# XML and Flash // Object or Number?

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/xml-and-flash-object-or-number/128184>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Created:** [November 10, 2004, 7:27am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/xml-and-flash-object-or-number/128184 "2004-11-10T07:27:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dwilt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@dwilt](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/dwilt)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 7:27am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/xml-and-flash-object-or-number/128184/1 "2004-11-10T07:27:28Z")

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I am pretty good with actionscript. But, this is getting me.

ok, when I trace a certain variable:

trace(numButtons) Display: 12 (which is getting it’s value from a node in an xml document)

However, when I do:  
trace(typeof numButtons) it gives me an Object.

How come I’m tracing a number but when I “typeof” it, I get an Object. The problem is, I can’t use this variable as a subsitute for my number and it’s messing up my functions.