controling a preloaded SWF in a movie clip instance

[cassidy47]

i know i'm missing something basic here. there are 4 elements to my problem: the main timeline, an MC(textmovie) on frame 3, an empty MC(with the instance titled "swfmovie&quot on frame 4, and an external (external.swf) file in the same directory. OK, On frame 3 while the "textmovie" plays, i have a frame action on the main timeline that says: loadMovie ("external.swf", "_root.swfmovie". i'm using the "textmovie" on frame 3 to act as a distraction while the larger external SWF file loads into "swfmovie" on frame 4 of the main timeline. i have a frame action at the end of the "textmovie" timeline that says _root.gotoAndStop (4). Here's my question: at this point how do i get the "external.swf" that's loaded into the MC"swfmovie" to start playing? i've tried a million things and just can't get it. i know i'm missing something very basic. please clue me in. thanks.

 

[oldnewbie]

Have you tried adding a frame action on frame 4:

_root.swfmovie.play();


Although that might not work till your external movie is completely loaded.
How heavy is your external movie?

Regards,

 

[cassidy47]

i did try that but still nothing happens. the external movie is pretty hefty in size (around 600k) but my target audience for this is cable/dsl etc. so i'm not so worried about that. i was hoping that once i entered frame 4 on my main timeline, you would see the preloader of the external SWF if it weren't fully loaded yet. is that not possible? i swear i had it working earlier yesterday where it would load while the textmovie was playing and then play automatically once it hit frame 4 but then i changed a couple of things and have never been able to get it functioning again. this stuff makes you crazy! thanks for your help.

 

[cassidy47]

once an external movie loads into a movieclip instance, do you control it by addressing the movieclip instance, or do i need to somehow specify the .swf file?