[BoogWeed]

Hi all,

This is going to sound very simple, but I'm having some trouble understanding exactly how the timelines work. I've tried searching online but I haven't found what I'm looking for.

I have two animated movieclips. The first one is 50 frames long and the second one is 200 frames long.

On the main timeline, I want to the first clip to play and when that has finished I want the second clip to play. But I put them onto the main timeline, each on a different layer, they play at the same time.

I understand MC's play independently of the main timeline, but I've tried placing the second MC on the 50th frame of the main time line so it will play after the first MS has finished but it doesn't work.

Placing them both on the first frame of the main timeline obviously makes them both play at the same time...

How/where would I position the animated movie clips on the timeline so one plays first then the second one plays?

Can anyone please explain this or maybe point me towards a tutorial?

Many thanks.

[saumya]

Are you ready to script some lines of code?
Then start some reading here, which gives the basic idea of targeting.
The idea is you can put the 2 clips in one frame and control them through code.

[houc0015]

You can use the scripting solution saumya wrote about (if you understand it, it gives you much more control), but you should know how the timeline works anyway, since it is the basis for most animations in flash.

That being said, I think you were on the right track when youput the 2nd MC at frame 50... It should have been at 51 if the first MC was 50 frames long, but It should have been close if you set up the timeline correctly.

When you place a MC on the timeline, it starts playing as soon as the instance exists. An "Instance" is a copy of a symbol from your library that exists on the stage -- you can have multiple instances of the same symbol.

If your first MC (MC1) is 50 frames long, you would need a key frame on frame 1. then you would need to add 49 more frames to the instance (by selecting the keyframe and pressing F5). The timeline would look like this:

Code:

[•________________________]

To add the second MC (MC2) to play after, you would add a keyframe in frame 51, then drage MC2 onto the stage (you need to delete MC1 also, or it wil start playing again). Next, add 200 more frames to the main timeline and extend MC2 across those frames.

That should be it.

[BoogWeed]

Thanks a lot for your reply!

I understand all about MC's and instances. I just didn't know that Say in insert a 50 frame MC into frame 100 that I would have to add another frame at frame 150.

It make perfect sense though.

Thanks a lot.