Where to use script with Flash interface?

[SteveHigh]

Hello

I am a newcomer to Flash, but I have recently bought a site which I am now trying to customise.

I have an ASP script (which sort of works) and which I need to use with the contact form built-in to my Flash interface (the fields are Name, Email, Country, and Message).

I understand that the ASP script lies between the Flash interface and the server which, I image, requires me to have a separate ASP file in the same way as I would with a normal HTML interface.

What I am unsure about is where I insert, in the Flash interface, the script which allows me to connect to my ASP page? (The vendor suggests I use PHP, but that is unchartered territory.)

For example, I use this: Server.Transfer "whatever.asp" in my existing site to link to a CDONTS email script and an MS Access database. My script also checks that the email address which is input is a valid one, and JavaScript places the cursor in the first field in my online form.

Where do I insert this kind of script in Flash?

Many thanks.

Steve

 

[kennethkawamoto]

Have a look at LoadVars Class, which will talk to your ASP.

Kenneth Kawamoto

http://www.materiaprima.co.uk

 

[SteveHigh]

Hello Ken

Many thanks for your reply.

The .FLA file contains a symbol/movie clip of an email contact form (please see

http://www11.brinkster.com/stevehigham/question.html)

into which, when online, the site visitor will input his name, email, country, and message), before clicking submit.

The whole email form (which also contains text and a photo) appears to be part of the whole page which makes up the symbol/movie clip.

When I click on the submit button, it is static text only as the bottom screen shot (above link) indicates. In other words, there doesn't appear to be any code behind it.

I presume that it is behind this submit button that I need to link the Flash interface using the LoadsVars class, which you suggest, with some ASP email script I have. But where do I use, and how!?

Am I on the right track or am I way off course?

Many thanks

Steve

 

[kennethkawamoto]

The first thing you need to do is turn your "submit" into a Button or MovieClip, so that you can actually click on it.

Kenneth Kawamoto

http://www.materiaprima.co.uk

 

[SteveHigh]

Hello Ken

I have created the submit button and I can now see it as the final item in my Library folder as a symbol.

If I press F9, do I click on the + sign and choose Built In Classes | Client/Server | LoadVars, or do I point to the LoadVars (under Types)?

And what, if I can ask, do I do then?!

Many thanks again for all your help.

Steve

 

[kennethkawamoto]

I would not attach a script to a button by selecting the button on Stage then F9. That's a legacy from old versions of Flash and it's a bad practice.

Write your script in the main timeline:

yourButtonInstanceName.onRelease = function():Void{
trace(this);
}

Kenneth Kawamoto

http://www.materiaprima.co.uk

 

[SteveHigh]

Thanks Ken for all your advice and help. You say I should write

yourButtonInstanceName.onRelease = function():Void{
trace(this);
}

in the main timeline, but where in the main timeline? Which frame? Do you mean click on a frame and then insert something in Properties? What about LoadVar? How does the script above connect to an ASP page?

Thanks.

Steve

 

[kennethkawamoto]

In the main timeline in the frame where the button sits. You have to give your button a name and use it in place for yourButtonInstanceName.

Once the above script is working next step is LoadVars - but make the above script works first.

Kenneth Kawamoto

http://www.materiaprima.co.uk

 

[SteveHigh]

Hello Ken

I have inserted the script you suggested here:

http://www11.brinkster.com/stevehigham/Release.html

Not sure if it is right, but simply could not see anywhere else to put it. When I now to to the submit button, the PC is trying to get online.

Steve

 

[kennethkawamoto]

You cannot put the script inside of the Button. As I said before put the script in the main timeline.

Kenneth Kawamoto

http://www.materiaprima.co.uk