Adobe Community: Playing random movieclips via timeline without repeating

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Playing random movieclips via timeline without repeating

Aug 31, 2012 12:30 PM

I have eight movie clips on my main timeline. The idea is to play the first movie clip, once a button is clicked, go to a random frame 2-8 on the timeline and play the movielip on that frame, the get sent back to frame 1 to start the process over. I have this figured out, but I also don't want any frames repeating until they have all been played. Inside the first movieclip is a button with the following actionscript attached. Everything works perfectly EXCEPT my frames are repeating before they have all played. I can't see in my script where I have gone wrong. Please help!

var nums:Array = new Array();

1,2,3,4....

for(var i:uint=1; i<7; i++){

nums.push(i);

}

// for shuffling the array

function shuffle(a:Array) {

var p:int;

var t:*;

var ivar:int;

for (ivar = a.length-1; ivar>=0; ivar--) {

p=Math.floor((ivar+1)*Math.random());

t = a[ivar];

a[ivar] = a[p];

a[p] = t;

}

// shuffle the array

shuffle(nums);

// set up the controls for the button

var count:uint = 0;

boxButton.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, plyRndmMv);

function plyRndmMv(evt:MouseEvent):void {

MovieClip(root).gotoAndStop(nums[count]+2);

count++;

if(count == 8){

shuffle(nums);

count = 0;

}

1347 Views 17 Replies Latest reply: kglad, Sep 4, 2012 1:39 PM

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62,194 posts
Jul 21, 2002

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1. kglad,

Aug 31, 2012 12:46 PM in reply to Lenaped

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if that code is on frame 1, you have a problem. if it is, you can use a boolean to prevent that code from repeatedly executing every time you return to that frame.

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2. esdebon,

Aug 31, 2012 12:46 PM in reply to Lenaped

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var nums:Array = new Array();
1,2,3,4....
for(var i:uint=1; i<7; i++){
nums.push(i);
}

// for shuffling the array
function shuffle(a:Array):Array {
    var randomArray=new Array();
    var p:int;
    var t:*;
    var ivar:int;
     while(a.length>0){
       p=Math.round(a.length-1*Math.random());
        randomArray.push(a[p])
        a .splice(p, 1);
     }
     return randomArray;

}

// shuffle the array
shuffle(nums);

// set up the controls for the button
var count:uint = 0;

boxButton.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, plyRndmMv);

function plyRndmMv(evt:MouseEvent):void {
    MovieClip(root).gotoAndStop(nums[count]+2);
    count++;
    if(count == 8){
        nums=shuffle(nums);
        count = 0;
    }
}

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3. esdebon,

Aug 31, 2012 12:49 PM in reply to esdebon

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the problem is:

    for (ivar = a.length-1; ivar>=0; ivar--) {
        p=Math.floor((ivar+1)*Math.random());
        t = a[ivar];
        a[ivar] = a[p]; // < HERE p can be a number for example 2 then p can be again 2 and then 2...
        a[p] = t;
    }

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4. Lenaped,

Aug 31, 2012 1:04 PM in reply to kglad

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It is on a movie clip in frame 1. How do I use a boolean to keep that code from re executing? I still want to be able to go back to frame 1 and click on that button to load another random frame (minus the ones that have already been played). Tghanks for your help!

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5. kglad,

Aug 31, 2012 1:08 PM in reply to esdebon

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esdebon,

there's nothing wrong with the shuffle() function. that's an implementation of the fisher-yates shuffle.

go experiment/study it but please don't confuse the op.

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6. kglad,

Aug 31, 2012 1:10 PM in reply to Lenaped

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use:

var alreadyExecuted:Boolean;

if(!alreadyExecuted){
alreadyExecuted=true;
var nums:Array = new Array();
1,2,3,4....
for(var i:uint=1; i<7; i++){
nums.push(i);
}

// for shuffling the array
function shuffle(a:Array) {
    var p:int;
    var t:*;
    var ivar:int;
    for (ivar = a.length-1; ivar>=0; ivar--) {
        p=Math.floor((ivar+1)*Math.random());
        t = a[ivar];
        a[ivar] = a[p];
        a[p] = t;
    }
}

// shuffle the array
shuffle(nums);

// set up the controls for the button
var count:uint = 0;

boxButton.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, plyRndmMv);

function plyRndmMv(evt:MouseEvent):void {
    MovieClip(root).gotoAndStop(nums[count]+2);
    count++;
    if(count == 8){
        shuffle(nums);
        count = 0;
    }
}
}

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7. Lenaped,

Aug 31, 2012 1:21 PM in reply to kglad

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kglad- I tried adding the Boolean variable you suggested, but it's still repeating already executed movieclips. Would I need to set that boolean to true somewhere, once that function has played. Sorry I'm so clueless and thanks for your help!

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8. kglad,

Aug 31, 2012 2:11 PM in reply to Lenaped

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it is assigned to true if you copied that code.

what do the traces reveal:

var alreadyExecuted:Boolean;

if(!alreadyExecuted){
alreadyExecuted=true;
var nums:Array = new Array();
//1,2,3,4....
for(var i:int=2; i<=8; i++){
nums.push(i);
}

// for shuffling the array
function shuffle(a:Array) {
    var p:int;
    var t:*;
    var ivar:int;
    for (ivar = a.length-1; ivar>=0; ivar--) {
        p=Math.floor((ivar+1)*Math.random());
        t = a[ivar];
        a[ivar] = a[p];
        a[p] = t;
    }
}

// shuffle the array
shuffle(nums);
trace(nums);

// set up the controls for the button
var count:uint = 0;

boxButton.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, plyRndmMv);

function plyRndmMv(evt:MouseEvent):void {
MovieClip(root).gotoAndStop(nums[count]);
trace(nums[count]);
    count++;
    if(count == 8){
        shuffle(nums);
        count = 0;
    }
}
}

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9. Lenaped,

Aug 31, 2012 2:24 PM in reply to kglad

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hmmm:

5,7,4,3,8,2,6
5
5,3,8,6,4,7,2
5
8,2,6,3,4,5,7
8
3,4,5,2,6,8,7

It looks like it's generating a new string of random numbers every time the button is clicked.

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10. kglad,

Aug 31, 2012 3:17 PM in reply to kglad

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are you sure you're using the code i suggested? did you change anything??

it looks like you're either not assigning alreadyExecuted=true or you're using:

var alreadyExecuted:Boolean = false;

instead of

var alreadyExecuted:Boolean;

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11. Lenaped,

Aug 31, 2012 3:39 PM in reply to kglad

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Yes, in fact, I just copied your code above and pasted it into my actionscript frame with the same results.

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12. Lenaped,

Aug 31, 2012 3:44 PM in reply to Lenaped

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I've uploaded a smaller version of my fla file here, If you want to look at it:
http://www.lenapodesta.com/bb_master_v18_hlp.fla
The code that we are talking about is in the movieclip on the first frame(startPage), on frame 1

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13. kglad,

Aug 31, 2012 3:58 PM in reply to Lenaped

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if that code is in a movieclip and that movieclip is re-initialized each time some other timeline (ie, the parent's timeline) returns to frame 1, that will cause the problem you're seeing.

put that code (or, at least, the alreadyExecuted part of it) on your main timeline.

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14. Lenaped,

Sep 4, 2012 12:24 PM in reply to kglad

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I put the code and animation on my main timeline. This pushed the frames with the movieclips on them back to frames 359-365. My actionScript looks like this"
var alreadyExecuted:Boolean;

if(!alreadyExecuted){
alreadyExecuted=true;
var nums:Array = new Array();
//1,2,3,4....
for(var i:int=359; i<=365; i++){
nums.push(i);
}

// for shuffling the array
function shuffle(a:Array) {
    var p:int;
    var t:*;
    var ivar:int;
    for (ivar = a.length-1; ivar>=0; ivar--) {
        p=Math.floor((ivar+1)*Math.random());
        t = a[ivar];
        a[ivar] = a[p];
        a[p] = t;
    }
}

// shuffle the array
shuffle(nums);
trace(nums);

// set up the controls for the button
var count:uint = 0;

boxButton.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, plyRndmMv);

function plyRndmMv(evt:MouseEvent):void {
    MovieClip(root).gotoAndStop(nums[count]);
trace(nums[count]);
    count++;
    if(count == 7){
        shuffle(nums);
        count = 0;
    }
}
}
On trace, my output looks like this
365,360,363,364,361,359,362
365
This is correct. However, when the start page animation starts up again and I try to click on the buttone to play the next frame in the array, nothing happens. Any suggestions?

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15. kglad,

Sep 4, 2012 12:51 PM in reply to Lenaped

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if your button is being reinitialized, you need to re-execute its listener code. ie, remove boxButton.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, plyRndmMv); from the if(!alreadyExecuted) block:

var alreadyExecuted:Boolean;
boxButton.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, plyRndmMv);

if(!alreadyExecuted){
alreadyExecuted=true;
var nums:Array = new Array();
//1,2,3,4....
for(var i:int=359; i<=365; i++){
nums.push(i);
}

// for shuffling the array
function shuffle(a:Array) {
    var p:int;
    var t:*;
    var ivar:int;
    for (ivar = a.length-1; ivar>=0; ivar--) {
        p=Math.floor((ivar+1)*Math.random());
        t = a[ivar];
        a[ivar] = a[p];
        a[p] = t;
    }
}

// shuffle the array
shuffle(nums);
trace(nums);

// set up the controls for the button
var count:uint = 0;

function plyRndmMv(evt:MouseEvent):void {
    MovieClip(root).gotoAndStop(nums[count]);
trace(nums[count]);
    count++;
    if(count == 7){
        shuffle(nums);
        count = 0;
    }
}
}

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16. Lenaped,

Sep 4, 2012 1:11 PM in reply to kglad

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YESSSS! Thank you! Thank you, Thank you! That works perfectly. You are my hero.

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17. kglad,

Sep 4, 2012 1:39 PM in reply to Lenaped

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you're welcome.

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Playing random movieclips via timeline without repeating

Aug 31, 2012 12:30 PM

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