Hi, I recently found a post which gave some code for a spark effect. I cannot
get it to work and was wondering if anyone could help me with it. this is the
code I used:

temp = 1;
while (temp <= _parent.dustinstances) {
current = random(1000);
duplicateMovieClip (_parent.spark, "spark" add current, current);

if (_parent.randomrotation <> 0) {
_parent["spark" add current]._rotation = random(_parent.randomrotation);
}
else {
_parent["spark" add current]._rotation = _parent.rotation;
}

_parent["spark" add current]._x = _x;
_parent["spark" add current]._y = _y;

_parent["spark" add current].xspeed = (random(_parent.xspeed)-3)+1;
_parent["spark" add current].yspeed = random(_parent.yspeed)*-1;
_parent["spark" add current].zspeed = random(_parent.zspeed)-5;
_parent["spark" add current].fade = random(5)+3;
temp++;
}

these are the errors I got:

**Error** Scene=Scene 1, layer=Layer 1, frame=1:Line 4:
')' or ',' expected
duplicateMovieClip (_parent.spark, "spark" add current, current);

**Error** Scene=Scene 1, layer=Layer 1, frame=1:Line 7:
']' expected
_parent["spark" add current]._rotation = random(_parent.randomrotation);

**Error** Scene=Scene 1, layer=Layer 1, frame=1:Line 8:
Unexpected '}' encountered
}


I am new to this, so I don't understand how to fix the problem.

P

Sorry, I forgot to mention that I was looking for a welding-torch effect. I
have seen some tutorials out there with animated (cartoony) effects, but I'd
like to find something more realistic.

Also, I am looking for an effect that would be like a glow, but using light
beams instead of a uiform glow, as if a car's headlights were shining from
behind an object, and you sam rays of light all around in different intensities.

[quoted text, click to view]

add is deprecated. Use "spark" + current

--
Dave -
Head Developer
www.blurredistinction.com
Adobe Community Expert
http://www.adobe.com/communities/experts/

Thanks for the reply. I have tried what you suggested, but now I get an error
that says:

A script in this movie is causing Flash Player to run slowly. If it continues
to run, your computer may become unresponsive. Do you want to abort the script?

...so something isn't right still. Any suggestions?

Cheers,

P

I have altered the code to the following, and it seems to work fine.

// Number of sparks
var total:Number = 60;

// Strength of gravity....higher number makes gravity stronger
var gravity:Number = 1;

// Conversion necessary to get radians from degress
var degreesToRadians:Number = Math.PI / 180;

// Method that creates the sparks clip
function createSparks():MovieClip
{
// Create the clip that contains the sparks
var depth:Number = this.getNextHighestDepth();
var ph:MovieClip = this.createEmptyMovieClip("ph" + depth, depth);

// Loop thru to create each spark clip
for (var i = 0; i < total; i++)
{
// Create and draw spark
var name:String = "spark" + i;
var mc:MovieClip = ph.createEmptyMovieClip(name, i);
mc.lineStyle(3, 0xEB8914, 100);
mc.lineTo(0.15, 0);

// Figure out direction and speed of each spark clip
var degrees:Number = Math.random() * 360;
var radians:Number = degrees * degreesToRadians;
var speed:Number = Math.ceil(Math.random() * 5) + 5;

// Set values to spark clip
mc.xVel = speed * Math.cos(radians);
mc.yVel = speed * Math.sin(radians);

// Set onEnterFrame event so it animates
mc.onEnterFrame = move;
}

// Return reference of the clip containing the sparks
return ph;
}

// Method called by onEnterFrame event
function move()
{
// Update position of spark clip
this._x += this.xVel;
this._y += this.yVel;

// Update y velocity due to gravity
this.yVel += gravity;

// Set alpha
this._alpha -= Math.ceil(Math.random() * 5);

// Get rid of parent clip once all sparks have faded out
if (this._alpha <= 0)
{
this._parent.removeMovieClip();
}
}

// Happens when you click on stage
onMouseUp = function ()
{
// Create sparks
var sparks:MovieClip = createSparks();

// Position to mouse
sparks._x = _xmouse;
sparks._y = _ymouse;
};

I would, however, still appreciate some more help as I am trying to use
attachMovie to attach a spark of my own design. Can anyone help me with what
to do with my spark_mc? I believe it will work in place of:

// Create and draw spark
var name:String = "spark" + i;
var mc:MovieClip = ph.createEmptyMovieClip(name, i);
mc.lineStyle(3, 0xEB8914, 100);
mc.lineTo(0.15, 0);

But I've no idea how to do this. Looking at attachMovie in the LiveDocs
doesn't help me much on this, as I just don't get how to apply it to this case.

P

I have used the following code:

this.attachMovie("spark", "spark_mc", this.getNextHighestDepth());
this.attachMovie("spark", "spark_mc", this.getNextHighestDepth(), {_x:100,
_y:100});
var name:String = "spark" + i;
var mc:MovieClip = ph.attachMovie("spark", name, i);

however, I get 2 instances of my spark on the screen when I press the button
that stays there. Any ideas why?

anyone?

okay, good news. I've got everything working. The spark is in its own
movieclip, and working independently. It looks like someone is welding
something. Looks really cool.

I still need help, though, with making this spark video loop so that it is not
continually generating new sparks. This is causing all of my animations to
slow down to turtle speed. Here is the code that I'm using for the spark
generator, which is loaded into an MC container:

// Number of sparks
var total:Number = 5;

// Strength of gravity....higher number makes gravity stronger
var gravity:Number = .5;

// Conversion necessary to get radians from degress
var degreesToRadians:Number = Math.PI / 180;

// Method that creates the sparks clip
function createSparks():MovieClip
{
// Create the clip that contains the sparks
var depth:Number = this.getNextHighestDepth();
var ph:MovieClip = this.createEmptyMovieClip("ph" + depth, depth);

// Loop thru to create each spark clip
for (var i = 0; i < total; i++)
{
// Create and draw spark
this.attachMovie("spark", "spark_mc", this.getNextHighestDepth());
this.attachMovie("spark", "spark_mc", this.getNextHighestDepth(), {_x:100,
_y:100});
var name:String = "spark" + i;
var mc:MovieClip = ph.attachMovie("spark", name, i);

//var name:String = "spark" + i;
//var mc:MovieClip = ph.createEmptyMovieClip(name, i);
//mc.lineStyle(3, 0xEB8914, 100);
//mc.lineTo(0.15, 0);

// Figure out direction and speed of each spark clip
var degrees:Number = Math.random() * 360;
var radians:Number = degrees * degreesToRadians;
var speed:Number = Math.ceil(Math.random() * 3) + 3;

// Set values to spark clip
mc.xVel = speed * Math.cos(radians);
mc.yVel = speed * Math.sin(radians);

// Set onEnterFrame event so it animates
mc.onEnterFrame = move;
}

// Return reference of the clip containing the sparks
return ph;
}

// Method called by onEnterFrame event
function move()
{
// Update position of spark clip
this._x += this.xVel;
this._y += this.yVel;

// Update y velocity due to gravity
this.yVel += gravity;

// Set alpha
this._alpha -= Math.ceil(Math.random() * 15);

// Get rid of parent clip once all sparks have faded out
if (this._alpha <= 0)
{
this._parent.removeMovieClip();
}
}
// original code was onMouseUp
// Happens when you click on stage
onEnterFrame = function ()
{
// Create sparks
var sparks:MovieClip = createSparks();
//sparks.stage.align = "C";

// Position to mouse
//sparks._x = _xmouse;
//sparks._y = _ymouse;
};


Thanks for any input.

P