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Flash Script – Load XML Data into Flash

Georgina Laidlaw
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Here, I’ll show you how to load xml data into Flash. Note that this tutorial assumes that you have a very good knowledge of xml. Download the sample files here.

1. Let’s start by creating a xml document. Open notepad and insert: 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?> 

   <xmltest> 

       <parentnode> 

         <node1>First node value</node1> 

        <node2>Second node value</node2> 

        <node3>Third node value</node3> 

        <node4>Fourth node value</node4> 

        <node5>Fifth node value</node5> 

       </parentnode> 

   </xmltest>

2. Save the file as flash.xml.

3. Open a new movie in Flash. I have set the movie properties at width:370 and height:200.

4. Now, create dynamic text, and give it a variable name "txt". Be sure to check html in the text options pallete.

5. Right click on the first and only frame in the movie, and select Actions. Insert:

XML_var = new XML(); 

// now load up the url. 

XML_var.load("http://www.flashcircle.com/swffiles/flash.xml"); 

// when xml is loaded call functon displayXML 

XML_var.onLoad = displayXML; 

// display in txt xml is loading 

txt = "Loading XML data..."; 

function displayXML()  

{ 

mainTag = new XML; 

elementTag = new XML; 

articleList = new Array; 

elementList = new Array; 

mainTag = this.firstChild.nextSibling; 

articleList = mainTag.childNodes;  

txt = ""; 

//loop through xml 

for(i=0;i<=articleList.length;i++) 

{//start for 

elementList = articleList[i].childNodes; 

//start for 

for(j=0;j<=elementList.length;j++)  

{//start for 

elementTag = elementList[j]; 

head = elementTag.firstChild.nodeValue; 

if(elementTag.nodeName.toLowerCase() == "node1") 

{txt += head +"";} 

if(elementTag.nodeName.toLowerCase() == "node2") 

{txt += head +"";} 

if(elementTag.nodeName.toLowerCase() == "node3") 

{txt += head +"";} 

if(elementTag.nodeName.toLowerCase() == "node4") 

{txt += head +"";} 

if(elementTag.nodeName.toLowerCase() == "node5") 

{txt += head +"";} 

}//end for 

}//end for 

}

Let me explain how each line works.

XML_var = new XML()

...declare XML_var as a new xml object.


XML_var.load("http://www.flashcircle.com/swffiles/flash.xml")

...load the xml file.


XML_var.onLoad = displayXML

...if file is loaded, call the displayXML()/#epc#/ function.


for(i=0;i<=articleList.length;i++)

...iterate using for loop through xml file to display the elements.