AS2 Search xml - need progress timer of some sort

greetings!

I have followed Kirupa's XML Search engine here: http://www.kirupa.com/web/xml/examples/searchbestof.htm

My XML, however, is quite large. What I need is to initiate a "progress bar" or "timer" or... er... something that would show on the screen when the person clicks "Search". It only takes a few seconds but I think that some sort of graphic would be needed. I cannot find the correct terms to search with google or bing so, here I am!

I have a button called "search_btn" inside of an MC called "search_fields" that, when clicked, I would like to have a graphic showing some progress like a clock hand or something that would disappear when the dynamic text box (results_txt) is updated with the results of the search.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Button onRelease AS:

on (release) {
search_fields.search_btn.onRelease = function(){
if (search_fields.query_txt.text.length < 3){
results_txt.text = "Please use a search term with 3 or more characters.";
return (0);
}
 
var searchElements = ElementsToSearch();
 
var nodesWithQuery = SearchXML(
search_xml.firstChild.childNodes,
search_fields.query_txt.text,
searchElements
);
 
if (nodesWithQuery.length){
DisplayNodes(
nodesWithQuery,
results_txt
);
}else{
results_txt.text = "No results for "+search_fields.query_txt.text+".";
return (0);
}
 
HighlightOccurences(
search_fields.query_txt.text,
results_txt,
search_highlight
);
}
}

Actions on Frame 1:

var search_xml = new XML();
search_xml.ignoreWhite = true;
search_xml.onLoad = function(success){
if (success){
search_fields._visible = true;
}else results_txt.text = "Error loading XML";
}
search_fields._visible = false;
search_xml.load("titles_temporary.xml");

String.prototype.contains = function(searchString){
return (this.toLowerCase().indexOf(searchString.toLowerCase()) != -1);
}
Array.prototype.contains = function(searchValue){
var i = this.length;
while(i--) if (this.toLowerCase() == searchValue.toLowerCase()) return true;
return false;
}

SearchXML = function(nodes, query, useChildElements){
var results = [];
for (var i=0; i<nodes.length; i++){
  for (var j=0; j<nodes.childNodes.length; j++){
   currNode = nodes.childNodes;
   if (useChildElements.contains(currNode.nodeName)){
    if (currNode.firstChild.nodeValue.contains(query)){
     results.push(nodes);
     break;
    }
   }
  }
}
return results;
}

ElementsToSearch = function(){
var childElementsToSearch = [];
if (search_fields.title_check.checked){
  childElementsToSearch.push("title_1");
}
if (search_fields.author_check.checked){
  childElementsToSearch.push("title_2");
}
if (search_fields.message_check.checked){
  childElementsToSearch.push("number");
}
return childElementsToSearch;
}

DisplayNodes = function(nodes, field_txt){
field_txt.htmlText = "";
var entry;
var separator = "<br>_____________________________________________________________________________________<br><br>";
for (var i=0; i<nodes.length; i++){
  entry = "";
  entry += "<b>"+ nodes.childNodes[0].firstChild.nodeValue +"</b>";
  entry += "<br>" +"<b>"+ nodes.childNodes[1].firstChild.nodeValue +"</b>";
  entry += "<br>" +"<b>"+ nodes.childNodes[2].firstChild.nodeValue +"</b>";
  entry += "<br>" + "File Number: " + "<b>"+ nodes.childNodes[3].firstChild.nodeValue +"</b>";
  if (nodes.attributes.url.length){
   entry += "<br><a href='" + nodes.attributes.url;
   entry += "'><font color='#0000FF'>Read more...</font></a>";
  }
  field_txt.htmlText += entry + separator;
}
}
search_highlight = new TextFormat();
search_highlight.color = 0xFF0000;
search_highlight.italic = true;

HighlightOccurences = function(str, field_txt, format){
if (!str.length) return (0);
var start = field_txt.text.indexOf(str);
var end = start + str.length;
while (start != -1){
  field_txt.setTextFormat(start, end, search_highlight);
  start = field_txt.text.indexOf(str, end);
  end = start + str.length;
}
}
search_fields.title_check.title_txt.text = "English";
search_fields.author_check.title_txt.text = "French";
search_fields.message_check.title_txt.text = "Table Number";

search_fields.search_btn.onRelease = function(){
if (search_fields.query_txt.text.length < 3){
  results_txt.text = "Please use a search term with 3 or more characters.";
  return (0);
}

var searchElements = ElementsToSearch();
var nodesWithQuery = SearchXML(
        search_xml.firstChild.childNodes,
        search_fields.query_txt.text,
        searchElements
       );

if (nodesWithQuery.length){
  DisplayNodes(
   nodesWithQuery,
   results_txt
  );
}else{
  results_txt.text = "No results for "+search_fields.query_txt.text+".";
  return (0);
}

HighlightOccurences(
  search_fields.query_txt.text,
  results_txt,
  search_highlight
);

scrollbar.setScroll(0);
}
scrollbar.setTarget(results_txt);
stop();