Can you create a "constructor" for movie clips?

[Guest]

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What I'm doing:

var this_array[counter] = new monster; //monster is a movie clip

init_monster(); //set's things like .name, .x, .y, etc.

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What I want to do:

var this_array[counter] = new monster();

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When I add a "monster"  I then call a function to "initialize" all of it's stats.

Is there a way in the creation of the object, like with a constructor, where it automatilly does it on 1 line?

I'm teaching myself and am a little stuck on this part.  If I have to create a "monster class" to do what I want just say so.

Any simple examples or links to simple examples would be great. Thanks in advance.

[Ned Murphy · Accepted solution]

There is no real difference between these two lines except that the second one is the correct way to write it. 

var this_array[counter] = new monster;

var this_array[counter] = new monster();

In both cases you would need to take some extra action to assign various properties to the object.  You could write a class file that does this, or you could let Flash create the file (by assigning a class linkage in the library) sans the ability to set specific propertiies to specific values.

[Guest]

In terms of game speed/efficency, which would require less work for the computer at run time?  Using init_monster() at creation or having the monster class?

[Ned Murphy]

I don't chase microseconds of processing time like that to see which is faster, so I can't answer it.  If the code does the same processing, it probably doesn't matter how you spread it around.... it will still do the same amount of work to get from A to B.

From a programming speed/efficiency standpoint, having the class be a self-contained vehicle defining an object has little if anything that can compete with it.

[Guest]

Ok so I've made a class Monster, and I have my movie object Red_Monster

How would I go about creating the variable so it knows it's both?

The only thing I can think of is linking them together as a .variable of the other.

Example:

var this_monster = new Red_Monster();

this_monster.stats = new Monster();

It just seems a bit slopy, it would be nice to have this_monster know it's both.  Is there a way to do that?

(added)
I've gotten Monster to extend MovieClip, and this is working to use it as a movieclip.

Currently trying to change the image of the movie clip in code to Red_Monster. Is there a way to do that?

(added)
Found how to do it, sort of.  Change the class linkage name to Monster instead of Red_Monster.  I just have to make classes for each movie clip.

(last add, answer for anyone else)

Ok the answer is to create a Monster class that extends MovieClip.  Then for each color_Monster they all extend Monster, no other code needed inside each class other then the constructor.