Newbie here. I'm creating a network diagram, and for each item (laptop, database, web server) I need to update text in an area of the screen with details for that object. I do not know whether to loadimages (can't figure it out), show/hide images,

i would create a one transparent movieclip library symbol.

drag it from the library and overlay the first hotspot that will work like a button. position and size it to your liking.  assign it an instance name, eg hotspot_0.  then add the movieclip that you want to appear when you rollover hotspot_0 in the position you want it to appear.  assign it an instance name of eg, image_0.

repeat the above 29 more times for your 30 hotspots and movieclips (which all be on-stage when you finish).  you can use different layers for the movieclips so you can hide and unhide them to keep your workspace manageable.

create a dynamic textfield (possibly multiline) where you want your text to appear and assign it an instance name, eg tf.  embed your font.

finally, add your code:

var ivar:int;

var textA:Array=['the text seen when hotspot_0 is rolled over','the text seen when hotspot_1 is rolled over',...,'the text seen when hotspot_29 is rolled over'];

for(var i:int=0;i<30;i++){

this['hotspot_'+i].ivar=i;

this['hotspot_'+i].addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_OVER,overF);

this['hotspot_'+i].addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_OUT,outF);

this['image_'+i].parent.removeChild(this['image_'+i]);

}

function overF(e:MouseEvent):void{

ivar=e.currentTarget.ivar;

tf.text=textA[ivar];

addChild(this['image_'+ivar]);

}

function outF(e:MouseEvent):void{

ivar=e.currentTarget.ivar;

tf.text='';

removeChild(this['image_'+ivar]);

}

Thanks.  I'm working on the main functionality before I create all the network objects.   So what I understand would be to set each object in the diagram as a button, add mouseover/load image (movieclip), and mouse out/remove image (movie clip).  Is that correct?

Can these target clips be positioned onload?  Basically I want the description field for each object (the movieclip loaded/unloaded per network object) to populate the same rectangular area in the lower left corner of the stage.

Thanks so much for replying.