AS3 ExternalInterface | How to use ExternalInterface in AS3 | javascript to call function in flash using ExternalInterface

With ExternalInterface function in AS3, we can call javascript functions that are outside flash and vice versa.


code (flash):

//we can set a callback to our function in flash to enable javascript function to call it
if (ExternalInterface.available) {
ExternalInterface.addCallback("send_from_external", send_from_external);
}
function send_from_external(newText) {
trace(newText);
}

//to call a javascript function from flash
if (ExternalInterface.available) {
ExternalInterface.call("updateMsg", "your string");
}


code (html):

<script language="JavaScript">
function getFlashId(idIe, idMoz) {
var isIE = navigator.appName.indexOf("Microsoft") != -1;
return (isIE) ? idIe : idMoz;
}
function send_message() {
$("#txt_area").attr("disabled", "disabled");
getFlashMovie(getFlashId("swfObject", "swfEmbed")).send_from_external("test_string"); //trigger function inside flash
}
function updateMsg(string) {
alert(string); //from flash
}
</script>

<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"
id="swfObject"
width="1"
height="1"
codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab">
<param name="movie" value="test.swf" />
<param name="quality" value="low" />
<param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" />
<param name="flashVars" value="" />
<embed id="swfEmbed"
src="test.swf"
quality="low"
width="1"
height="1"
name="ExternalInterfaceExample"
align="middle"
play="true"
loop="false"
quality="high"
allowScriptAccess="always"
type="application/x-shockwave-flash"
pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"
flashVars="">
</embed>
</object>

AS3 LocalConnection | local connection between flash | flash internal connection

Here're the basic structure to simple LocalConnection for flash as3. LocalConnection is used when you want to connect 2 or more swf in a pc to exchange data.

To receive:

//receive
var receivingLC:LocalConnection;
receivingLC = new LocalConnection();
receivingLC.client = this;
receivingLC.connect('session_name');

function myMethod(textRecieved:String){
//do your things
}


To send:

//sending
var sendingLC:LocalConnection;
sendingLC = new LocalConnection();
sendingLC.send('message_input', 'myMethod', "test");
sendingLC.addEventListener(StatusEvent.STATUS, onStatus);

function onStatus(event:StatusEvent){
switch (event.level) {
case "error":
trace("LocalConnection.send() failed");
break;
case "status":
trace("LocalConnection.send() succeeded");
break;
default:break;
}
}

AS3 simple email validation check

function checkMail(pmail:String) {
if (! (pmail.lastIndexOf(".") <= pmail.indexOf("@") || pmail.indexOf("@")==-1)) {
return true;
} else {
return false;
}
}

AS3 Socket Connection

This example shows how to successfully connect flash to your ftp server..

var s:Socket = new Socket("YOUR_SERVER", 21);
s.addEventListener(ProgressEvent.SOCKET_DATA, sData);

function sData(e:ProgressEvent):void
{
var d:String = s.readUTFBytes(s.bytesAvailable);
trace(d);
if(d.indexOf("+OK Hello there") != -1)
s.writeUTFBytes("USERNAME\n");
if(d.indexOf("+OK Password required.") != -1)
s.writeUTFBytes("PASSWORD\n");
if(d.indexOf("+OK logged in.") != -1)
s.writeUTFBytes("STAT\n");
s.flush();
}

AS3 - Load xml, another approach

var xmlloader:URLLoader = new URLLoader();
xmlloader.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE, handleComplete);
xmlloader.load(new URLRequest("test.xml"));
var theXML:XML = new XML();
theXML.ignoreWhitespace = true;

function handleComplete(e:Event){
theXML = XML(e.target.data);

var itemList:XMLList = theXML.child("*");

for each (var _item:XML in itemList) {
trace(_item.title.toString());
trace(_item.description.toString());
}

}

Flash AS3 - Detecting key press | identify Keyboard press | keyCode event

stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_DOWN, keyboardListener);

function keyboardListener(event:KeyboardEvent):void {
trace("event.keyCode: " + event.keyCode);
}

AS3 - crossdomain explanation

In AS3, crossdomain.xml must be placed on the server that provided the service itself, for example, I want to get the rss feed from lifehacker.com, when I do the URLRequest to http://feeds.gawker.com/lifehacker/full flash will request http://feeds.gawker.com/crossdomain.xml.

I guest that should explain how AS3 uses the crossdomain.xml to do crossdomain stuffs :)

Flash AS3 - Using Caurina tweener

//Download the class here: http://code.google.com/p/tweener/downloads/list

import caurina.transitions.Tweener;

Tweener.addTween(movieClip, { alpha: 1, time: 10, onComplete: function(){}});

//documentation here: http://hosted.zeh.com.br/tweener/docs/en-us/

Flash AS3 - Draw lines

var lineDrawing:MovieClip = new MovieClip();

lineDrawing.graphics.lineStyle(1);
lineDrawing.graphics.moveTo(0,0); //start from 0,0
lineDrawing.graphics.lineTo(50, 50); //draw line to 50,50


//to clear the drawings:
lineDrawing.graphics.clear();

Flash AS3 TransitionManager class

//Imports TransitionManager class along with all available transition types and easing functions.
import fl.transitions.*;
import fl.transitions.easing.*;

// Declare global variables
var tMgr:TransitionManager;

// apply the transition to MovieClip object
tMgr = new TransitionManager(MovieClip);
tMgr.startTransition({type:Iris, direction:Transition.OUT, duration:2, easing:Regular.easeOut});
tMgr.addEventListener("allTransitionsOutDone", whenDone); // when the transition done, execute whenDone function

function whenDone(e:Event):void {
//some actions here
}



/*
transition types available:
Wipe
Photo
Blinds
Iris
PixelDissolve
Zoom
*/

Flash AS3 Tweening

// Importing classes from fl package must be done explicitly
import fl.transitions.Tween;
import fl.transitions.easing.*;

// Declare variables for the tween movement. These could just as easily be local below.
var moveBackX:Tween;
var moveBackY:Tween;
var moveRound:Tween;

moveBackX = new Tween(dragger, "x", Strong.easeOut, dragger.x, holder.x, 0.5, true);
moveBackY = new Tween(dragger, "y", Strong.easeOut, dragger.y, holder.y, 0.5, true);
moveRound = new Tween(dragger, "rotation", Strong.easeIn, 0, 180, 0.5, true);

AS3 - Set frameRate at runtime

Framerate can now be set at runtime on per-VM instance basis (ie. it will affect all timelines, including loaded SWFs).


stage.frameRate = fps; //0.01 - 1000

AS3 - Use getStackTrace for debugging

You can use the getStackTrace method of an Error instance for general debugging purposes. This will output the execution stack like so:

Test condition @Error
at Untitled_fla::MainTimeline/testingSomething()
at Untitled_fla::MainTimeline/MyThing_fla::frame1()


code:

function testingSomething():void {
if (testCondition) {
//include a stack trace with our debug trace:
trace("Test condition @" + (new Error()).getStackTrace());
}
}

Depths in AS3

In AS3 it is easiest to work with depths in relative terms: Which element should be on top of the other?

Most people think this way anyway, the language reflects that now.


// get the depth of an existing sprite:
var depth:uint = getChildIndex(topMC);

//place mySprite under topMC:
addChildAt(mySprite, depth);

// or just:
addChildAt(mySprite, getChildIndex(topMC));

// directly set depth index:
setChildIndex(myMC, depth);

AS3 New TextField methods

There are a number of new methods on text fields that allow you to work with text in more interactive manner, including methods to convert character indexes to pixel positions, find lengths of lines and paragraphs, get line metrics (ascent, descent, leading, etc), and more.

//px position of chars & vice versa:
myTF.getCharBoundaries(index)
myTF.getCharIndexAtPoint(x,y)

//and a TON more:
myTF.getParagraphLength(index)
myTF.getLineIndexOfChar(index)

Flash - Double click event in AS3

AS3 adds a DOUBLE_CLICK event that uses the system setting for double click speed. Note that you will still get a click event before the double click event.

myButton.addEventListener(MouseEvent.DOUBLE_CLICK, handleDoubleClick);
myButton.doubleClickEnabled = true;

Flash - Create text link in AS3

HTML text fields no longer support "asfunction:" links. Instead they support "event:" links, which will generate a TextEvent.


myTextField.htmlText = "<a href="event:text">test</a>";
myTextField.addEventListener(TextEvent.LINK, handleLink);

function handleLink(evt:TextEvent):void {
trace(evt.text);
}

getURL in as3

As we all know, there's no more getURL in as3. Below is the replacement of getURL,

navigateToURL(new URLRequest("http://google.com"), "_blank");

cheers!

How to set cookies in flash - as3 (Flash SharedObject)

the codes:

var sharedObj:SharedObject = SharedObject.getLocal("anyname");
sharedObj.data.object1 = "whateverYouWantToStore";
sharedObj.data.object2 = "whateverYouWantToStore";
sharedObj.flush();
sharedObj.close();

AS3 - How to call a function in loaded external swf

At the parent code:

package
{
 import flash.display.Loader;
 import flash.display.Sprite;
 import flash.events.Event;
 import flash.net.URLRequest;

 public class ExampleA extends Sprite
 {
  private var loader:Loader = new Loader();

  public function ExampleA()
  {
   loader.contentLoaderInfo.addEventListener( Event.INIT, onLoaderInit );
   loader.load( new URLRequest( "ExampleB.swf" ) );
  }

  private function onLoaderInit( e:Event ):void
  {
   Object( loader.content ).init( "hello" );
  }
 }
}

at the child code:

package
{
 import flash.display.Sprite;

 public class ExampleB extends Sprite
 {
  public function ExampleB()
  {}

  public function init( param:String ):void
  {
   trace( param ); // hello
  }
 }
}