gotoAndPlay random frame array

[943studio]

Hi everyone,

I'm having some issues with AS3 ..... I have a slide show as a header for a website all of my pictures are set in the timeline with transitions. What i'm trying to do is have my slideshow goto a random frame onload to ensure a new look to the website on every visit. So here is what I have so far ...

// Array for specific random frames

var rdmFrame:Array = new Array();

rdmFrame[0] = "2";

rdmFrame[1] = "3";

rdmFrame[2] = "4";

rdmFrame[3] = "5";

rdmFrame[4] = "6";

rdmFrame[5] = "7";

rdmFrame[6] = "8";rdmFrame[7] = "9";rdmFrame[8] = "10";rdmFrame[9] = "11";

// Random number equation

var randomNumber = Math.floor(Math.random()*10);// Trace to show randomNumber and Array outputtrace(randomNumber,rdmFrame[randomNumber]);// gotoAndPlay Frame -- I have it set as gotoAndStop right now to see the trace and how its workinggotoAndStop(rdmFrame[randomNumber]);

My issue is everytime it loads it always works random but only goes up to frame #5 never over ???? any value over 6 it plays frame #5 ??? and I have no clue why? my trace is showing that my code is working right. I have attatched a demo its just a simple test to show you what i'm talking about. Thanks in advance

[kglad]

you must wait (ie, use preloader code) until your 11 frames are loaded before executing your goto.

in addition, you can simplify your code considerably:

this.gotoAndStop(1+Math.ceil(Math.random()*10));

[943studio]

ok so like this?

var rdmFrame:Array = new Array();

rdmFrame[0] = "2";

rdmFrame[1] = "3";

rdmFrame[2] = "4";

rdmFrame[3] = "5";

rdmFrame[4] = "6";

rdmFrame[5] = "7";

rdmFrame[6] = "8";

rdmFrame[7] = "9";

rdmFrame[8] = "10";

rdmFrame[9] = "11";

this.gotoAndStop(1+Math.ceil(Math.random()*10));

or should i simplify further like this ...

var rdmFrame:Array = ["2","3","4","5","6","7","8","9","10","11"];

this.gotoAndStop(1+Math.ceil(Math.random()*10));

and sorry i'm fairly new what would be a good simple preloader code?

[kglad]

no.  that one line of code replaces all your code (that you showed in this thread).  to add preloader code:

stop();

var t:Timer=new Timer(100,0);

t.addEventListener(TimerEvent.TIMER,preloadF);

t.start();

function preloadF(e:TimerEvent){

if(this.framesLoaded>=11){

t.stop();

t.removeEventListener(TimerEvent.TIMER,preloadF);

t=null;

this.gotoAndStop(1+Math.ceil(Math.random()*10));

}

}

[943studio]

ok awesome i now understand.

Just one thing .... the whole point of my slideshow is to load a random frame in a large movie so to load an array into that i would do something like this...

stop();
var t:Timer=new Timer(100,0);
t.addEventListener(TimerEvent.TIMER,preloadF);
t.start();
 
function preloadF(e:TimerEvent){
if(this.framesLoaded>=11){
t.stop();
t.removeEventListener(TimerEvent.TIMER,preloadF);
t=null;
var rdmFrame:Array = ["30","60","90","120","150","180","210","240","270","300"];
this.gotoAndStop(rdmFrame[1+Math.ceil(Math.random()*10)]);
}
}

[kglad · Accepted solution]

you don't need an array unless the possible start-frames have no easy-to-determine pattern.  in the two arrays you've shown, there's an easy-to-determine pattern so no array is needed.

but, if you have an array of start frames like:

var startframeA:Array = [5,6,33,43,55,111,123]; // with largest frame number at the final array index

// you could use:

stop();

var t:Timer=new Timer(100,0);

t.addEventListener(TimerEvent.TIMER,preloadF);

t.start();

function preloadF(e:TimerEvent){

if(this.framesLoaded>=startframeA[startframeA.length-1]){

t.stop();

t.removeEventListener(TimerEvent.TIMER,preloadF);

t=null;

this.gotoAndStop(startframeA[Math.floor(Math.random()*startframeA.length)]);

}

}