Flash Site Design - Another External Text File Problem...

Author

Another External Text File Problem...

mikefalcor

2004-03-30, 9:08 pm

I made 3 Flash Intro Headers (FIH's) for my website without really thinking
about the OTHER 3 that I had yet to make. So I assigned an external text file
to control dynamic text appearing on these three. Now, heres the problem:

I didn't really feel like making 3 more FIH's, so I decided to copy the 2
no-sound .swf's and rename them so that if you went through my website in the
order of the buttons, the colors would alternate. I guess I had a no-brainer
moment when I figured that I could simply rename the files and then add a few
lines to the .txt file and all would be good. NOPE! Instead, I have 3 FIH's
with the same labeling and another 2 with the same labeling. Now, I also
figured "Well shoot, I can just back into Flash and change the input string
so-as to make the labels work out correctly." Unfortunately, I can't do that
as easily. I can't FOR THE LIFE OF ME remember where the heck I can change the
part of the inputvar that I need to.

This is my ext. txt file:

name=Falcor Design Studio&slogan=Building Your Dreams&welc=Welcome!&blurb=How
can I help you?&rep=replay&button1=HOME&button2=NEWS&button3=CONTACT
ME&button4=SERVICES&button5=CLIENTS&button6=DESIGNS&label1=Introduction&label2=N
ews&label3=Contact
Me&label4=Services&label5=Clients&label6=Designs&url1=index.html&url2=news.html&
url3=contact.html&url4=services.html&url5=clients.html&url6=designs.html&enddata
=1

label1, label2, and label3 all work perfectly, but since I copied the 2nd and
3rd swf's label4, label5, and label6 are the same as label2 or label3. I think
I am going cross-eyed, but I know the answer is right in front of me. Please
help, I'm losing my mind! LOL! Thanx in advance.

MikeFalcor

rlc5611

2004-03-30, 9:09 pm

Maybe I am missing the point. If so, sorry. If you just copied files and renamed them, how are you changing the name of the variables to which you are assinging dynamic text?

mikefalcor

2004-03-30, 9:09 pm

Well I am using the .fa files to see if I can do it, but I just plain ol'
forgot how to do it...I just want to get someone out there who can 'remind' me
of where to look cuz Ive been staring at Flash ALL DAY and cant stand to do it
any more.

8)

Mike

Ed Massey

2004-03-30, 9:09 pm

If you've just made copies then it should all work fine.
If the flash intro headers, as you call them, all receive the same variables
then there should be no problem unless you have changed the path that the
variables are passed to once they are loaded.
Have you checked that you haven't added any carriage returns by mistake to
the text files?

mikefalcor

2004-03-30, 9:09 pm

I checked them over and there is no error in them. Let me go a lil further
into the nitty gritty...

Say for instance that my ORIGINAL FHI's were named Animate_1.swf,
Animate_2.swf, and Animate_3.swf. Animate_1.swf relies on all parts of the
text file that include the number 1 (label1, url1, etc...), Animate_2 relies on
all parts including 2 and so on. After I copied them and renamed them
(Animate_2 and Animate_3, NOT Animate_1 cuz it includes sound and is only used
for the Home page) to Animate_4, Animate_5, and Animate_6 the problems arose.
Animate_4 and Animate_6 use the label2/url2 parts of the text doc and Animate_5
uses label3/url3. It seems that I need to respecify where to pull the commands
fromand what command goes where, however I can't remember how to do so.
All I should need to do is find out in Animate_4 and Animate_6 where it
references label3 from and change it accordingly as well as url3. Once I do it
for one, I can then do the exact same for all by replacing the incorrect
numbers with the correct ones.

As you can probably tell, Im not exactly the best at explaining things, but it
makes sense to me. If no one understands this, then I would be more than happy
to attach stuff so that you can witness my beef...lol

Mike

mikefalcor

2004-03-30, 9:10 pm

OK...so I decided today not to even LOOK at my Flash projects until tomorrow.
SO I soent time with my fam. Next thing I know the solution pops into my head
and I'm bokkin' it to my computer before I forget it! LOL...Problem solved.
Edit the label file in the Library, then view its actions and change the
:\label# to whatever I wanted it to...man, I feel stupid...Bad thing is I was
doing this all last week too...I knew it was there, but I kept overlooking it.
Sorry to have wasted your guys' time! And thanks for helping me remember...

Mike