[Flashcoders] Basic idea to use xml in flash

2005-10-29 Thread Waseem Shahzad
Hello All members hope you are fine.
I have a problem that I am novice in the world of flash but not so much but
I think that you are all too much seniors from me in flash knowledge I want
too much from flash please guide me and tell me a better way to have a nice
grip on actionscripting, I'll be grateful to all of you.
God bless you all.
___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


[Flashcoders] Re: Newbie AS3 question

2005-10-29 Thread Costello, Rob R
yes,   this is true in ActionScript 

referencing or instantiating a singleton class via a static getInstance method, 
is a different matter to all methods of a class being static

   The former is calling an instance method and the latter is calling a
   static
   method.
  
   Instance methods have access to instance data that is persisted as
 long
  as
   the instance exists, static methods have access only to static data
 and
   that
   data passed in to the method call.
  
   Is this not true in ActionScript?


 

 



Important - 
This email and any attachments may be confidential. If received in error, 
please contact us and delete all copies. Before opening or using attachments 
check them for viruses and defects. Regardless of any loss, damage or 
consequence, whether caused by the negligence of the sender or not, resulting 
directly or indirectly from the use of any attached files our liability is 
limited to resupplying any affected attachments. Any representations or 
opinions expressed are those of the individual sender, and not necessarily 
those of the Department of Education  Training.
___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


Re: [Flashcoders] setInterval() and the trouble

2005-10-29 Thread Liam Morley
I imagine you're calling clearInterval with the appropriate interval ID upon
each quiz question submittal, and then afterwards recalling setInterval for
the new question? How does it fail the second time? Does it just never call
it again, or does it call the function at a different interval?

Liam


On 10/29/05, Weyert de Boer [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Hmm, I am currently working on the good version of the quiz only I
 have a question how I should implementate some part. The quiz should ask
 yes/no questions and the user should only have three to six seconds to
 answer the question. If the user fails to answer the question within
 this time, the answer should be fault. Currently I used a setInterval()
 with 3000ms only I never get stuff with intervals right. Always it goes
 all fine the first question, but the second it fals. Does anyone know a
 good way to implementate this? Maybe through event delegation instead of
 a interval callback method?

 Yours,

 Weyert de Boer
 ___
 Flashcoders mailing list
 Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
 http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders

___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


RE: [Flashcoders] Re: Newbie AS3 question

2005-10-29 Thread zwetan
 No need to get hyper about this.
 The matter stays that this used to be essential in AS1, thus probably
 why
 people still like to implicate him in their code. But I agree that
 putting
 this in an AS2 Class should be used only when necessary.
  
   You do know that it (this.) is being added for you at compile time in
 AS2, right?

 Who cares? All that means is that there is no semantic difference
 between the two.

There is a difference for AS3 ! (and this is the correct behaviour)
http://livedocs.macromedia.com/labs/1/flex/langref/statements.html#this

To call a function defined in a dynamic class, you must use this to invoke
the function in the proper scope

zwetan



___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


[Flashcoders] How to make a doughnut?

2005-10-29 Thread Navneet Behal
After putting a couple of hours on the problem, I am still in a daze on how 
would one go about making a doughnut shape (circle with cut-out in the 
center) using the drawing API.


I'm not talking about drawing a circle using:

lineStyle(BIGNUMBERHERE, color, alpha);

I'd like to put in a gradient fill into a doughnut shape. And it has to be a 
doughnut, not a simulation of it (ie. not by drawing 2 circles over each 
other and keeping the center cirlce the same as the background color). Real 
dunkin' doughnut!


Any ideas?

Thanks for your time.

Regards,
Navneet 


___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


Re: [Flashcoders] How to make a doughnut?

2005-10-29 Thread Helen Triolo
Here's one I just made (and tested) from a draw circle prototype that 
then draws another circle in reverse (before the endfill is applied -- 
necessary to get a cutout):


// r1 = radius of outer circle
// r2 = radius of inner circle (cutout)
// x, y = center of donut
MovieClip.prototype.drawDonut = function (r1, r2, x, y) {
  var TO_RADIANS:Number = Math.PI/180;
  this.moveTo(0, 0);
  this.lineTo(r1, 0);

  // draw the 30-degree segments
  var a:Number = 0.268;  // tan(15)
  for (var i=0; i  12; i++) {
 var endx = r1*Math.cos((i+1)*30*TO_RADIANS);
 var endy = r1*Math.sin((i+1)*30*TO_RADIANS);
 var ax = endx+r1*a*Math.cos(((i+1)*30-90)*TO_RADIANS);
 var ay = endy+r1*a*Math.sin(((i+1)*30-90)*TO_RADIANS);
 this.curveTo(ax, ay, endx, endy);   
  }


  // cut out middle (go in reverse)
  this.moveTo(0, 0);
  this.lineTo(r2, 0);

  for (var i=12; i  0; i--) {
 var endx = r2*Math.cos((i-1)*30*TO_RADIANS);
 var endy = r2*Math.sin((i-1)*30*TO_RADIANS);
 var ax = endx+r2*(0-a)*Math.cos(((i-1)*30-90)*TO_RADIANS);
 var ay = endy+r2*(0-a)*Math.sin(((i-1)*30-90)*TO_RADIANS);
 this.curveTo(ax, ay, endx, endy);   
  }


  this._x = x;
  this._y = y;
}

// example usage:
createEmptyMovieClip(d, 1);
d.beginFill(0xaa, 60);
d.drawDonut(100, 50, 200, 200);
d.endFill();

Helen

Navneet Behal wrote:

After putting a couple of hours on the problem, I am still in a daze 
on how would one go about making a doughnut shape (circle with cut-out 
in the center) using the drawing API.


I'm not talking about drawing a circle using:

lineStyle(BIGNUMBERHERE, color, alpha);

I'd like to put in a gradient fill into a doughnut shape. And it has 
to be a doughnut, not a simulation of it (ie. not by drawing 2 circles 
over each other and keeping the center cirlce the same as the 
background color). Real dunkin' doughnut!


Any ideas?







___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


RE: [Flashcoders] Re: Newbie AS3 question

2005-10-29 Thread (-: Tatactic :-)
In the book of C.Moock, he recommends the redundant use of [this]
Sorry, I'm a newbie too but it seems to be a good practice to specify
clearly the scope you refer to.
It's clearly specified in chapter 6 to be aware about the scope.
Essential ActionScript 2.0 O'Reilly Media, Inc, 2004, ISBN 0-596-00652-7
Greetings
N

-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of zwetan
Sent: samedi 29 octobre 2005 15:03
To: 'Flashcoders mailing list'
Subject: RE: [Flashcoders] Re: Newbie AS3 question

 No need to get hyper about this.
 The matter stays that this used to be essential in AS1, thus probably
 why
 people still like to implicate him in their code. But I agree that
 putting
 this in an AS2 Class should be used only when necessary.
  
   You do know that it (this.) is being added for you at compile time in
 AS2, right?

 Who cares? All that means is that there is no semantic difference
 between the two.

There is a difference for AS3 ! (and this is the correct behaviour)
http://livedocs.macromedia.com/labs/1/flex/langref/statements.html#this

To call a function defined in a dynamic class, you must use this to invoke
the function in the proper scope

zwetan



___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders

___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question

2005-10-29 Thread JesterXL
As the coffee kicks in, that also looks like Composition, not Singleton. 
Like, you have a Singleton class instantiating instances and returning them 
of other classes from within itself.

- Original Message - 
From: JesterXL [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: Flashcoders mailing list flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
Sent: Saturday, October 29, 2005 10:19 AM
Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question


It does a little.  Why can't can't you just extend the base
CurrencyFormatter class and do the same thing for the formatValue function?
Rather than return the correct one for getInstance(), just utilize the
particular format class you want?

Like, do:

var val = UKCurrencyFormatter.getFormat();

and:

var val = USCurrencyFormatter.getFormat();

?

- Original Message - 
From: Spike [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: Flashcoders mailing list flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
Sent: Friday, October 28, 2005 10:31 PM
Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question


Sure,

Here's a slightly more complete implementation of that last example:


public class CurrencyFormatter {

private static formatter:CurrencyFormatter;

public function getInstance():CurrencyFormatter {
// use ExternalInterface or IP lookup or whatever to determine locale
if (locale == UK) {
formatter = new UKCurrencyFormatter();
} else {
formatter = new USCurrencyFormatter();
}
return formatter;
}

class USCurrencyFormatter extends CurrencyFormatter {

public formatValue(val:Number) {
// very simplistic formatting
return $ + String(val);
}
}

class UKCurrencyFormatter extends CurrencyFormatter {

public formatValue(val:Number) {
// very simplistic formatting
return £ + String(val);
}
}

}

Let me know if that explains it a bit better.

Spike


On 10/29/05, JesterXL [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Can you elaborate? Why wouldn't the static class work in that case?

 - Original Message -
 From: Spike [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 To: Flashcoders mailing list flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
 Sent: Friday, October 28, 2005 9:54 PM
 Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question


 ok,

 That's just a static class.

 Like I said, there's a subtle but important difference between singleton
 and
 a static class.

 Here's another example.

 You have a requirement to provide a currency formatter.

 One way to do this is to create a singleton that returns a different
 currency formatter depending on which locale you are in.

 So in the class you would have something like this (Omitting method
 declarations for simplicty):

 public class CurrencyFormatter {

 class USCurrencyFormatter extends CurrencyFormatter {

 }


 class UKCurrencyFormatter extends CurrencyFormatter {

 }
 }

 Now if I call CurrencyFormatter.getInstance() it gives me the correct
 formatter for my locale.

 With your static class approach you have to check in every method what the
 locale is and handle it accordingly. That's fine for one or two locales,
 but
 if you want to handle 20, it gets pretty ugly.

 You can solve the problem in other ways of course, but it does demonstrate
 the difference between static classes and the singleton pattern. The
 singleton pattern offers you a lot more possibilities.

 Spike

 On 10/29/05, JesterXL [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
  To clarify:
 
 
  class ServerConnection
  {
  private static var url;
  private static var port;
  private static var socket;
 
  public static function connect(p_url, p_port)
  {
  url = p_url;
  port = p_port;
  socket = new Socket();
  socket.connect(url, port);
  }
 
  public static function getData()
  {
  // Simple function that gets something from the server.
  }
  }
 
  Then to use:
 
  ServerConnection.connect(myURL, myPort);
 
  - Original Message -
  From: JesterXL [EMAIL PROTECTED]
  To: Flashcoders mailing list flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
  Sent: Friday, October 28, 2005 9:25 PM
  Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question
 
 
  Naw, I don't know the exact way Singleton is implemented, hence my long
  battle with finding clarification. It could of been solved in 10 seconds
  over a beer, but email sux.
 
  I figured Math.abs was the Singleton pattern, and ARP, me, Sho, Steven
  Webster, and everyone else apparently has their own version of
 Controller
  as
  well. I figured I knew enough to use it.
 
  For instance, your example makes perfect sense and I can see why you'd
  want
  to do it that way. I, on the other hand would just put an if then
  statement
  in the connect method or whatever to ensure we're connected before
 making
  a
  method call, else throw an exception.
 
  Are they both the Singleton pattern? Does it matter?
 
 
  - Original Message -
  From: Spike [EMAIL PROTECTED]
  To: Flashcoders mailing list flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
  Sent: Friday, October 28, 2005 7:14 PM
  Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question
 
 
  Hmmm
 
  From your explanation, I think either I don't understand what happens
 in
  AS,
  or you're misunderstanding the use of the singleton 

RE: [Flashcoders] Basic idea to use xml in flash

2005-10-29 Thread Pete Hotchkiss
Wassem - what is it in particular you want help with.

The subject of your mail would suggest you need something to do with XML
- is this correct ?

Pete

-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Waseem
Shahzad
Sent: 29 October 2005 11:24
To: flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
Subject: [Flashcoders] Basic idea to use xml in flash


Hello All members hope you are fine.
I have a problem that I am novice in the world of flash but not so much
but I think that you are all too much seniors from me in flash knowledge
I want too much from flash please guide me and tell me a better way to
have a nice grip on actionscripting, I'll be grateful to all of you. God
bless you all. ___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


Re: [Flashcoders] setInterval() and the trouble

2005-10-29 Thread JOR

At first glance it looks like you have a potential continuous loop issue?

stopwatchComplete()  questionComplete()  stopwatchComplete()  and 
so on if (id = questions.length)


Second is I don't see where id is defined in questionComplete() did 
you mean to type this instead:


   if ( questionId = questions.length )



JOR


___
===  James O'Reilly
===
===  SynergyMedia, Inc.
===  www.synergymedia.net






Weyert de Boer wrote:

Hi Liam,

First of all I always have had trouble with those methods, never got it 
right. Always failed, I don't they dont like!


I imagine you're calling clearInterval with the appropriate interval 
ID upon
each quiz question submittal, and then afterwards recalling 
setInterval for
the new question? How does it fail the second time? Does it just never 
call

it again, or does it call the function at a different interval?

Well, I happen to have a resource xml file which get loaded prioer of 
each group of questions, once this group is readed a
method in the root timeline gets triggered which will determine what to 
do. This method will also trigger the method buildQuestion() when
required, this method will create a new instance of 
question-movieclip. After this part is done the function doStopwatch() 
is called:


function doStopwatch() {
  // 1second = 1000ms
   _root.stopwatchIntervalId = setInterval( _root.stopwatchComplete, 
3000 );

}

function stopwatchComplete() {
   clearInterval( _root.stopwatchIntervalId );
 // trigger the question completed method
   _root.questionComplete( _root.question.id, _root.question.type );
}

function questionComplete( questionId, questionType ) {
   if ( id = questions.length ) {
// out of questions
_root.stopwatchComplete();
   } else {
 // next quesiton
 buildQuestion( questionId + 1 );
   }
}

IF you have a better solution please let me know! I feel so stupid that 
I don't get thing timer stuff working.


Yours,
Weyert de Boer


___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders




___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question

2005-10-29 Thread Martin Wood
but using Composition and a Singleton arent mutually exclusive. 
Composition is a very broad style of OO architecture, used widely 
throughout a lot of patterns.


You *might* call his example a Singleton Factory, but that probably 
confuses the issue as its not creating multiple instances of a concrete 
subclass, just creating one instance at runtime depending on particular 
external factors.


I think his example is a good one, it keeps the dependency on locale 
knowledge safely contained in one place, and as Spike says, if you start 
moving up to 20 or so locales to support, you arent going to want to 
have a massive switch / if else statement everytime you want some locale 
dependent currency formatting.


all the client code ever needs to do is ask the CurrencyFormatter for 
its instance and for that instance to format the number.



martin

JesterXL wrote:
As the coffee kicks in, that also looks like Composition, not Singleton. 
Like, you have a Singleton class instantiating instances and returning them 
of other classes from within itself.


- Original Message - 
From: JesterXL [EMAIL PROTECTED]

To: Flashcoders mailing list flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
Sent: Saturday, October 29, 2005 10:19 AM
Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question


It does a little.  Why can't can't you just extend the base
CurrencyFormatter class and do the same thing for the formatValue function?
Rather than return the correct one for getInstance(), just utilize the
particular format class you want?

Like, do:

var val = UKCurrencyFormatter.getFormat();

and:

var val = USCurrencyFormatter.getFormat();

?

- Original Message - 
From: Spike [EMAIL PROTECTED]

To: Flashcoders mailing list flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
Sent: Friday, October 28, 2005 10:31 PM
Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question


Sure,

Here's a slightly more complete implementation of that last example:


public class CurrencyFormatter {

private static formatter:CurrencyFormatter;

public function getInstance():CurrencyFormatter {
// use ExternalInterface or IP lookup or whatever to determine locale
if (locale == UK) {
formatter = new UKCurrencyFormatter();
} else {
formatter = new USCurrencyFormatter();
}
return formatter;
}

class USCurrencyFormatter extends CurrencyFormatter {

public formatValue(val:Number) {
// very simplistic formatting
return $ + String(val);
}
}

class UKCurrencyFormatter extends CurrencyFormatter {

public formatValue(val:Number) {
// very simplistic formatting
return £ + String(val);
}
}

}

Let me know if that explains it a bit better.

Spike


On 10/29/05, JesterXL [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:


Can you elaborate? Why wouldn't the static class work in that case?

- Original Message -
From: Spike [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: Flashcoders mailing list flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
Sent: Friday, October 28, 2005 9:54 PM
Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question


ok,

That's just a static class.

Like I said, there's a subtle but important difference between singleton
and
a static class.

Here's another example.

You have a requirement to provide a currency formatter.

One way to do this is to create a singleton that returns a different
currency formatter depending on which locale you are in.

So in the class you would have something like this (Omitting method
declarations for simplicty):

public class CurrencyFormatter {

class USCurrencyFormatter extends CurrencyFormatter {

}


class UKCurrencyFormatter extends CurrencyFormatter {

}
}

Now if I call CurrencyFormatter.getInstance() it gives me the correct
formatter for my locale.

With your static class approach you have to check in every method what the
locale is and handle it accordingly. That's fine for one or two locales,
but
if you want to handle 20, it gets pretty ugly.

You can solve the problem in other ways of course, but it does demonstrate
the difference between static classes and the singleton pattern. The
singleton pattern offers you a lot more possibilities.

Spike

On 10/29/05, JesterXL [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:


To clarify:


class ServerConnection
{
private static var url;
private static var port;
private static var socket;

public static function connect(p_url, p_port)
{
url = p_url;
port = p_port;
socket = new Socket();
socket.connect(url, port);
}

public static function getData()
{
// Simple function that gets something from the server.
}
}

Then to use:

ServerConnection.connect(myURL, myPort);

- Original Message -
From: JesterXL [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: Flashcoders mailing list flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
Sent: Friday, October 28, 2005 9:25 PM
Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question


Naw, I don't know the exact way Singleton is implemented, hence my long
battle with finding clarification. It could of been solved in 10 seconds
over a beer, but email sux.

I figured Math.abs was the Singleton pattern, and ARP, me, Sho, Steven
Webster, and everyone else apparently has their own version of



Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question

2005-10-29 Thread Spike
You're welcome!

This has been an interesting thread and I've learned a bit more about
ActionScript in the process :-)

Spike

On 10/29/05, JesterXL [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 That makes perfect sense and is a good reason.

 So, from this 2nd conversation, I've gleaned something else to add to the
 list:
 - getInstance() is a unspoken standard that implies the class is a
 Singleton
 used in other languages other than ActionScript
 - getInstance() treats a class as a true class without static properties,
 thus making it easier to go from Singleton to a true class without having
 to
 change a bunch of code, because all it really does is make 1, and only 1,
 instance of itself.

 The thought of changing multiple lines of code to go from static to non
 would really suck; that drives the point home for me. Thanks for taking
 the
 time to explain it Spike!

 - Original Message -
 From: Spike [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 To: Flashcoders mailing list flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
 Sent: Saturday, October 29, 2005 12:05 PM
 Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question


 It's not necessarily any better from an implementation point of view. You
 can often do the same thing with a static class as you can with a
 singleton.

 The big benefit comes if you need to change from singleton/static to
 different instances for each invocation.

 If you have followed the static class approach you have static method
 calls
 all through your code that you will need to change if the class now needs
 to
 be non-static.

 If you have followed the singleton approach, you only need to change the
 line of code that retrieves the instance inside the singleton.

 That's a pretty big benefit IMO.

 To get back to where we started all this, the original statement that
 brought all this up was your suggestion that

 Foo.someMethod()

 was identical to

 Foo.getInstance().someMethod()

 Whether one is better than another is something that can be debated to
 death, and often is on Java mailing lists, but hopefully you'll at least
 agree that they are indeed doing different things.

 Spike

 On 10/29/05, JesterXL [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
  I would have 20 static classes, not 20 if/then/switch statements. You'd
  have that same if/then statement in the getInstance() function, though,
 to
  know which formatter to return.
 
  Again, I'm having a hard time seeing why getInstance is more appopriate
  than
  just making static classes, and how this applys to the Singleton
 pattern.
 
 
 
 ___
 Flashcoders mailing list
 Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
 http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders

 ___
 Flashcoders mailing list
 Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
 http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders




--

Stephen Milligan
Do you do the Badger?
http://www.yellowbadger.com

Do you cfeclipse? http://www.cfeclipse.org
___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


RE: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question

2005-10-29 Thread Frédéric v . Bochmann
I'm not picking any sides,

The Idea of a getInstance method (Singleton), as you guys have been saying,
is to have a static way to get a non-static instance of a class. Also, that
way of working makes it easier for the creator of that class to know his
class will only get instantiated once. 

There are other advantages like the presence of a constructor and probably
many other things that you guys have also mentioned.

All this to say absolutely nothing:)


-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of JesterXL
Sent: October 29, 2005 12:14 PM
To: Flashcoders mailing list
Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question

That makes perfect sense and is a good reason.

So, from this 2nd conversation, I've gleaned something else to add to the 
list:
- getInstance() is a unspoken standard that implies the class is a Singleton

used in other languages other than ActionScript
- getInstance() treats a class as a true class without static properties, 
thus making it easier to go from Singleton to a true class without having to

change a bunch of code, because all it really does is make 1, and only 1, 
instance of itself.

The thought of changing multiple lines of code to go from static to non 
would really suck; that drives the point home for me.  Thanks for taking the

time to explain it Spike!

- Original Message - 
From: Spike [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: Flashcoders mailing list flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
Sent: Saturday, October 29, 2005 12:05 PM
Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question


It's not necessarily any better from an implementation point of view. You
can often do the same thing with a static class as you can with a singleton.

The big benefit comes if you need to change from singleton/static to
different instances for each invocation.

If you have followed the static class approach you have static method calls
all through your code that you will need to change if the class now needs to
be non-static.

If you have followed the singleton approach, you only need to change the
line of code that retrieves the instance inside the singleton.

That's a pretty big benefit IMO.

To get back to where we started all this, the original statement that
brought all this up was your suggestion that

Foo.someMethod()

was identical to

Foo.getInstance().someMethod()

Whether one is better than another is something that can be debated to
death, and often is on Java mailing lists, but hopefully you'll at least
agree that they are indeed doing different things.

Spike

On 10/29/05, JesterXL [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 I would have 20 static classes, not 20 if/then/switch statements. You'd
 have that same if/then statement in the getInstance() function, though, to
 know which formatter to return.

 Again, I'm having a hard time seeing why getInstance is more appopriate
 than
 just making static classes, and how this applys to the Singleton pattern.



___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders 

___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders

___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


[Flashcoders] scrolling problem

2005-10-29 Thread Kent Humphrey

Can someone help me with this code?

I'm trying to figure out how to scroll an MC up and down based on the position 
of a scrollbar.


What am I doing wrong with this code?
I'm finding the ratio between how tall the content is (currentChild) and how 
tall the scrollbar is:


scrollRatio = currentChild._height/scrollBar._height;

Then changing the position of the content depending on where the 
scrollBar.slider is:


currentChild._y = (scrollBar._height - scrollBar.slider._y)*scrollRatio;

The result of this is the content is not visible until the scrollbar slider is 
most of the way down it's length, and then the content doesn't scroll far enough.


As you can see I've currently got the slider clip as a child of the scrollBar 
clip - should I bring it out to the same level?


Anyone got any ideas?

___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


RE: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question

2005-10-29 Thread Frédéric v . Bochmann
(*Just looking back at the title of this Thread*)

Just in case someone's wonders; creating a Singleton is nothing new in
ActionScript, it can be done in AS1, AS2 or AS3.



-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Spike
Sent: October 29, 2005 12:25 PM
To: Flashcoders mailing list
Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question

You're welcome!

This has been an interesting thread and I've learned a bit more about
ActionScript in the process :-)

Spike

On 10/29/05, JesterXL [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 That makes perfect sense and is a good reason.

 So, from this 2nd conversation, I've gleaned something else to add to the
 list:
 - getInstance() is a unspoken standard that implies the class is a
 Singleton
 used in other languages other than ActionScript
 - getInstance() treats a class as a true class without static properties,
 thus making it easier to go from Singleton to a true class without having
 to
 change a bunch of code, because all it really does is make 1, and only 1,
 instance of itself.

 The thought of changing multiple lines of code to go from static to non
 would really suck; that drives the point home for me. Thanks for taking
 the
 time to explain it Spike!

 - Original Message -
 From: Spike [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 To: Flashcoders mailing list flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
 Sent: Saturday, October 29, 2005 12:05 PM
 Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question


 It's not necessarily any better from an implementation point of view. You
 can often do the same thing with a static class as you can with a
 singleton.

 The big benefit comes if you need to change from singleton/static to
 different instances for each invocation.

 If you have followed the static class approach you have static method
 calls
 all through your code that you will need to change if the class now needs
 to
 be non-static.

 If you have followed the singleton approach, you only need to change the
 line of code that retrieves the instance inside the singleton.

 That's a pretty big benefit IMO.

 To get back to where we started all this, the original statement that
 brought all this up was your suggestion that

 Foo.someMethod()

 was identical to

 Foo.getInstance().someMethod()

 Whether one is better than another is something that can be debated to
 death, and often is on Java mailing lists, but hopefully you'll at least
 agree that they are indeed doing different things.

 Spike

 On 10/29/05, JesterXL [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
  I would have 20 static classes, not 20 if/then/switch statements. You'd
  have that same if/then statement in the getInstance() function, though,
 to
  know which formatter to return.
 
  Again, I'm having a hard time seeing why getInstance is more appopriate
  than
  just making static classes, and how this applys to the Singleton
 pattern.
 
 
 
 ___
 Flashcoders mailing list
 Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
 http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders

 ___
 Flashcoders mailing list
 Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
 http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders




--

Stephen Milligan
Do you do the Badger?
http://www.yellowbadger.com

Do you cfeclipse? http://www.cfeclipse.org
___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders

___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


Re: [Flashcoders] scrolling problem

2005-10-29 Thread Kent Humphrey

Frédéric v. Bochmann wrote:

As you can see I've currently got the slider clip as a child of the
scrollBar clip - should I bring it out to the same level?

On that matter, I would say, look carefully at your line of code that
follows: (scrollBar._height - scrollBar.slider._y)

If the slider is scrolled higher than _y = 0 or that the slider goes lower
than scrollBar._height your slider will influence the scrollBar._height
value. This can be quite dangerous for weird acting script, but if your sure
your slider won't ever influence it's containers height, your Ok.


I have the slider being constrained by the startDrag function to be within the 
scrollBar clip at all times, so it should be ok.



What I might suggest you would be to use the scrollBar.scrollTrack._height
that might be existent or not in your scrollBar movieclip. 


Yes, it is, I'll try that.


Now for your script, I don't usually go that way of doing it so here is how
I'd probably do it myself:

var scrollRatio = scrollBar.slider._y / scrollBar.scrollTrack._height;
currentChild._y = - scrollRatio * currentChild._height;

I'm not 100% sure but I think this should work. Notice the negative value
for the currentChild._y. 


Thanks, I'll see how that behaves.

___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question

2005-10-29 Thread Weyert de Boer

JesterXL wrote:


I didn't know what a Singleton was until AS2 was well underway.
 


I didn't know that it was called a Singleton until Moocks book :)
___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


RE: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question

2005-10-29 Thread Frédéric v . Bochmann
In AS1, I would write this a bit like that:

MyClass = function () {
  this.someProperty = whatever;
}
MyClass.instance = null;
MyClass.getInstance = function () {
  if(myClass.instance == null) {
MyClass.instance = new MyClass();
  }
  return MyClass.instance;
}
MyClass.prototope.someProperty;
MyClass.prototype.instanceMethod = function () {
  trace(value of my property: +this.someProperty);
}

That should give the same result and can be considered as a Singleton I
think. Now, I might be wrong but it sure seems to do the same thing.


-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of JesterXL
Sent: October 29, 2005 12:48 PM
To: Flashcoders mailing list
Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question

I didn't know what a Singleton was until AS2 was well underway.

- Original Message - 
From: Frédéric v. Bochmann [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: 'Flashcoders mailing list' flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
Sent: Saturday, October 29, 2005 12:32 PM
Subject: RE: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question


(*Just looking back at the title of this Thread*)

Just in case someone's wonders; creating a Singleton is nothing new in
ActionScript, it can be done in AS1, AS2 or AS3.



-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Spike
Sent: October 29, 2005 12:25 PM
To: Flashcoders mailing list
Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question

You're welcome!

This has been an interesting thread and I've learned a bit more about
ActionScript in the process :-)

Spike

On 10/29/05, JesterXL [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 That makes perfect sense and is a good reason.

 So, from this 2nd conversation, I've gleaned something else to add to the
 list:
 - getInstance() is a unspoken standard that implies the class is a
 Singleton
 used in other languages other than ActionScript
 - getInstance() treats a class as a true class without static properties,
 thus making it easier to go from Singleton to a true class without having
 to
 change a bunch of code, because all it really does is make 1, and only 1,
 instance of itself.

 The thought of changing multiple lines of code to go from static to non
 would really suck; that drives the point home for me. Thanks for taking
 the
 time to explain it Spike!

 - Original Message -
 From: Spike [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 To: Flashcoders mailing list flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
 Sent: Saturday, October 29, 2005 12:05 PM
 Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question


 It's not necessarily any better from an implementation point of view. You
 can often do the same thing with a static class as you can with a
 singleton.

 The big benefit comes if you need to change from singleton/static to
 different instances for each invocation.

 If you have followed the static class approach you have static method
 calls
 all through your code that you will need to change if the class now needs
 to
 be non-static.

 If you have followed the singleton approach, you only need to change the
 line of code that retrieves the instance inside the singleton.

 That's a pretty big benefit IMO.

 To get back to where we started all this, the original statement that
 brought all this up was your suggestion that

 Foo.someMethod()

 was identical to

 Foo.getInstance().someMethod()

 Whether one is better than another is something that can be debated to
 death, and often is on Java mailing lists, but hopefully you'll at least
 agree that they are indeed doing different things.

 Spike

 On 10/29/05, JesterXL [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
  I would have 20 static classes, not 20 if/then/switch statements. You'd
  have that same if/then statement in the getInstance() function, though,
 to
  know which formatter to return.
 
  Again, I'm having a hard time seeing why getInstance is more appopriate
  than
  just making static classes, and how this applys to the Singleton
 pattern.
 
 
 
 ___
 Flashcoders mailing list
 Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
 http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders

 ___
 Flashcoders mailing list
 Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
 http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders




--

Stephen Milligan
Do you do the Badger?
http://www.yellowbadger.com

Do you cfeclipse? http://www.cfeclipse.org
___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders

___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders 

___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders

___
Flashcoders mailing list

Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question

2005-10-29 Thread Muzak
Well, actually there is a difference.
In AS3, class constructors can not be Private. In AS2 they can.

So in AS2 you can do this:

class MySingleton {
 private function MySingleton() {
 }
 public static function getInstance() {
// bah blah..
 }
}

Which is not allowed in AS3.

regards,
Muzak

- Original Message - 
From: Frédéric v. Bochmann [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: 'Flashcoders mailing list' flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
Sent: Saturday, October 29, 2005 6:32 PM
Subject: RE: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question


 (*Just looking back at the title of this Thread*)

 Just in case someone's wonders; creating a Singleton is nothing new in
 ActionScript, it can be done in AS1, AS2 or AS3.


___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


RE: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question

2005-10-29 Thread Frédéric v . Bochmann
Woah, I never noticed you can private your constructor!! Lol


-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Muzak
Sent: October 29, 2005 1:15 PM
To: Flashcoders mailing list
Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question

Well, actually there is a difference.
In AS3, class constructors can not be Private. In AS2 they can.

So in AS2 you can do this:

class MySingleton {
 private function MySingleton() {
 }
 public static function getInstance() {
// bah blah..
 }
}

Which is not allowed in AS3.

regards,
Muzak

- Original Message - 
From: Frédéric v. Bochmann [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: 'Flashcoders mailing list' flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
Sent: Saturday, October 29, 2005 6:32 PM
Subject: RE: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question


 (*Just looking back at the title of this Thread*)

 Just in case someone's wonders; creating a Singleton is nothing new in
 ActionScript, it can be done in AS1, AS2 or AS3.


___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders

___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


Re: [Flashcoders] How to make a doughnut?

2005-10-29 Thread Navneet Behal

Too cumbersome to make a simple donut, isn't it :)

But thanks for the suggestion JOR..

Helen came up with a pretty elegant one.

Regards,
Navneet



- Original Message - 
From: JOR [EMAIL PROTECTED]

To: Flashcoders mailing list flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
Sent: Saturday, October 29, 2005 8:16 PM
Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] How to make a doughnut?


How about making the doughnut shape as a movieclip and dynamically 
applying it as a mask layer to a gradient filled cirle you create at 
run-time?  You could even draw the mask layer at run-time instead of 
using a pre-drawn one.



JOR

___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


Re: [Flashcoders] scrolling problem

2005-10-29 Thread Kent Humphrey


Now for your script, I don't usually go that way of doing it so here 
is how

I'd probably do it myself:

var scrollRatio = scrollBar.slider._y / scrollBar.scrollTrack._height;
currentChild._y = - scrollRatio * currentChild._height;

I'm not 100% sure but I think this should work. Notice the negative value
for the currentChild._y. 



Thanks, I'll see how that behaves.


Well, it's giving me more consistant results across my different clips, but it's 
scrolling too far, leaving whitespace at the bottom. Any ideas?


Logically, I think the scrollRatio must be too high, because it's scrolling 
further than it should.


I've added an offset because the top of the scrolling area is not the top of the 
screen.


var offset = 108;
var scrollRatio = scrollBar.slider._y / scrollBar.track._height;
currentChild._y = (- scrollRatio * currentChild._height) + offset;

I'll write some code to make the offset dynamic later.

To see the script in action, go here - http://fari.kentandangela.com and browse 
to Gallery - Woodcarvings.

___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question

2005-10-29 Thread JesterXL
Had I been formerly trained in programming, I'm sure I would of known what a 
Singleton was years ago, and called it such before AS1 was called AS1.

However, since I had to learn how to code as well as advanced programming 
concepts at the same time, coupled by the fact ActionScript evolves so fast, 
thats why.

- Original Message - 
From: Frédéric v. Bochmann [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: 'Flashcoders mailing list' flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
Sent: Saturday, October 29, 2005 1:18 PM
Subject: RE: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question


True, nobody called that a Singleton until half way threw AS2. I think I
still don't use that word often enough. I often use something like a global
object to manage... and that often suffices for people to understand how
the implementation might have been done.

What's interesting with all this evolution of AS, is that, as it evolves
real OOP terms are being used more and more in our everyday Flash vocabulary
and that hence makes us look up those terms or simply make us remember of
those terms which brings us to better implement our code.





-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of JesterXL
Sent: October 29, 2005 12:48 PM
To: Flashcoders mailing list
Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question

I didn't know what a Singleton was until AS2 was well underway.

- Original Message - 
From: Frédéric v. Bochmann [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: 'Flashcoders mailing list' flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
Sent: Saturday, October 29, 2005 12:32 PM
Subject: RE: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question


(*Just looking back at the title of this Thread*)

Just in case someone's wonders; creating a Singleton is nothing new in
ActionScript, it can be done in AS1, AS2 or AS3.



-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Spike
Sent: October 29, 2005 12:25 PM
To: Flashcoders mailing list
Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question

You're welcome!

This has been an interesting thread and I've learned a bit more about
ActionScript in the process :-)

Spike

On 10/29/05, JesterXL [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 That makes perfect sense and is a good reason.

 So, from this 2nd conversation, I've gleaned something else to add to the
 list:
 - getInstance() is a unspoken standard that implies the class is a
 Singleton
 used in other languages other than ActionScript
 - getInstance() treats a class as a true class without static properties,
 thus making it easier to go from Singleton to a true class without having
 to
 change a bunch of code, because all it really does is make 1, and only 1,
 instance of itself.

 The thought of changing multiple lines of code to go from static to non
 would really suck; that drives the point home for me. Thanks for taking
 the
 time to explain it Spike!

 - Original Message -
 From: Spike [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 To: Flashcoders mailing list flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
 Sent: Saturday, October 29, 2005 12:05 PM
 Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question


 It's not necessarily any better from an implementation point of view. You
 can often do the same thing with a static class as you can with a
 singleton.

 The big benefit comes if you need to change from singleton/static to
 different instances for each invocation.

 If you have followed the static class approach you have static method
 calls
 all through your code that you will need to change if the class now needs
 to
 be non-static.

 If you have followed the singleton approach, you only need to change the
 line of code that retrieves the instance inside the singleton.

 That's a pretty big benefit IMO.

 To get back to where we started all this, the original statement that
 brought all this up was your suggestion that

 Foo.someMethod()

 was identical to

 Foo.getInstance().someMethod()

 Whether one is better than another is something that can be debated to
 death, and often is on Java mailing lists, but hopefully you'll at least
 agree that they are indeed doing different things.

 Spike

 On 10/29/05, JesterXL [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
  I would have 20 static classes, not 20 if/then/switch statements. You'd
  have that same if/then statement in the getInstance() function, though,
 to
  know which formatter to return.
 
  Again, I'm having a hard time seeing why getInstance is more appopriate
  than
  just making static classes, and how this applys to the Singleton
 pattern.
 
 
 
 ___
 Flashcoders mailing list
 Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
 http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders

 ___
 Flashcoders mailing list
 Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
 http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders




--

Stephen Milligan
Do you do the Badger?
http://www.yellowbadger.com

Do you cfeclipse? http://www.cfeclipse.org

RE: [Flashcoders] scrolling problem

2005-10-29 Thread Frédéric v . Bochmann
I forgot something...true.
Change it to something like:

var scrollRatio = scrollBar.slider._y / scrollBar.scrollTrack._height;
var heightToScroll = currentChild._height -
currentChildContainerMask._height;
if(heightToScroll  0) {
  heightToScroll = 0;
}
currentChild._y = - scrollRatio * heightToScroll;


Where currentChildContainerMask._ height is the height of the Mask that is
masking your currentChild, or simply the height of the outline that is
representing the visible area of your currentChild as its being scrolled.
So basically heightToScroll is equal to the height of your currentChild that
is invisible to the user, it's the part you want to be able to scroll for.

Hope that helps :)
Fredz./



-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Kent
Humphrey
Sent: October 29, 2005 1:27 PM
To: Flashcoders mailing list
Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] scrolling problem


 Now for your script, I don't usually go that way of doing it so here 
 is how
 I'd probably do it myself:

 var scrollRatio = scrollBar.slider._y / scrollBar.scrollTrack._height;
 currentChild._y = - scrollRatio * currentChild._height;

 I'm not 100% sure but I think this should work. Notice the negative value
 for the currentChild._y. 
 
 
 Thanks, I'll see how that behaves.

Well, it's giving me more consistant results across my different clips, but
it's 
scrolling too far, leaving whitespace at the bottom. Any ideas?

Logically, I think the scrollRatio must be too high, because it's scrolling 
further than it should.

I've added an offset because the top of the scrolling area is not the top of
the 
screen.

var offset = 108;
var scrollRatio = scrollBar.slider._y / scrollBar.track._height;
currentChild._y = (- scrollRatio * currentChild._height) + offset;

I'll write some code to make the offset dynamic later.

To see the script in action, go here - http://fari.kentandangela.com and
browse 
to Gallery - Woodcarvings.
___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders

___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


Re: [Flashcoders] File under BIZARRE: FIXED

2005-10-29 Thread Christopher Anderson
well, i use xp, firefox1.0.7/IE6, 8.5debug and i got the freezing. moving my
trackpad didnt unfreeze it but i don't have a mouse hooked up.

On 10/28/05, Rich Rodecker [EMAIL PROTECTED]  wrote:

 i dont know about the bug but you should look into flashObject for the
 detection: http://blog.deconcept.com/flashobject/



 On 10/28/05, Buck Ruckman [EMAIL PROTECTED]  wrote:
 
 
  Sorry for hijacking the list with this problem today, folks.
 
  When we installed the Flash 8 Player on the broken machines, the problem
  was
  solved.
 
  Conclusion: my game aggravated a bug in Flash Player 7 in IE.
 
  Does that sound accurate?
 
  - Ryan Creighton
 
 
  (PS if that DOES sound accurate, can someone please point me to the most

  recent and tastiest Flash 8 detection script so's i can force all of my
  users to experience the joys of a working game? Thanks!!)
 
  _
  Take charge with a pop-up guard built on patented Microsoft(r)
 SmartScreen
  Technology
 
 
 http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-capage=byoa/premxAPID=1994DI=1034SU=http://hotmail.com/encaHL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
  Start enjoying all the benefits of MSN(r) Premium right now and get the
  first two months FREE*.
 
  ___
  Flashcoders mailing list
  Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
  http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders
 
 ___
 Flashcoders mailing list
 Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
 http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders

___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


Re: [Flashcoders] How to make a doughnut?

2005-10-29 Thread Gregory
Solution is quite simple ;-)

Flash drawing / fill methods use XOR logic.
Here's what you want (swf and code):
http://gousable.com/flash/temp/doughnut1.html


frcfc Navneet Behal wrote:

 After putting a couple of hours on the problem, I am still in a daze 
 on how would one go about making a doughnut shape (circle with cut-out 
 in the center) using the drawing API.

 I'm not talking about drawing a circle using:

 lineStyle(BIGNUMBERHERE, color, alpha);

 I'd like to put in a gradient fill into a doughnut shape. And it has 
 to be a doughnut, not a simulation of it (ie. not by drawing 2 circles 
 over each other and keeping the center cirlce the same as the 
 background color). Real dunkin' doughnut!

 Any ideas?






-- 
Best regards,
 Gregorymailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]

http://GOusable.com
Flash components development.
Usability services.


___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


Re: [Flashcoders] scrolling problem

2005-10-29 Thread Kent Humphrey

Frédéric v. Bochmann wrote:

I forgot something...true.
Change it to something like:

var scrollRatio = scrollBar.slider._y / scrollBar.scrollTrack._height;
var heightToScroll = currentChild._height -
currentChildContainerMask._height;
if(heightToScroll  0) {
  heightToScroll = 0;
}
currentChild._y = - scrollRatio * heightToScroll;


Where currentChildContainerMask._ height is the height of the Mask that is
masking your currentChild, or simply the height of the outline that is
representing the visible area of your currentChild as its being scrolled.
So basically heightToScroll is equal to the height of your currentChild that
is invisible to the user, it's the part you want to be able to scroll for.

Hope that helps :)
Fredz./


Cool, that's working properly now.

var offset = 108;
var scrollRatio = scrollBar.slider._y / (scrollBar.track._height-30);

var heightToScroll = currentChild._height - whichMask._height;
if(heightToScroll  0) {
heightToScroll = 0;
}
currentChild._y = (- scrollRatio * heightToScroll) +offset;

the (scrollBar.track._height-30) is because the slider is 30 tall, and so it 
never goes beyond scrollBar.track._height-30. The slider is non-proportional at 
the moment.


I was thinking it wasn't working, until I realised that I was cheating with the 
height of the mask, and hiding it behind a solid white block at the bottom of 
the screen! guilty look


Once I've got that sorted, I just need to make the slider move when I click on 
the arrows. What is the best way to do that? Make the arrows move the slider, 
and then update the content as before?


Thanks for all your help :
___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


RE: [Flashcoders] scrolling problem

2005-10-29 Thread Frédéric v . Bochmann
Happy to hear you solved your problems, including the height of your slider
was essential too :) Happy you spotted that one yourself! :D

Now the arrow, what you're saying is the simplest way. 

Something that might be interesting for you to try to implement is to have
the scrollContent update its position in an onEnterFrame instead of using an
onMouseMove, if that is what you're doing at the moment. Using onEnterFrame
will obviously include a little delay in your scrolled content, but it will
lighten up your CPU usage if what you are scrolling is huge and heavy (Don't
forget to call onEnterFrame() just before assigning it back to null). 

So what I would say is create a function called updateContent which will
have the math's you already have. And make sure to set the onEnterFrame when
the user is scrolling and assign it back to null when the user is finished
scrolling. When you use the arrows, simply move the slider by the height of
your slider or so, with some validations and call the updateContent method
:)

You're on the right path :)




-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Kent
Humphrey
Sent: October 29, 2005 2:05 PM
To: Flashcoders mailing list
Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] scrolling problem

Frédéric v. Bochmann wrote:
 I forgot something...true.
 Change it to something like:
 
 var scrollRatio = scrollBar.slider._y / scrollBar.scrollTrack._height;
 var heightToScroll = currentChild._height -
 currentChildContainerMask._height;
 if(heightToScroll  0) {
   heightToScroll = 0;
 }
 currentChild._y = - scrollRatio * heightToScroll;
 
 
 Where currentChildContainerMask._ height is the height of the Mask that is
 masking your currentChild, or simply the height of the outline that is
 representing the visible area of your currentChild as its being scrolled.
 So basically heightToScroll is equal to the height of your currentChild
that
 is invisible to the user, it's the part you want to be able to scroll for.
 
 Hope that helps :)
 Fredz./

Cool, that's working properly now.

var offset = 108;
var scrollRatio = scrollBar.slider._y / (scrollBar.track._height-30);

var heightToScroll = currentChild._height - whichMask._height;
if(heightToScroll  0) {
heightToScroll = 0;
}
currentChild._y = (- scrollRatio * heightToScroll) +offset;

the (scrollBar.track._height-30) is because the slider is 30 tall, and so it

never goes beyond scrollBar.track._height-30. The slider is non-proportional
at 
the moment.

I was thinking it wasn't working, until I realised that I was cheating with
the 
height of the mask, and hiding it behind a solid white block at the bottom
of 
the screen! guilty look

Once I've got that sorted, I just need to make the slider move when I click
on 
the arrows. What is the best way to do that? Make the arrows move the
slider, 
and then update the content as before?

Thanks for all your help :
___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders

___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


Re: [Flashcoders] Obfuscation... Was: SWF Decompilers

2005-10-29 Thread JOR

I had an idea.  Not sure if it's a good one.

Flash is pretty good with optimizing all local var names to shorter ones 
like _1 and _2 which does make decompiled code a bit tougher to read.


What if I took it just a step further and in one or two of my main 
classes I added something like this:


/**
 * Fake function to deter decompiling
 * Function not actually used by class.
 **/
public var handleComputations () {
  // Maybe 10 or 20 lines of nonsensical but compileable
  // code using the local vars so that variable
  // names appear to be used inside this function but
  // this function isn't actually ever called by the class.
  // Maybe use uncommon routines with some bit shifts
  // and complex mathmatical equations to make it look scary.
}

Overall it might make the swf 1KB or so bigger but might be worth it if 
it added a frustrating day or two to a decompiler especially if they 
don't figure out right away that the function is never called.


Any thoughts?

JOR


___
===  James O'Reilly
===
===  SynergyMedia, Inc.
===  www.synergymedia.net




Mike Duguid wrote:

yep still works

On 10/28/05, Gregory [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:




Question:
BTW, anyone knows if __bytecode__() is supported in Flash 8 (I'm still
using MX 2004 Pro)?





___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


Re: [Flashcoders] Re: Newbie AS3 question

2005-10-29 Thread ryanm

The idea is to use it (this) when you have two variables with the same
name, usually to distinguish between the class member and a locally
declared variable. You must know that :) The compiler won't know to
use this or not in those cases, so it is important to use it in those
contexts.

   Actually, the compiler *does* know, it always adds this. to references 
without explicitly stated scope.


   Which brings us full circle, all the way back to maintainability. Now, 
if you have a class, and all of the member functions and variables are 
referenceless (using assumed scope without the this reference), and all of 
a sudden, in the middle of a method, you have a this reference because of a 
potential scope conflict, what does a developer looking at your code 2 years 
after you've left the job think about it? Does he remove the single this 
reference, to make it more readable and consistent, thus breaking the method 
and blowing up the whole project, all without knowing how or why? Martin 
piped up with I would refactor the method to make it more readable... 
immediately, which, in this case, would've broken the method (if he removed 
the reference) and possibly the whole class, which is exactly how these sort 
of expensive, time consuming, and difficult to troubleshoot problems come 
up. On the other hand, if the original developer used the this reference 
every time, it would already be consistent, readable, and explicit about 
scope.


   The other question is, would Martin (not to pick on Martin, but he was 
vocal about it, so I use him as an example) take a class that stated scope 
explicitly and remove all the this references, possibly breaking the class 
in the process? It sounds like it, from his post. The question is, is that a 
good practice or a bad practice, and does that make him a good developer, 
or a bad one, given the potential for expensive and time consuming 
breakage caused solely by his dislike for the keyword this?


   In my opinion (and in the opinion of many much more competent developers 
than myself), it is always good to be explicit about scope, because it 
removes any ambiguity from the code, drastically reducing the possibility of 
expensive and time consuming breakage during maintenance.


   One more thing worth mentioning, and I don't say this to be rude or as a 
slight to anyone on this list, but the opinion that the this reference is 
bad and should be avoided seems to be unilaterally coming from people who 
learned programming in Flash, while the opinion that scope should be stated 
explicitly seems to be coming from people with more formal training in 
software development and experience in (non-Flash) real world development. 
Personally, I have to give more weight to the opinions of people with more 
formal training and more varied real-world experience, because there are 
some things you just can't learn in a year or two of using Flash for web 
development. There is a reason that experienced developers like to type 
those extra 5 characters, and it is to save time, money, and the 
embarrasment of explaining to your boss that you deleted something without 
fully understanding the implications.


ryanm 


___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question

2005-10-29 Thread ryanm

The thought of changing multiple lines of code to go from static to non
would really suck; that drives the point home for me.  Thanks for taking 
the

time to explain it Spike!

   That's that whole maintainability thing, which, in commercial software, 
is usually just as or even more important than efficiency and optimization.


   Incidentally, the way I handled that particular example was by making a 
single dynamic class that can be instantiated as a particular locale, or can 
change locales with a single method call, with a common set of functions and 
loadable locale defenitions, which was instantiated in a singleton 
enviornment class. That way, there is only ever one application 
enviornment, but potentially several different locales that can be used to 
format dates and numbers through a common interface. It was way easier than 
making 276 static classes for all the locales I had to support. ;-)


ryanm 


___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


Re: [Flashcoders] Re: Newbie AS3 question

2005-10-29 Thread ryanm

 You do know that it (this.) is being added for you at compile time in
AS2, right?

Who cares? All that means is that there is no semantic difference between 
the two.
   Not quite. What it means is that the this is assumed, which is not 
always what you want. And if you need the reference sometimes and other 
times it is extraneous, why not use it all the time for the sake of 
consistency?


ryanm 


___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question

2005-10-29 Thread ryanm
Still weirding me out. To me part of the appeal of working with movieclips 
is their inherent hierarchy, which makes a kind of basic sense that's easy 
to grasp.


   To a Flash developer who understands Flash and has been working with it 
for a long time, that's true. To anyone coming from another language or 
platform, it makes no sense at all. It is also extremely limiting, and more 
flexxibility at the cost of an extra line of code is a beautiful trade off 
in my book.


I'm guessing part of why we're waiting til Flash 9 for this stuff is 
because it doesn't make immediate sense in a Flash IDE context yet.
   A movie clip is still a movie clip, but now, instead of being the basic 
unit of Flash, there are smaller units, such as sprites, displayobjects, 
etc. More granualrity means more control, but it also means a few extra 
lines of code.


ryanm 


___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


[Flashcoders] Xml parsing object

2005-10-29 Thread Weyert de Boer
Does anyone got some nice object/method that transforms a xml data from 
a xml object into a nice object graph?
I would like to ask (trying to avoid reinventing the wheel) before I am 
starting writing my own solution for parsing xml data into a structure 
for easier reference.


Yours,
Weyert de Boer
___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


RE: [Flashcoders] Re: Newbie AS3 question

2005-10-29 Thread Frédéric v . Bochmann
Hey ryanm, 

Imagine this:

class MyClass {
 private var myName:String;
 public function MyClass(myName:String) {
   this.myName = myName
 }
}

Or:
class MyClass {
 public function MyClass(myEventDispatcher) {
   var myListener = new Object();
   myListener.controler = this;
   myListener.click = function (eventObj) {
 this.controler.onMyClick(eventObj);
   }
   myEventDispatcher.addEventListener(click, myListener);
   
 }
 public function onMyClick (eventObj) {
   
 }
}

Naturally you can use the Delegate object instead of creating an anonymous
function, but the fact states that those are moments you absolutely need to
use this and good practice is about using them when you need them / When
you want to write them everywhere, it's really the programmers choice to
write it as he wishes but he should think of future programmers that might
go into that code, they might not want to scroll horizontally that much to
read the code, it just makes lines shorter and easier to read, if well
written.

Now you're saying that the compiler adds this everywhere or almost... Well
this is more like the pre-compiler's job, and this is why it actually
exists. The idea is to write human readable ECMA script that isn't too
cluttered, that the pre-compiler can arrange for the compiler to compile. If
we didn't have the pre-compiler we'd be writing a lot of code with a lot of
this everywhere and we wouldn't be able to forget to put a semi-column at
the end of each line :P  (a bit like PHP)


On the other side, in AS1 when creating your classes it is about 100%
necessary to specify this in front of instance properties or methods.
Things have changed in AS2 and their closer to what standard OOP programming
should look like. If you look in the world of JAVA, you won't find extensive
usage of the this statement like you seem to be saying. But it is really
the programmer's discretion to use this as he wishes when he doesn't HAVE
to use it; nobody should blame someone for using this anytime except if it
does something that is not meant to be.


When programmers modify code, removing the this statements everywhere when
going threw somebody's code like your saying, they should be aware of what
this might involve, and it's not the fault of the programmer that put all
those this statements, it's the fault of the one that removed them I'd
say. Common sense! So I wouldn't really be annoyed by reading your code that
has this, everywhere it can be used at. It's ok and so be it.

All that to say, if your going to be putting this in front of every class
member in AS2 and in AS3 you'll be missing the neat advantage of simplicity.
I think it's a question of trusting how Flash will get compiled and how it
will run it! Trust ECMA script and know what you're coding, if it's AS1, use
lots of this; if your in pure AS2, lighten the number of characters in
your file if you may!:) Let's not even mention AS3, since it's even more a
question of cleaning up your code and making it human readable and OO. Using
this everywhere would ruin the fun of writing AS2 and AS3.

And yes there are cases in AS2 where your class method might need this in
front of all methods and members it uses; this is mostly the case if you're
redirecting methods to other classes with their prototype, thus returning to
the world of AS1.

Cheers,
Fredz./

-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of ryanm
Sent: October 29, 2005 3:39 PM
To: Flashcoders mailing list
Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Re: Newbie AS3 question

 The idea is to use it (this) when you have two variables with the same
 name, usually to distinguish between the class member and a locally
 declared variable. You must know that :) The compiler won't know to
 use this or not in those cases, so it is important to use it in those
 contexts.

Actually, the compiler *does* know, it always adds this. to references

without explicitly stated scope.

Which brings us full circle, all the way back to maintainability. Now, 
if you have a class, and all of the member functions and variables are 
referenceless (using assumed scope without the this reference), and all of

a sudden, in the middle of a method, you have a this reference because of a 
potential scope conflict, what does a developer looking at your code 2 years

after you've left the job think about it? Does he remove the single this 
reference, to make it more readable and consistent, thus breaking the method

and blowing up the whole project, all without knowing how or why? Martin 
piped up with I would refactor the method to make it more readable... 
immediately, which, in this case, would've broken the method (if he removed 
the reference) and possibly the whole class, which is exactly how these sort

of expensive, time consuming, and difficult to troubleshoot problems come 
up. On the other hand, if the original developer used the this reference 
every time, it would already be consistent, readable, and explicit 

Re: [Flashcoders] Re: Newbie AS3 question

2005-10-29 Thread ryanm
All that to say, if your going to be putting this in front of every 
class
member in AS2 and in AS3 you'll be missing the neat advantage of 
simplicity.


   As it were, the classes I write are rarely self-referential. Properties 
such as position, visibility, etc, are usually handled elsewhere or by other 
means rather than directly referring to itself, so you won't find this in 
my code a lot either. When it does appear it is the rare exception, not the 
rule, but by the same token, you also won't find referenceless method calls 
either. I very, very rarely put something like this._visible=false; in a 
constructor, and usually only because it's a quickie, one-off project that 
won't need to be maintained, and even if maintenance is required, there is 
usually only one class to deal with and everything is right there. But when 
I do something like that, I always use this, just so that it's clear what 
I'm referring to.


   You also rarely find _parent references in my code, because usually when 
I need a reference to the parent, I pass that reference in at creation time 
and store it as a member variable in the class. If it's not important enough 
to be a member of the class, then it probably isn't necessary, and if it's 
necessary, it's important enough to be a member. So really, this is the 
only


ryanm 


___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


Re: [Flashcoders] Re: Newbie AS3 question

2005-10-29 Thread ryanm
Of course there exists edge cases where that isnt feasible, but most 
programs dont implement DES algorithms (to relate this to an earlier post) 
and a lot of legacy code i have worked with has benefitted from being 
re-factored.


   I actually do have classes with methods so large that I had to make a 
base class containing only that method and then extend it (because of the 
size limit imposed by Flash), but as was mentioned, they are mostly 
encryption or compression classes, and are special cases.


ryanm 


___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


Re: [Flashcoders] Re: Newbie AS3 question

2005-10-29 Thread Robert Tweed

ryanm wrote:

 You do know that it (this.) is being added for you at compile time in
AS2, right?

Who cares? All that means is that there is no semantic difference 
between the two.


   Not quite. What it means is that the this is assumed, which is not 
always what you want.


You can force class scope by including this, but there's no way to do 
the opposite. Local (or class) scope always obscures global scope, 
that's just a fact of life. The only exception is built-in function like 
trace and eval, which normally obscure everything else. That's probably 
part of the reason AS3 is more heavily based around namespaces - you can 
more clearly state what scope you want if everything resides in a unique 
namespace. That takes us back to the point about whether you should 
include this everywhere - doing so is akin to including the fully 
qualified name of every class instead of just importing the package. 
Which is easier to read?


- Robert
___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


[Flashcoders] Re: Re: Newbie AS3 question

2005-10-29 Thread A.Cicak
Yes, but how do you know order of construction of static clases, if you have 
more each one init depends on other?

JesterXL [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote in message 
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
If you utilize a static function, it would be called when the class itself
is created in ActionScript, before frame 1 even runs:

class Test
{
static var inited = InitThisTest();
}

Why wouldn't that solve it?

- Original Message - 
From: A.Cicak [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
Sent: Saturday, October 29, 2005 6:59 AM
Subject: [Flashcoders] Re: Newbie AS3 question


Problem with JasterXL's class is initialization. For example if you had to
initialize something in that class you should make static method called
InitCurrencyFormatter(). But when to call it? If other classes are using
CurrencyFormatter than you should ensure to call InitCurrencyFormatter()
before construction of any class which uses it is called. But what if
InitCurrencyFormatter also depends on some other class which is made just
with static methods (like JasterXL's). In that case that other class would
have to have InitOtherClass() and it also should be called before other
objects are constructed and before InitCurrencyFormatter. Now imagine 20
classes like that and thousands of lines of code depending on them, it would
be almost impossible to keep track when to initialize any of these classes,
and it would be very error prone (you change order of execution and you
start using uninitialized objects). If you make these classes singletons you
don't have that problem, because when you call getInstance() if object was
not initialized getInstance will call new and that will call its constructor
( which now replaces  InitCurrencyFormatter, InitOtherClass, etc..) and it
will ensure that all objects are initialized at time of their use, and you
do not have to worry about order of execution.


Spike [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sure,

Here's a slightly more complete implementation of that last example:


public class CurrencyFormatter {

private static formatter:CurrencyFormatter;

public function getInstance():CurrencyFormatter {
// use ExternalInterface or IP lookup or whatever to determine locale
if (locale == UK) {
formatter = new UKCurrencyFormatter();
} else {
formatter = new USCurrencyFormatter();
}
return formatter;
}

class USCurrencyFormatter extends CurrencyFormatter {

public formatValue(val:Number) {
// very simplistic formatting
return $ + String(val);
}
}

class UKCurrencyFormatter extends CurrencyFormatter {

public formatValue(val:Number) {
// very simplistic formatting
return £ + String(val);
}
}

}

Let me know if that explains it a bit better.

Spike


On 10/29/05, JesterXL [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Can you elaborate? Why wouldn't the static class work in that case?

 - Original Message -
 From: Spike [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 To: Flashcoders mailing list flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
 Sent: Friday, October 28, 2005 9:54 PM
 Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question


 ok,

 That's just a static class.

 Like I said, there's a subtle but important difference between singleton
 and
 a static class.

 Here's another example.

 You have a requirement to provide a currency formatter.

 One way to do this is to create a singleton that returns a different
 currency formatter depending on which locale you are in.

 So in the class you would have something like this (Omitting method
 declarations for simplicty):

 public class CurrencyFormatter {

 class USCurrencyFormatter extends CurrencyFormatter {

 }


 class UKCurrencyFormatter extends CurrencyFormatter {

 }
 }

 Now if I call CurrencyFormatter.getInstance() it gives me the correct
 formatter for my locale.

 With your static class approach you have to check in every method what the
 locale is and handle it accordingly. That's fine for one or two locales,
 but
 if you want to handle 20, it gets pretty ugly.

 You can solve the problem in other ways of course, but it does demonstrate
 the difference between static classes and the singleton pattern. The
 singleton pattern offers you a lot more possibilities.

 Spike

 On 10/29/05, JesterXL [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
  To clarify:
 
 
  class ServerConnection
  {
  private static var url;
  private static var port;
  private static var socket;
 
  public static function connect(p_url, p_port)
  {
  url = p_url;
  port = p_port;
  socket = new Socket();
  socket.connect(url, port);
  }
 
  public static function getData()
  {
  // Simple function that gets something from the server.
  }
  }
 
  Then to use:
 
  ServerConnection.connect(myURL, myPort);
 
  - Original Message -
  From: JesterXL [EMAIL PROTECTED]
  To: Flashcoders mailing list flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
  Sent: Friday, October 28, 2005 9:25 PM
  Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question
 
 
  Naw, I don't know the exact way Singleton is implemented, hence my long
  battle with finding 

RE: [Flashcoders] How to make a doughnut?

2005-10-29 Thread Weldon MacDonald
 cut the ring with a 1 pixel line, then it's like a c with a pixel opening.
You could do this with the drawing api, but if the split shows too badly you
might need to patch it

-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Navneet
Behal
Sent: Saturday, October 29, 2005 9:54 AM
To: Flashcoders mailing list
Subject: [Flashcoders] How to make a doughnut?

After putting a couple of hours on the problem, I am still in a daze on how
would one go about making a doughnut shape (circle with cut-out in the
center) using the drawing API.

I'm not talking about drawing a circle using:

lineStyle(BIGNUMBERHERE, color, alpha);

I'd like to put in a gradient fill into a doughnut shape. And it has to be a
doughnut, not a simulation of it (ie. not by drawing 2 circles over each
other and keeping the center cirlce the same as the background color). Real
dunkin' doughnut!

Any ideas?

Thanks for your time.

Regards,
Navneet 

___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


RE: [Flashcoders] Re: Newbie AS3 question

2005-10-29 Thread Scott Hyndman
this can also be used to refer an instance's member variable explicitly. 
Since scoping rules allow for a local variable (in a method) to be named the 
same as an instance member variable, this is required to differentiate 
between the two.
 
(Sorry about the html mail)
 
Scott

-Original Message- 
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of A.Cicak 
Sent: Fri 28/10/2005 6:32 PM 
To: flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com 
Cc: 
Subject: [Flashcoders] Re: Newbie AS3 question



Well, I dont agree, this keyword refers to current class, so its only 
more
typing to include it, and making code less
readable. Only reason keyword this exists is if you want to pass 
reference
to current object somewhere, in which case
you must use this. To me using this in your code makes you look like
wannabe-programmer, :) But I gues its matter of taste. btw, old VB does 
not
have this keyword, and if you were reffering to VB(.NET), it is more 
OOP
and more complex than AS3, so I gues programmers in VB.NET (if there are
some, since C# is there) are not wannabe-programmers :)


ryanm [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 What I don't get is why it needs this.addChild instead of just
 addChild. I've been sick of the keyword this for a long time and 
have
 since avoided it in AS2.

 Any reason that it needs to be back in for AS3?

Maybe because it's one of the most useful scope references ever
 invented?

The fundamental concept that you seem to miss is that addChild is
 meaningless by itself, it is a method of an object (in proper OOP
 development), and if you just say addChild, who is adding the 
child? You
 need a reference. You could do it like this if you like:

 class Game extends MovieClip {
var world:MovieClip;
var bg:MovieClip;
function Game(){
var GameReference:Game = this;
world = new MovieClip();

GameReference.addChild( world );

bg = new MovieClip();
world.addChild( bg );
}
 }

The point is, you shouldn't use functions that aren't attached to
 objects, it's bad form, and it's thoroughlly confusing to people who 
later
 have to maintain your code. Besides, it makes you look like one of 
those
 wannabe-programmer VB guys. ;-)

 ryanm
 ___
 Flashcoders mailing list
 Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
 http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders




___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


[Flashcoders] Open Source Flash MMORPG

2005-10-29 Thread John Mark Hawley
I've ben working on-and-off, though mostly off, on a MMORPG/Roguelike hybrid 
for a long time now, and would really like to get a team working with me so 
that I have some impetus to actually get serious on it.  I will be open 
sourcing all the code base (both the AS and backend), and, once at the 
prototype stage, hope to form a company to run some servers hosting enhanced 
versions of the game.

I'll be happy to share more information with people with serious interest in 
the project -- just email me. I'd welcome any comments about remote 
collaboration on coding Flash projects, but they should probably go here on 
this list, as they are widely applicable.

For more information on roguelikes, if they are unfamiliar:

www.nethack.org
http://roguelikes.sauceforge.net/pub/index.html

-Mark Hawley

--
John Mark Hawley
The Nilbog Group
773.968.4980 (cell)

___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


Re: [Flashcoders] Re: Re: Newbie AS3 question

2005-10-29 Thread JesterXL
The order is based on inheritance, or #initclip order, which is based on 
which classes is nested where.  #initclip won't work, though, if you're 
class doesn't extend MovieClip, and if you don't extend something, you have 
to rely on the compiler.  As such, you'll have to utilize an instance, at 
least via a depend variable inside the class:

private var depend:OtherClassINeed;

I can see what you mean, though, how that gives very little control, and 
isn't really flexible.

- Original Message - 
From: A.Cicak [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
Sent: Saturday, October 29, 2005 5:31 PM
Subject: [Flashcoders] Re: Re: Newbie AS3 question


Yes, but how do you know order of construction of static clases, if you have
more each one init depends on other?

JesterXL [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
If you utilize a static function, it would be called when the class itself
is created in ActionScript, before frame 1 even runs:

class Test
{
static var inited = InitThisTest();
}

Why wouldn't that solve it?

- Original Message - 
From: A.Cicak [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
Sent: Saturday, October 29, 2005 6:59 AM
Subject: [Flashcoders] Re: Newbie AS3 question


Problem with JasterXL's class is initialization. For example if you had to
initialize something in that class you should make static method called
InitCurrencyFormatter(). But when to call it? If other classes are using
CurrencyFormatter than you should ensure to call InitCurrencyFormatter()
before construction of any class which uses it is called. But what if
InitCurrencyFormatter also depends on some other class which is made just
with static methods (like JasterXL's). In that case that other class would
have to have InitOtherClass() and it also should be called before other
objects are constructed and before InitCurrencyFormatter. Now imagine 20
classes like that and thousands of lines of code depending on them, it would
be almost impossible to keep track when to initialize any of these classes,
and it would be very error prone (you change order of execution and you
start using uninitialized objects). If you make these classes singletons you
don't have that problem, because when you call getInstance() if object was
not initialized getInstance will call new and that will call its constructor
( which now replaces  InitCurrencyFormatter, InitOtherClass, etc..) and it
will ensure that all objects are initialized at time of their use, and you
do not have to worry about order of execution.


Spike [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sure,

Here's a slightly more complete implementation of that last example:


public class CurrencyFormatter {

private static formatter:CurrencyFormatter;

public function getInstance():CurrencyFormatter {
// use ExternalInterface or IP lookup or whatever to determine locale
if (locale == UK) {
formatter = new UKCurrencyFormatter();
} else {
formatter = new USCurrencyFormatter();
}
return formatter;
}

class USCurrencyFormatter extends CurrencyFormatter {

public formatValue(val:Number) {
// very simplistic formatting
return $ + String(val);
}
}

class UKCurrencyFormatter extends CurrencyFormatter {

public formatValue(val:Number) {
// very simplistic formatting
return £ + String(val);
}
}

}

Let me know if that explains it a bit better.

Spike


On 10/29/05, JesterXL [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Can you elaborate? Why wouldn't the static class work in that case?

 - Original Message -
 From: Spike [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 To: Flashcoders mailing list flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
 Sent: Friday, October 28, 2005 9:54 PM
 Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Newbie AS3 question


 ok,

 That's just a static class.

 Like I said, there's a subtle but important difference between singleton
 and
 a static class.

 Here's another example.

 You have a requirement to provide a currency formatter.

 One way to do this is to create a singleton that returns a different
 currency formatter depending on which locale you are in.

 So in the class you would have something like this (Omitting method
 declarations for simplicty):

 public class CurrencyFormatter {

 class USCurrencyFormatter extends CurrencyFormatter {

 }


 class UKCurrencyFormatter extends CurrencyFormatter {

 }
 }

 Now if I call CurrencyFormatter.getInstance() it gives me the correct
 formatter for my locale.

 With your static class approach you have to check in every method what the
 locale is and handle it accordingly. That's fine for one or two locales,
 but
 if you want to handle 20, it gets pretty ugly.

 You can solve the problem in other ways of course, but it does demonstrate
 the difference between static classes and the singleton pattern. The
 singleton pattern offers you a lot more possibilities.

 Spike

 On 10/29/05, JesterXL [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
  To clarify:
 
 
  class ServerConnection
  {
  private static var url;
  private static var port;
  

Re: [Flashcoders] How to make a doughnut?

2005-10-29 Thread Navneet Behal
Ah.. reading the code again along with your post I realize the AOL Keyword 
is BEFORE the end fill is applied which is necessary to make the cut-out.


Got it... thanks again.

Regards,
Navneet


- Original Message - 
From: Helen Triolo [EMAIL PROTECTED]

To: Flashcoders mailing list flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
Sent: Saturday, October 29, 2005 7:56 PM
Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] How to make a doughnut?


Here's one I just made (and tested) from a draw circle prototype that then 
draws another circle in reverse (before the endfill is applied -- 
necessary to get a cutout):



snip


Helen

--

___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


Re: [Flashcoders] Xml parsing object

2005-10-29 Thread Alain Rousseau
Check out Sephiroth's XML2Object class : 
http://www.sephiroth.it/file_detail.php?id=129

very nice and easy to use.

Weyert de Boer wrote:

Does anyone got some nice object/method that transforms a xml data 
from a xml object into a nice object graph?
I would like to ask (trying to avoid reinventing the wheel) before I 
am starting writing my own solution for parsing xml data into a 
structure for easier reference.


Yours,
Weyert de Boer
___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders




___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


Re: [Flashcoders] Xml parsing object

2005-10-29 Thread Weyert de Boer

Thanks! I will have a look :-)
___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


Re: [Flashcoders] How to make a doughnut?

2005-10-29 Thread Helen Triolo
That's a very long keyword.  But yes, that's crucial.  I decided to 
write it up so I wouldn't forget again that it's only the mask that 
requires a reverse cutout: 
http://flash-creations.com/notes/dynamic_drawingapi.php#cutout


Helen

Navneet Behal wrote:

Ah.. reading the code again along with your post I realize the AOL 
Keyword is BEFORE the end fill is applied which is necessary to make 
the cut-out.


Got it... thanks again.

Regards,
Navneet



___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


Re: [Flashcoders] setInterval() and the trouble

2005-10-29 Thread Eric E. Dolecki

use setTimeout now and you dont need to worry about interval ids.

e.dolecki


On Oct 29, 2005, at 11:21 AM, Weyert de Boer wrote:


JOR wrote:


At first glance it looks like you have a potential continuous loop  
issue?


stopwatchComplete()  questionComplete()  stopwatchComplete()  
 and so on if (id = questions.length)


Second is I don't see where id is defined in questionComplete()  
did you mean to type this instead:




The id should ofcourse matched the correct name of the parameter.  
If you know a better way please let me know!





   if ( questionId = questions.length )



Aha, good one I will try ;-)

___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders



___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


[Flashcoders] Flash and ASP/MSSQL

2005-10-29 Thread Amanda Kuek
Hello everyone,

This is a question about Flash in an ASP form which communicates with an
MSSQL db. I'm not really sure how to phrase the question, so I'm afraid that
I'll just have to explain the story.

Imagine an ASP page about faulty garments. Let's just say that if you had a
hole in your T-shirt, you could visit this page to report it. The page would
have normal HTML fields for name and email, and it would also have a SWF
with a picture of a T-shirt. The disgruntled hole-y user clicks on the
T-shirt to leave an X representing where the hole is. The form information
(including that of the hole location, in the SWF) is then submitted using a
normal HTML submit button and stored in the MSSQL db.

I spose my question is, is this scenario possible? Is it only possible to
store user-submitted information (in this case, the X,Y coordinates of the
hole) by clicking on a Send button WITHIN flash, or is there another way?
I'd like to avoid making a user explicitly submit the SWF information AS
WELL AS the form information.

Any ideas and comments much appreciated,

Thanks muchly,

Amanda.
___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders


Re: [Flashcoders] Flash and ASP/MSSQL

2005-10-29 Thread Michael Bedar
You would need to call a javascript function from AS when the user  
clicks the inside swf and set the value of a hidden form field.. then  
the user can click the HTML send button and send everything.





On Oct 30, 2005, at 12:38 AM, Amanda Kuek wrote:


Hello everyone,

This is a question about Flash in an ASP form which communicates  
with an
MSSQL db. I'm not really sure how to phrase the question, so I'm  
afraid that

I'll just have to explain the story.

Imagine an ASP page about faulty garments. Let's just say that if  
you had a
hole in your T-shirt, you could visit this page to report it. The  
page would
have normal HTML fields for name and email, and it would also have  
a SWF

with a picture of a T-shirt. The disgruntled hole-y user clicks on the
T-shirt to leave an X representing where the hole is. The form  
information
(including that of the hole location, in the SWF) is then submitted  
using a

normal HTML submit button and stored in the MSSQL db.

I spose my question is, is this scenario possible? Is it only  
possible to
store user-submitted information (in this case, the X,Y coordinates  
of the
hole) by clicking on a Send button WITHIN flash, or is there  
another way?
I'd like to avoid making a user explicitly submit the SWF  
information AS

WELL AS the form information.

Any ideas and comments much appreciated,

Thanks muchly,

Amanda.
___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders



___
Flashcoders mailing list
Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders