Hello all,

I am trying to create a dynamic menu for a video player. Much like the one
found here (http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/. )Obviously this is a Flash site and
I can only assume the video list is being generated via XML. I am trying to
accomplish the same thing, only I am not using FCS.

I just want to create the buttons dynamically with thumbnail images and text
via XML, and in turn load the video based on a button click. I have the video
part working fine, using a video object, I just need to know how to create the
buttons WITH THUMBS from an XML file. I can figure out how to load the video
once the button is clicked. The problem is the menu itself and loading the
different thumbnail with the button.

I am sure it has something to do with "attachMovie, DuplicateMovie, or
CreateEmptyMovieClip" but I am not sure how to do this with XML.

I really want to stay away from using the pre-built components and want to
code this myself so a list component is out of the question.

I have search for many hours now and can not find anything that is like what I
am looking for yet. So any help pointing me in the right direction would be
much appreciated.

From what I can gather it has something to do with creating what the button is
going to look like (mainly the Background for mouse on and over states) and
save it off as a MC then giving it a linkage ID. Within that MC I would think
there would be another MC to hold the Thumbnail image with its own linkage ID
and another MC that has a named dynamic text filed with it own linkage ID. Am I
total off base here?

Thanks

Hi,

On the same line I would suggest you to create an MC and put a button and a
textField inside. Then using duplicate MC function, create instances of this MC
according to the XML. For this, create XML nodes for each clip containing text,
image to be displayed, URL for the video etc., and repeate the node for as many
as you require. Then parse the XML in flash in an multi dimensional array. Then
using length pf array duplicate your MC and populate the required menu. I guess
this is enough for you.

Anything else required do contact me!
Cheers!!
Shreeram

Well it would be good if you told us HOW you figured it out, or is it a
trade secret? hehe.

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