untill say thursday sorry gusy i am in the middle of moving home oh what the hell
OK HERE IT IS ITS A SIMPLE WELL I THINK ITS SIMPLE APART FROM I CANT WORK IT OUT…
The movie consists of a play and stop buttons as you can see the play button and the stop button zoom but when pressed the move dosnt play the time line the idea is simple really the movie clips are just an added effects to keep it looking like a dvd kind of effect …
So when i press play i want the frames to move along with the tween and hopefully i will be able to add an imported quick time movie as well if you guys can help me
I should be back online with in 2 days
Any hows see what you think
Thanks sabenth
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2003, 6:16pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/what-are-movie-clips/10502/15 "2003-01-06T18:16:41Z")
You should ad \_root in your code…
You just make it play in that movieclip… And not on the main scene.
Should I give you the code?
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2003, 11:28pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/what-are-movie-clips/10502/16 "2003-01-07T23:28:55Z")
Didiusthegreat thanks yea i need the code i still dont understand this completly i think i know what you guys are on about i am still a newbie at this so any help and advice can anyoume recomend a good book to read
8]
thanks sabenth
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2003, 11:35pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/what-are-movie-clips/10502/17 "2003-01-07T23:35:38Z")
Didiusthegreat thanks yea i need the code i still dont understand this completly i think i know what you guys are on about i am still a newbie at this so any help and advice can anyoume recomend a good book to read
8]
thanks sabenth
ps sorry for the lattnes of my reply as well still sorting out my new home …