make children with addChild and for loop butt up against each other?

[markerline]

I have the following code:

import flash.display.MovieClip;

for (var i:int=0; i<10; i++){

var square_mc:MovieClip=new MovieClip();

square_mc.graphics.beginFill(0xFF0000);

square_mc.graphics.lineTo(200,0);

square_mc.graphics.lineTo(200,200);

square_mc.graphics.lineTo(0,200);

square_mc.graphics.lineTo(0,0);

addChild(square_mc);

square_mc.scaleX=.25+(.13*Math.sin(i/2)+.03*Math.abs((Math.sin(i*2)/2+Math.cos(i*2)/2)));

square_mc.scaleY=square_mc.scaleX;

square_mc.alpha=i*.1+.3;

square_mc.y=i*(45+2*i);

}

I would like the square_mc's to sit against each other and I can't figure out the proper math to put into the square_mc.y parameter to make them do so.  I thought about using the square_mc.height parameter or the square_mc.scaleX parameter in conjunction with i to sit them right one above each other but when I tried that it didn't work.

Anyone able to help me with some simple math?

-markerline

[kglad]

:

import flash.display.MovieClip;

var nextY:Number = 0;

var yGap:int = 2;

for (var i:int=0; i<10; i++){

var square_mc:MovieClip=new MovieClip();

square_mc.graphics.beginFill(0xFF0000);

square_mc.graphics.lineTo(200,0);

square_mc.graphics.lineTo(200,200);

square_mc.graphics.lineTo(0,200);

square_mc.graphics.lineTo(0,0);

addChild(square_mc);

square_mc.scaleX=.25+(.13*Math.sin(i/2)+.03*Math.abs((Math.sin(i*2)/2+ Math.cos(i*2)/2)));

square_mc.scaleY=square_mc.scaleX;

square_mc.alpha=i*.1+.3;

square_mc.y=nextY;

nextY+=square_mc.height+yGap;

}

I would like the square_mc's to sit against each other and I can't figure out the proper math to put into the square_mc.y parameter to make them do so.  I thought about using the square_mc.height parameter or the square_mc.scaleX parameter in conjunction with i to sit them right one above each other but when I tried that it didn't work.

Anyone able to help me with some simple math?

-markerline

[Ned Murphy]

Here's one approach...

var currentY:Number = 0;

for (var i:int=0; i<10; i++){
var square_mc:MovieClip=new MovieClip();
square_mc.graphics.beginFill(0xFF0000);
square_mc.graphics.lineTo(200,0);
square_mc.graphics.lineTo(200,200);
square_mc.graphics.lineTo(0,200);
square_mc.graphics.lineTo(0,0);
addChild(square_mc);
square_mc.scaleX=.25+(.13*Math.sin(i/2)+.03*Math.abs((Math.sin(i*2)/2+ Math.cos(i*2)/2)));
square_mc.scaleY=square_mc.scaleX;
square_mc.alpha=i*.1+.3;
square_mc.y=currentY;
currentY += square_mc.height;
}

[markerline]

Two of the top experts in this forum helped me with the same issue and I like both of your answers.  I will give each of you "helpful" since I can't assign 2 correct answers.  I hope that resonates ok with you guys.

And you DID use the height property but why it didn't work for me I will not know.

This is what I had at one point during the process:

import flash.display.MovieClip;

for (var i:int=0; i<10; i++){
var square_mc:MovieClip=new MovieClip();
square_mc.graphics.beginFill(0xFF0000);
square_mc.graphics.lineTo(200,0);
square_mc.graphics.lineTo(200,200);
square_mc.graphics.lineTo(0,200);
square_mc.graphics.lineTo(0,0);
addChild(square_mc);
square_mc.scaleX=.25+(.13*Math.sin(i/2)+.03*Math.abs((Math.sin(i*2)/2+Math.cos(i*2)/2)));
square_mc.scaleY=square_mc.scaleX;
square_mc.alpha=i*.1+.3;
//square_mc.y=i*(45+2*i);
square_mc.y=i*(square_mc.height);


}

I wonder why this math does not work properly.  Eventually I will use this to create a scrolling thumbnail menu with the alpha being 1 for all children but the children being different thumbnails.  I may post again if I have trouble along the way of achieving the scrolling part, where the mouseY position will alter the inverse Y position of the children and also cause them to change in size according to the sine wave function that I implemented above (square_mc.scaleX=....).  Looking at my math for that line I see I have added too much so I will probably simplify the code further.

Thank you Both!!!!

[Ned Murphy]

You're welcome... kGlad's the expert, I just help if I can.

That approach didn't work because you are treating the height like it is a constant, but it is not since it is dependent on the  scaleX value which is varying.

square_mc.scaleY=square_mc.scaleX; // this changes the height of the square from one to the next

square_mc.y=i*(square_mc.height); // this would only work if the height was constant

just a fabricated example....

y3 = 3x30=90  // ends at 120 (90 + 30)

y4 = 4x32 = 128 // starts 8 pixels after the previous ends

[markerline]

Ah, I see I see.  Thanks for that explanation.  I expanded this post into another thread with added development to my interface.  I'm hoping someone comes up with a solution for my issue.  You might find it by clicking on my avatar and searching for my threads if you're interested in helping again.

Best,

-markerline