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function

FSCommand2

SWF Action
Action Category: 
Miscellaneous
Action Details: 
0
Action Identifier: 
45
Action Structure: 
<n.a.>
Action Length: 
0 byte(s)
Action Stack: 
pop 1 (i), pop i1 (s)
Action Operation: 
i1 := pop();
for(idx := 2; idx < i1 + 2; ++i1) {
  sidx := pop();
}
fscommand2(s2, s3, ..., s(i1 + 1));
Action Flash Version: 
8

Execute the external command (s2) passing on parameters (s3, s4 ... sn.) The external command is likely a JavaScript function.

IMPORTANT NOTES

Ammar Mardawi sent a correction for this action and it looks like it works the way it is described now.

SWF Internal Functions

Since Flash version 5, you can use internal functions (really member functions or methods of internal objects.) These functions are always available. These methods are called using the Call Function action with the name of the object and function separated by a period. A few of these internal functions are duplicates of some direct action script instructions. In general, it is preferred to use these internal functions rather than the direct action. However, direct actions are a good way to optimize your ActionScript code.

Similarly, you can access internal constants (really variable ...

Enumerate Object

SWF Action
Action Category: 
Objects
Action Details: 
0
Action Identifier: 
85
Action Structure: 
<n.a.>
Action Length: 
0 byte(s)
Action Stack: 
pop 1 (o), push null, push * (s)
Action Operation: 
o1 := pop();
push(null);
foreach(o1 as name) {
  push(name);
}
Action Flash Version: 
6

Pop an object from the stack, push a null, then push the name of each variable and function member of that object on the stack.

This mechanism can be used to implement a foreach() function on an object. Be careful, though, that the stack be cleared when leaving the loop.

This action uses an object reference. If you only have the name of the object, use the Enumerate action instead.

Enumerate

SWF Action
Action Category: 
Objects
Action Details: 
0
Action Identifier: 
70
Action Structure: 
<n.a.>
Action Length: 
0 byte(s)
Action Stack: 
pop 1 (s), push null, push * (s)
Action Operation: 
s1 := pop();
push(null);
foreach(s1 as name) {
  push(name);
}
Action Flash Version: 
5

Pop the name of an object and push the name of all of its children (methods & variables) back on the stack. The list is null terminated.

This mechanism can be used to implement a foreach() function on an object. Be careful, though, that the stack be 100% cleared when leaving the loop.

This action uses the name of an object. If you have an object reference, use the Enumerate Object action instead.

Duplicate Sprite

SWF Action
Action Category: 
Movie
Action Details: 
0
Action Identifier: 
36
Action Structure: 
<n.a.>
Action Length: 
0 byte(s)
Action Stack: 
pop 1 (i), pop 2 (s)
Action Operation: 
i1 := pop();
s2 := pop();
s3 := pop();
duplicate_sprite(s3, s2, i1);
Action Flash Version: 
4

s3 is the name of an existing sprite1 which is copied by this action.

The new sprite is given  the name s2 and is placed at depth i1.

  • 1. Remember that a sprite, movie, thread and other terms that I forget, are all the same thing.

Declare Object

SWF Action
Action Category: 
Objects
Action Details: 
0
Action Identifier: 
67
Action Structure: 
<n.a.>
Action Length: 
0 byte(s)
Action Stack: 
pop 1 (i), pop i1 × 2 (a), push 1 (o)
Action Operation: 
i1 := pop();
for(idx := 2; idx <= i1 * 2 + 1; ++idx) {
  aidx := pop();
}
o := new Object;
o.a3 := a2;
o.a5 := a4;
...
o.a(i1 × 2 + 1) := a(i1 × 2);
push(o);
Action Flash Version: 
5

Pop the number of members that will be created in the object. Pop one value and one name1 per member and set the corresponding member in the object. The resulting object is pushed on the stack. It can later be sent to a function, saved in a register or set in a variable.

  • 1. The member names are converted to strings; they certainly should be strings though anything is supported.

Declare Function (V7)

SWF Action
Action Category: 
Control
Action Details: 
(256 variables)
Action Identifier: 
142
Action Structure: 
string     f_name;
unsigned short   f_arg_count;
unsigned char   f_reg_count;
unsigned short   f_declare_function2_reserved : 7;
unsigned short   f_preload_global : 1;
unsigned short   f_preload_parent : 1;
unsigned short   f_preload_root : 1;
unsigned short   f_suppress_super : 1;
unsigned short   f_preload_super : 1;
unsigned short   f_suppress_arguments : 1;
unsigned short   f_preload_arguments : 1;
unsigned short   f_suppress_this : 1;
unsigned short   f_preload_this : 1;
swf_params   f_params[f_arg_count];
unsigned short   f_function_length;

WARNING: the preload/suppress flags are defined on a short and thus the bytes in a Flash file will look swapped.

Action Length: 
-1 byte(s)
Action Stack: 
n.a.
Action Operation: 
create a function on the current target
Action Flash Version: 
7

Declare a function which can later be called with the Call Function action or Call Method action (when defined as a function member.) The f_function_length1 defines the number of bytes that the function declaration uses after the header (i.e. the size of the actions defined in the function.) All the actions included in this block are part of the function body.

  • 1. A function is limited to 65535 bytes.

Declare Function

SWF Action
Action Category: 
Control
Action Details: 
0
Action Identifier: 
155
Action Structure: 
string    f_name;
unsigned short   f_arg_count;
string   f_arg_name[f_arg_count];
unsigned short   f_function_length;
Action Length: 
-1 byte(s)
Action Stack: 
n.a.
Action Operation: 
create function f_name in the current target movie
Action Flash Version: 
5

Declare a function which later can be called with the Call Function action. The f_function_length1 defines the number of bytes that the function declaration takes. All the actions included in this block are part of the function. A function should terminate with a Return action. The value used by the return statement should be the only value left on the caller stack.

  • 1. Functions are limited to 65535 bytes in length.

Declare Dictionary

SWF Action
Action Category: 
Objects
Action Details: 
0
Action Identifier: 
136
Action Structure: 
unsigned short    f_count;
string   f_dictionary[f_count];
Action Length: 
-1 byte(s)
Action Stack: 
n.a.
Action Operation: 
<n.a.>
Action Flash Version: 
5
See Also: 

Declare an array of strings that will later be retrieved using the Push Data action with a dictionary lookup. There can be a maximum of 65534 strings. The visibility of a dictionary is within its DoAction or other similar block of actions. Note that you should have only one Declare Dictionary. The dictionary is visible from everywhere in the DoAction.

Declare Array

SWF Action
Action Category: 
Objects
Action Details: 
0
Action Identifier: 
66
Action Structure: 
<n.a.>
Action Length: 
0 byte(s)
Action Stack: 
pop 1 (i), pop i1 (a), push 1 (array)
Action Operation: 
i1 := pop();
for(idx := 2; idx < i1 + 2; ++idx) {
  aidx := pop();
}
arr := new array(i1);
arr[0] := a2;
arr[1] := a3;
...
arr[i1 - 1] := a(i1 + 1);
push(arr);
Action Flash Version: 
5

Pops the number of elements in the array. Pop one value per element and set the corresponding entry in the array. The array is pushed on the stack. It can later be sent to a function or set in a variable.

To set the indices, use the Declare Object instead.