Difficulty: Intermediate
Program: Flash, Flex
Estimated Completion Time: (Unknown)
Have you implemented the SharedObject class before, but been a bit confused on how to apply it to your program to let the user always come back exactly where he left off. If so, this tutorial is for you. In this tutorial, we will learn how to store all the essential data of a MovieClip to the local computer to be reloaded the next time you open the application!
Let's take a look at the final result we will be working towards:
Let's begin by creating a new .fla. Save it and open up the properties panel in Flash. I am using Flash CS5, but this tutorial should work with every Flash CS version. In the properties panel, push the Edit button and make sure that your settings are identical to the image below:
Now that we've setup our .fla, let's begin our Document Class. To begin, open up your favorite ActionScript code editor and save an .as file called "Main.as" in the same directory as your .fla. Next go into the "Publish" panel of Flash. Set the "Class" textfield to "Main". Now open Main.as and copy and paste the following code to create our Main document class.
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"]
package {
import flash.display.Bitmap;
import flash.display.BitmapData;
import flash.display.Graphics;
import flash.display.Shape;
import flash.display.Sprite;
import fl.controls.ComboBox
import flash.events.Event;
import flash.events.MouseEvent;
import flash.geom.Matrix;
import flash.geom.Rectangle;
import flash.net.SharedObject;
public class Main extends Sprite {
public function Main():void {
}
}
}
[/sourcecode]
Now we are going to create our main MovieClip. It will contain 3 frames. Each one with a colored shape. Draw a red rectangle and turn it into a MovieClip with F8 and set the name of the MovieClip to "myObject" and make sure that the registration point is the top left corner. Then create two new empty frames inside the MovieClip. Fill one up with a green triangle and the other with a blue circle.
The final result should look a bit like this:
Now we are going to use a ComboBox, which is basically a Drop-down list. Make sure that the instance of myObject on the stage is also labeled myObject. Then open: Window > Components and drag the "ComboBox" item onto the library. If you aren't using the Flash IDE, you need to Right Click > Export to SWC the ComboBox in the library.
Now we can create the "myComboBox" variable, placed above the constructor function.
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"] private var myComboBox:ComboMox = new ComboBox() [/sourcecode]
Next add the following code to your Main() constructor:
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"]
//Stops the myObject MovieClip on the first frame
myObject.gotoAndStop(1)
//Adds the following Objects to the ComboBox
and gives them each unique labels
myComboBox.addItem({label:"Rectangle"})
myComboBox.addItem({label:"Circle"})
myComboBox.addItem({label:"Triangle"})
//Adds the ComboBox
addChild(myComboBox)
//Moves it to the correct coordinates
myComboBox.move(280,150)
[/sourcecode]
Here is a snapshot of what your application should look like:
Now we want our MovieClip to change frames when we select a different item!
Let's begin by adding an EventListener to our constructor, the Event.CHANGE event listener checks to see when the selected object in the ComboBox changes. This is exactly when the user chooses a new ComboBox item.
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"] myComboBox.addEventListener(Event.CHANGE,changeObjectFrame) [/sourcecode]
Next we shall create the changeObjectFrame() function. This function checks to see what the current label on the ComboBox is, which is the name of the object the user has selected. It will then go to the correct frame of myObject to display the selected object type.
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"]
private function changeObjectFrame(e:Event):void
{
//myComboBox.selectedLabel is the name of
the current object selected that we defined
earlier...
if (myComboBox.selectedLabel == "Rectangle") {
myObject.gotoAndStop(1)
}
if (myComboBox.selectedLabel == "Triangle") {
myObject.gotoAndStop(2)
}
if (myComboBox.selectedLabel == "Circle") {
myObject.gotoAndStop(3)
}
}
[/sourcecode]
You can now go ahead and compile the application. You should be able to switch to a different object by selecting it from the drop-down menu.
Next, let's add some animation to our program. To begin, go into the myObject MovieClip on the first frame. Select all of the red rectangle and push F8 to turn it into a MovieClip. Make sure that the registration point is at the top left corner. Do this with every shape inside the myObject MovieClip
Next we will have to give each MovieClip an animation. Go into the rectangle shape MovieClip and Right Click > Create Shape Tween on the red shape filling.
Go ahead and do this for each shape in the myObject MovieClip. Now you can go ahead and compile the application and each selected shape will change colors.
The current application should act like this:
Now, let's allow the user to draw a little custom doodle on the MovieClip. This is similar to my last tutorial in which we allowed the user to draw a custom design on the player. However, we will take it one step farther in this tutorial by allowing the user to SAVE his message. But let's save that for later!
Let's get started by setting up an instance of the Shape class. Add this code to above your constructor:
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"] private var myCanvas:Shape = new Shape() [/sourcecode]
Next we are going to add the myCanvas variable to the stage... Add this code to the bottom of our constructor.
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"] addChild(myCanvas)) [/sourcecode]
Lets do this very quickly. If you want more explanation on how to use the Shape class for drawing, please check my other tutorial.
Let's start by creating a mouseIsDown variable...
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"] //Checks to see if the mouse is down private var mouseIsDown:Boolean = false [/sourcecode]
Now go ahead and add the following event listeners:
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"] stage.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_MOVE, drawDoodle) stage.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, mouseDown) stage.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, mouseUp) [/sourcecode]
And here are the 3 functions that are attached to the EventListeners:
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"]
private function mouseUp(e:MouseEvent):void
{
mouseIsDown = false
}
private function mouseDown(e:MouseEvent):void
{
mouseIsDown = true
//Moves mouse pointer to mouse
myCanvas.graphics.moveTo(myCanvas.mouseX, myCanvas.mouseY);
}
private function drawDoodle(e:MouseEvent):void
{
//If the mouse is clicked
if (mouseIsDown) {
//Makes drawing settings right
myCanvas.graphics.lineStyle(5, 0, 1)
//Draws the doodle line
myCanvas.graphics.lineTo(myCanvas.mouseX, myCanvas.mouseY);
}
}
[/sourcecode]
Now you can test out the program and it should be drawing fine. However, we still haven't limited the drawing space of our canvas, so drawings outside of the myObject boundries still show. In the next step, we will solve all of this!
In my previous tutorial, the process of masking was very easy because each masked object remained the same throughout all of the application. Now, we need to have a mask that adjusts to each MovieClip!
Let's go ahead and Right Click > Copy our myObject on the stage. Now we need to Right Click > Paste in Place the object so it is exactly where our myObject was. Now change the instance name to "myObjectAsMask." Switch to the Main Class and add the following lines to the constructor:
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"] //This should all be self-explanatory! myCanvas.mask = myObjectAsMask myObjectAsMask.gotoAndStop(1) [/sourcecode]
So far, the mask should only for the first object. We need to adjust the changeObjectFrame function to change our mask to meet the new shape of myObject. Add the highlighted code to the changeObjectFrame function!
[sourcecode language="actionscript3" firstline="1" highlight="13, 14"]
private function changeObjectFrame(e:Event):void
{
if (myComboBox.selectedLabel == "Rectangle") {
myObject.gotoAndStop(1)
}
if (myComboBox.selectedLabel == "Triangle") {
myObject.gotoAndStop(2)
}
if (myComboBox.selectedLabel == "Circle") {
myObject.gotoAndStop(3)
}
//Clears doodle
myCanvas.graphics.clear()
//Syncs myObject and myObjectAsMask frames
myObjectAsMask.gotoAndStop(myObject.currentFrame)
}
[/sourcecode]
Now let's add a save button to our application. Later on this will save all our myObject's data into a SharedObject. Create new Button and design it however you want. I have included my own button but showing you how to draw one is not important.
Drag an instance of the button onto the stage and give it the instance name of "saveStuff". Then add the following event listener to the constructor:
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"] saveStuff.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, saveObjectData) [/sourcecode]
Next, add this empty function that we will use to add our code that saves the object.
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"]
private function saveObjectData(e:MouseEvent):void
{
}
[/sourcecode]
To start using the SharedObject class, we will need to create a new instance of the SharedObject class. If you haven't ever used the SharedObject class before, then this would be a good time to check out this tutorial to get a basic idea of how they work. Now use this code to create a SharedObject:
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"]
private var mySaveData:SharedObject = SharedObject.getLocal("saveData")
[/sourcecode]
Now let's go inside the saveObjectData function. Add the following code to begin our save operation:
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"]
// Creates a new array inside the program
var myDataArrayInProgram:Array = new Array()
// Adds some random data to our Array
myDataArrayInProgram.push("WhateverDataYouWant")
// Creates a variable inside the SharedObject
// and sets it's value to the value of our local
// array
mySaveData.data.myDataArray = myDataArrayInProgram
// "Flushes" the data away to be saved in the
// computer
mySaveData.flush()
[/sourcecode]
If you want to check to see if this code is effective, just add this snippet of code to the bottom of your function:
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"] trace(mySaveData.data.myDataArray) [/sourcecode]
So all is good. We've managed to create a SharedObject and have successfully stored a few bytes of data in it. Now the next step is to start preparing our program for reconstructing our MovieClip. In the step, we will add all of the neccassery data to our SharedObject for our application to reconstruct the MovieClip from scratch.
To do this, we will need to push all of our data into the myDataArrayInProgram Array so it will be attached to our SharedObject. I've modified the saveObjectData function to do all of this. You can view it below:
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"]
private function saveObjectData(e:MouseEvent):void
{
var myDataArrayInProgram:Array = new Array()
//Adds the object's X location
myDataArrayInProgram.push(myObject.x)
//Adds the object's Y location
myDataArrayInProgram.push(myObject.y)
//Adds the object's currentFrame
//(The current object chosen)
myDataArrayInProgram.push(myObject.currentFrame)
//Adds the current frame of the
//current object's animation
myDataArrayInProgram.push(myObject.getChildAt(0).currentFrame)
mySaveData.data.myDataArray = myDataArrayInProgram
mySaveData.flush()
trace(mySaveData.data.myDataArray)
}
[/sourcecode]
IMPORTANT: getChildAt() accesses the children of the object based on their index. When there is only one object in a MovieClip, you can be sure that getChildAt(0) will get you to it!
MORE IMPORTANT: Don't worry if you get the following error:
1119: Access of possibly undefined property currentFrame through a reference with static type flash.display:DisplayObject.
If so, you probably have Strict Mode enabled in your flash settings. The problem is that getChildAt() returns a DisplayObject, and to flash, that could be a Bitmap, Sprite, MovieClip, etc. The issue with DisplayObject.currentFrame is that only the MovieClip Class has the currentFrame property, because every other class doesn't have any animation.
To solve this, go to: File > Publish Settings > Actionscript Settings and uncheck "Errors: Strict Mode"
We aren't at the stage yet where we can use our save data, but it is still good to create the UI option to load the SharedObject ahead of time. Just like the save button, you can design this button to be however you want, and I'm not going to walk you through drawing it.
Create a new button and drag an instance onto the stage. Then set the instance name to "loadStuff"
And now just add the following Event Listener:
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"] loadStuff.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, loadObjectData) [/sourcecode]
And create the loadObjectData function like so:
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"]
private function loadObjectData(e:MouseEvent):void
{
}
[/sourcecode]
Now let's add a new button to our UI. This button will delete everything in our SharedObject and also wipe out the current doodle on myCanvas
Just like the other buttons, I will choose my own graphic and you can choose your own or use mine. Here is the button art that I have chosen:
This time you can set the instance name of the button to "clearStuff".
Now add this Event Listener:
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"] clearStuff.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, clearObjectData) [/sourcecode]
And create the clearObjectData function like so:
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"]
private function clearObjectData(e:MouseEvent):void
{
//Clear SharedObject
mySaveData.clear()
//Clears myCanvas graphics
myCanvas.graphics.clear()
}
[/sourcecode]
Now you are beginning to ask: "Why can't I save the user's doodle like any other property?" Unfortunately, Flash doesn't allow you to directly save MovieClips, Bitmaps, or even Shapes inside of a SharedObject, but you can do this by saving the pixel by pixel value OF the image.
You must be asking: "But the doodle isn't a bitmap, it's a user drawn vector image contained in shape?!" That's right, but we can convert it to Bitmap based data by taking a snapshot of it with the BitmapData class!
Go ahead and create the following variable above the constructor of our Main application:
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"] private var bitmapDataSnapshot:BitmapData [/sourcecode]
This variable will be the "camera" that takes a snapshot of the doodle.
Now add the following highlighted lines to the saveObjectData function in the location shown below:
[sourcecode language="actionscript3" firstline="1" highlight="8,9,10,11,13,14,15,16,17"]
private function saveObjectData(e:MouseEvent):void
{
var myDataArrayInProgram:Array = new Array()
myDataArrayInProgram.push(myObject.x)
myDataArrayInProgram.push(myObject.currentFrame)
myDataArrayInProgram.push(myObject.getChildAt(0).currentFrame)
//Creates a new instance of the BitmapData class,
//makes it the size of the stage, enables transparency,
//and sets the fill to a transparent white
bitmapDataSnapshot = new BitmapData(640, 480,true,0)
//Tells the camera to take a snapshot
//of myCanvas, skips the next 3 parameters,
//and tells the snapshot area to only include
//the stuff covered by the myObject MovieClip
bitmapDataSnapshot.draw(myCanvas, null, null, null, new Rectangle(250, 30, 150, 100))
mySaveData.data.myDataArray = myDataArrayInProgram
mySaveData.flush()
trace(mySaveData.data.myDataArray)
}
[/sourcecode]
Let's wrap up the saving process of our program. Now that we have creating a BitmapData instance with all of our myCanvas data, need to store it inside a ByteArray to be sent into our SharedObject. To do this, we can use a very handy function inside of the BitmapData Class. It's name is getPixels()
getPixels() returns a ByteArray of all of the pixel data of a BitmapData. Unlike the BitmapData Class, ByteArrays CAN be stored inside of SharedObjects so they are the right tool for saving our Doodle!
All you need to do is add this line of code in your saveObjectData function right after you finish doing your BitmapData work!
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"] //Pushes the value of the returned //ByteArray of the getPixels() function //into myDataArrayInProgram //getPixels() requires a Rectangle that //shows what part of the object's pixels //we actually want! //NOTE: The current rectangle is only //an approximation of where the doodle //should show! mySaveData.data.myDataArray.push(bitmapDataSnapshot.getPixels(new Rectangle(250, 30, 150, 100))) [/sourcecode]
Now for the last step. Once the data is saved, we need to have the user refresh the page. Draw a black box around the stage and add some text to it that asks the player to refresh. Then select the whole object and push F8. Make sure to check the "Export For Actionscript" box and set the "Class" to "refreshScreen". You can now delete the object on the stage...
Below is the refreshScreen that I have drawn:
Now add this code to the bottom of your saveObjectData function:
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"] addChild(new refreshScreen()) [/sourcecode]
Your finished saveObjectData function should look like this:
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"]
private function saveObjectData(e:MouseEvent):void
{
var myDataArrayInProgram:Array = new Array()
myDataArrayInProgram.push(myObject.x)
myDataArrayInProgram.push(myObject.currentFrame)
myDataArrayInProgram.push(myObject.getChildAt(0).currentFrame)
bitmapDataSnapshot = new BitmapData(640, 480,true,0)
bitmapDataSnapshot.draw(myCanvas, null, null, null, new Rectangle(250, 30, 150, 100))
myDataArrayInProgram.push(bitmapDataSnapshot.getPixels(new Rectangle(250, 30, 150, 100)))
mySaveData.data.myDataArray = myDataArrayInProgram
mySaveData.flush()
trace(mySaveData.data.myDataArray)
addChild(new refreshScreen())
}
[/sourcecode]
Now it's time to reconstruct our entire Doodle from the ByteArray that we saved earlier!
You must be thinking: "What the heck do I do with a ByteArray, its just a bunch of garbled mumbo-jumbo!" And you are right! It is! But thankfully, Adobe has also given us a great function called setPixels() which you give the same Rectangle and ByteArray, to recreate the same BitmapData you had!
Before we reconstruct our entire MovieClip, we should go ahead and run a test to see if we can reconstruct the BitmapData itself. Modify your loadObjectData function so it looks like this:
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"]
private function loadObjectData(e:MouseEvent):void
{
//Creates a BitmapData and makes
//it the size of the stage, and
//applys all of the old settings
var loadBitmapData:BitmapData = new BitmapData(640, 480, true, 1)
//Sets the pixels of loadBitmap
//using our old rectangle, and
//by accessing our SaveData ByteArray
//(4th item in myDataArray (myDataArray[3]))
loadBitmapData.setPixels(new Rectangle(250, 30, 150, 100), mySaveData.data.myDataArray[3])
//Creates a new Bitmap and tells it to
//Load it's image from loadBitmapData
var display:Bitmap = new Bitmap(loadBitmapData)
//Moves the object mask
//playhead to the right frame
myObjectAsMask.gotoAndStop(mySaveData.data.myDataArray[2])
//Masks the image to the mask
display.mask = myObjectAsMask
//Adds the Bitmap to the stage
addChild(display)
}
[/sourcecode]
Now it's time to put this all together! First, Right Click on myObject (in library) > Properties. Now check the "Export For Actionscript" box and set the "Class" to "myObjectType". Compare your properties to the ones in the image:
If it's all the same, then we are ready to go! Add this above our constructor:
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"] private var myNewObject:myObjectType; [/sourcecode]
And add ALL of this to the top of loadObjectData()
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"] //Creates a new instance of myObjectType (myObject) myNewObject = new myObjectType() //Sets the X to the old position myNewObject.x = mySaveData.data.myDataArray[0] //Sets the Y to the old postion myNewObject.y = mySaveData.data.myDataArray[1] //Selects the old object myNewObject.gotoAndStop(mySaveData.data.myDataArray[2]) //Moves the playhead to the right animation frame myNewObject.getChildAt(0).gotoAndStop(mySaveData.data.myDataArray[3]) //Adds the object to the stage addChild(myNewObject) //Removes comboBox event listener myComboBox.removeEventListener(Event.CHANGE, changeObjectFrame) //Removes the "doStuff" event listeners for buttons saveStuff.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, saveObjectData) loadStuff.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, loadObjectData) clearStuff.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK,clearObjectData) //Removes drawing event listeners stage.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_MOVE, drawDoodle) stage.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, mouseDown) stage.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, mouseUp) //Removes unneeded UI removeChild(myObject) removeChild(saveStuff) removeChild(loadStuff) removeChild(clearStuff) removeChild(myComboBox) removeChild(myCanvas) [/sourcecode]
Test the app out! It should work perfectly!
Congratulations! You've officially reconstructed a MovieClip using the SharedObject class!
If the application above works, it should present a paused image of where you saved myObject. To get the animation to play again, let's create a "Play" button. Here is the one that I've chosen:
Drag it just underneath myObject on the stage and set it's instance name to "playAnimation".
Now add this to the bottom of our constructor:
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"] //Hides button playAnimation.visible = false //Adds buttons Event Listener playAnimation.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, playObjectAnimation) [/sourcecode]
And put this at the bottom of loadObjectData()
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"] //Shows button playAnimation.visible = true [/sourcecode]
And add this function to your program:
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"]
private function playObjectAnimation(e:MouseEvent):void {
myNewObject.play()
}
[/sourcecode]
Here is our Final Application Source Code. If there is any difference between your code and this, go back and see what you did wrong.
[sourcecode language="actionscript3"]
package {
import flash.display.Bitmap;
import flash.display.BitmapData;
import flash.display.Graphics;
import flash.display.Shape;
import flash.display.Sprite;
import fl.controls.ComboBox
import flash.events.Event;
import flash.events.MouseEvent;
import flash.geom.Matrix;
import flash.geom.Rectangle;
import flash.net.SharedObject;
public class Main extends Sprite {
private var myComboBox:ComboBox = new ComboBox()
private var myCanvas:Shape = new Shape()
private var mouseIsDown:Boolean = false
private var mySaveData:SharedObject = SharedObject.getLocal("saveData")
private var bitmapDataSnapshot:BitmapData
private var myNewObject:myObjectType
public function Main():void {
myObject.gotoAndStop(1)
myComboBox.addItem( { label:"Rectangle" } )
myComboBox.addItem({label:"Triangle"})
myComboBox.addItem({label:"Circle"})
addChild(myComboBox)
myComboBox.move(280, 150)
myComboBox.addEventListener(Event.CHANGE, changeObjectFrame)
addChild(myCanvas)
stage.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_MOVE, drawDoodle)
stage.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, mouseDown)
stage.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, mouseUp)
myCanvas.mask = myObjectAsMask
myObjectAsMask.gotoAndStop(1)
saveStuff.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, saveObjectData)
loadStuff.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, loadObjectData)
clearStuff.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, clearObjectData)
playAnimation.visible = false
playAnimation.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, playObjectAnimation)
}
private function clearObjectData(e:MouseEvent):void
{
mySaveData.clear()
myCanvas.graphics.clear()
}
private function loadObjectData(e:MouseEvent):void
{
myNewObject = new myObjectType()
myNewObject.x = mySaveData.data.myDataArray[0]
myNewObject.y = mySaveData.data.myDataArray[1]
myNewObject.gotoAndStop(mySaveData.data.myDataArray[2])
myNewObject.getChildAt(0).gotoAndStop(mySaveData.data.myDataArray[3])
addChild(myNewObject)
myComboBox.removeEventListener(Event.CHANGE, changeObjectFrame)
saveStuff.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, saveObjectData)
loadStuff.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, loadObjectData)
clearStuff.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK,clearObjectData)
stage.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_MOVE, drawDoodle)
stage.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, mouseDown)
stage.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, mouseUp)
removeChild(myObject)
removeChild(saveStuff)
removeChild(loadStuff)
removeChild(clearStuff)
removeChild(myComboBox)
removeChild(myCanvas)
var loadBitmapData:BitmapData = new BitmapData(640, 480, true, 1)
loadBitmapData.setPixels(new Rectangle(250, 30, 150, 100), mySaveData.data.myDataArray[4])
var display:Bitmap = new Bitmap(loadBitmapData)
myObjectAsMask.gotoAndStop(mySaveData.data.myDataArray[2])
display.mask = myObjectAsMask
addChild(display)
playAnimation.visible = true
}
private function playObjectAnimation(e:MouseEvent):void
{
myNewObject.getChildAt(0).play()
playAnimation.visible = false
}
private function saveObjectData(e:MouseEvent):void
{
var myDataArrayInProgram:Array = new Array()
myDataArrayInProgram.push(myObject.x)
myDataArrayInProgram.push(myObject.y)
myDataArrayInProgram.push(myObject.currentFrame)
myDataArrayInProgram.push(myObject.getChildAt(0).currentFrame)
bitmapDataSnapshot = new BitmapData(640, 480,true,0)
bitmapDataSnapshot.draw(myCanvas, null, null, null, new Rectangle(250, 30, 150, 100))
myDataArrayInProgram.push(bitmapDataSnapshot.getPixels(new Rectangle(250, 30, 150, 100)))
mySaveData.data.myDataArray = myDataArrayInProgram
mySaveData.flush()
trace(mySaveData.data.myDataArray)
}
private function mouseUp(e:MouseEvent):void
{
mouseIsDown = false
}
private function mouseDown(e:MouseEvent):void
{
mouseIsDown = true
myCanvas.graphics.moveTo(myCanvas.mouseX, myCanvas.mouseY);
}
private function drawDoodle(e:MouseEvent):void
{
if (mouseIsDown) {
myCanvas.graphics.lineStyle(5, 0, 1)
myCanvas.graphics.lineTo(myCanvas.mouseX, myCanvas.mouseY);
}
}
private function changeObjectFrame(e:Event):void
{
if (myComboBox.selectedLabel == "Rectangle") {
myObject.gotoAndStop(1)
}
if (myComboBox.selectedLabel == "Triangle") {
myObject.gotoAndStop(2)
}
if (myComboBox.selectedLabel == "Circle") {
myObject.gotoAndStop(3)
}
myCanvas.graphics.clear()
myObjectAsMask.gotoAndStop(myObject.currentFrame)
}
}
}
[/sourcecode]
As you can see, with a little bit of tweaking, it is absolutely possible to save all MovieClip data into SharedObjects for loading later on. This means that if you are writing a game, you can easily create save states instead of having small checkpoints...
Good luck on using this method of saving data on your games and applications, to help make your programs better than ever!
Thanks for reading!!!