I can't target the mask in javascript. I need it to follow the mouse

[joshe55299479]

Hi. First post, thanks for reading 

Here is what I have to target the movie clip on the mask layer:

exportRoot.labelXMask.x = props.graph.maskX.x

Now this works fine when the layer is not a mask but becomes un-targetable once the layer is made a mask. I've done a bit of reading and from what I've gathered once I've published that movie clip on the mask it loses its instance name.

Other people seem to have cracked it by targeting 'mask', which I have to admit is not making much sense to me. I've tried the following:

exportRoot.mask.x = props.graph.maskX.x
exportRoot.labelXMask.mask.x = props.graph.maskX.x
mask.x = props.graph.maskX.x
mask_1.x = props.graph.maskX.x

but no luck 😞 Can anyone shed some light, please? 

Save me Obi-Wan!

[ClayUUID · Accepted solution]

While it might be possible to do what you want by rummaging around in the guts of the generated data structures, you're far better off doing this properly with a programmatic mask.

this.themask.visible = false;
this.maskee.mask = this.themask.shape;
this.themask.shape.x = 200;

Where "maskee" is the movieclip to be masked, and "themask" is a movieclip containing a single, contiguous vector shape and nothing else. Origin for the masked region is 0, 0 of the masked clip's parent.

[joshe55299479]

Hi Clay - I have a question regarding my specific scenario if you don't mind. 

I have two masks on the stage - one has it's x coordinates set by the mouse and the other the y coordinates. I'm using these masks to only reveal bold text when the correct region is being highlighted. 

If I'm reading you're answer correctly:

It's targeting a shape I've generated in animate? 

this.themask.visible = false;
this.maskee.mask = this.themask.shape;
this.themask.shape.x = 200;

in my case would be:

exportRoot.maskX.visible = false;
exportRoot.labelX.mask = exportRoot.maskX.shape;
exportRoot.maskX.shape.x = props.mouse.x

Does that seem right to you?

[ClayUUID]

Probably? Why don't you try it and see if it works.