[flexcoders] Re: simple array?

[Eric Cooper]

Two good points.

I used an Array, as I wrote, to try to show how Jason might have done what he 
had initially intended using arrays. I didn't mean to suggest that that's how 
it would be best done. Sorry for confusion. I guess I just like the similarity 
of arrays and objects - something that is not seen in all languages.

As for efficiency, I would probably go with static const int's (in lieu of 
enums) and use an array. This would require to iterating - just simple offset 
into array. Something like,

static const PAYMENT_TYPE_AC:int = 0;
static const PAYMENT_TYPE_RN:int = 1;
static const PAYMENT_TYPE_CP:int = 2;
static const PAYMENT_TYPE_CR:int = 3;

static const PAYMENT_MESSAGES:Array = 
[
Remember to reset the station 
address.,
Remember to reset the station 
expiration date.,
Remember to contact contractor to 
remove the certificates from this station.,
Remember to cancel the refund payment.
];


If there are better ways, I am always happy to hear them. I am still pretty new 
to this Flex thing.

-eric

--- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Charles Parcell pokemonkil...@... wrote:

 Additionally, utilizing a loop to locate an item can eat up cycles if the
 list of codes gets to be large.  Granted that in the case of this example
 looping 3 or even 10 items is likely not going to be an issue in anyway.
 Something to think about if the application of this example is used
 differently.
 
 Charles P.
 
 
 On Fri, May 22, 2009 at 10:50 AM, Charles Parcell
 pokemonkil...@...wrote:
 
  Why even have the Array aspect in the second example? It stands as a
  pointless container for what we are seeing it used for. Unless there will be
  some additional items added to it that we have not seen yet.
 
  I just feel the need to point that out. :)
 
  Charles P.
 
 
 
  On Thu, May 21, 2009 at 3:49 PM, Eric Cooper e...@... wrote:
 
  I just tried compiling what I wrote - and realized that it didn't... so
  here are two variants. The first is same as previous, but it compiles. The
  second may be more in the spirit of what you were attempting initially - 
  and
  kind of highlights similarities between arrays and objects.
 
  First:
 
 var records:Array = new Array(
 { code:AC, text:Remember to
  reset the station address. },
 { code:RN, text:Remember to
  reset the station expiration date. },
 { code:CP, text:Remember to
  contact contractor to remove the certificates from this station. },
 { code:CR, text:Remember to
  cancel the refund payment. }
 );
 
  for each (var test:Object in records) {
 if
  (grid.selectedItem.PAYMENT_TYPE_CODE == test.code)
 Alert.show(test.text );
 }
 
 
  Second:
 
 var PAYMENT_TYPE_CODE:String = CR;
  var records:Array = new Array(
 { AC: Remember to reset the
  station address. },
 { RN: Remember to reset the
  station expiration date. },
 { CP: Remember to contact
  contractor to remove the certificates from this station. },
 { CR: Remember to cancel the
  refund payment. }
 );
 
  for (var i:int = 0; i  records.length;
  ++i) {
 if
  (records[i][grid.selectedItem.PAYMENT_TYPE_CODE])
 
   Alert.show(records[i][PAYMENT_TYPE_CODE]);
  }
 
 
 
 
  --- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Jason B nospam@ wrote:
  
   SWEET thanks
  
   --- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Eric Cooper eric@ wrote:
   
How about this:
   
var records:Array = new Array(
{ code:AC, text:Remember to
  reset the station address. },
{ code:RN, text:Remember to
  reset the station expiration date. },
{ code:CP, text:Remember to
  contact contractor to remove the certificates from this station. },
{ code:CR, text:Remember to
  cancel the refund payment. },
);
   
for each(test:Object in records){
if(grid.selectedItem.PAYMENT_TYPE_CODE == test[i].code)
Alert.show(test[i].text

[flexcoders] Re: simple array?

[Eric Cooper]

Two good points.

I used an Array, as I wrote, to try to show how Jason might have done what he
had initially intended using arrays. I didn't mean to suggest that that's how it
would be best done. Sorry for confusion. I guess I just like the similarity of
arrays and objects - something that is not seen in all languages.

As for efficiency, I would probably go with static const int's (in lieu of
enums) and use an array. This would require no iterating - just simple offset
into array. Something like,

static const PAYMENT_TYPE_AC:int = 0;
static const PAYMENT_TYPE_RN:int = 1;
static const PAYMENT_TYPE_CP:int = 2;
static const PAYMENT_TYPE_CR:int = 3;

static const PAYMENT_MESSAGES:Array =
[
Remember to reset the station address.,
Remember to reset the station expiration date.,
Remember to contact contractor to remove the certificates from this
station.,
Remember to cancel the refund payment.
];


If there are better ways, I am always happy to hear them. I am still pretty new
to this Flex thing.

-eric
--- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Charles Parcell pokemonkil...@... wrote:

 Additionally, utilizing a loop to locate an item can eat up cycles if the
 list of codes gets to be large.  Granted that in the case of this example
 looping 3 or even 10 items is likely not going to be an issue in anyway.
 Something to think about if the application of this example is used
 differently.
 
 Charles P.
 
 
 On Fri, May 22, 2009 at 10:50 AM, Charles Parcell
 pokemonkil...@...wrote:
 
  Why even have the Array aspect in the second example? It stands as a
  pointless container for what we are seeing it used for. Unless there will be
  some additional items added to it that we have not seen yet.
 
  I just feel the need to point that out. :)
 
  Charles P.
 
 
 
  On Thu, May 21, 2009 at 3:49 PM, Eric Cooper e...@... wrote:
 
  I just tried compiling what I wrote - and realized that it didn't... so
  here are two variants. The first is same as previous, but it compiles. The
  second may be more in the spirit of what you were attempting initially - 
  and
  kind of highlights similarities between arrays and objects.
 
  First:
 
 var records:Array = new Array(
 { code:AC, text:Remember to
  reset the station address. },
 { code:RN, text:Remember to
  reset the station expiration date. },
 { code:CP, text:Remember to
  contact contractor to remove the certificates from this station. },
 { code:CR, text:Remember to
  cancel the refund payment. }
 );
 
  for each (var test:Object in records) {
 if
  (grid.selectedItem.PAYMENT_TYPE_CODE == test.code)
 Alert.show(test.text );
 }
 
 
  Second:
 
 var PAYMENT_TYPE_CODE:String = CR;
  var records:Array = new Array(
 { AC: Remember to reset the
  station address. },
 { RN: Remember to reset the
  station expiration date. },
 { CP: Remember to contact
  contractor to remove the certificates from this station. },
 { CR: Remember to cancel the
  refund payment. }
 );
 
  for (var i:int = 0; i  records.length;
  ++i) {
 if
  (records[i][grid.selectedItem.PAYMENT_TYPE_CODE])
 
   Alert.show(records[i][PAYMENT_TYPE_CODE]);
  }
 
 
 
 
  --- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Jason B nospam@ wrote:
  
   SWEET thanks
  
   --- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Eric Cooper eric@ wrote:
   
How about this:
   
var records:Array = new Array(
{ code:AC, text:Remember to
  reset the station address. },
{ code:RN, text:Remember to
  reset the station expiration date. },
{ code:CP, text:Remember to
  contact contractor to remove the certificates from this station. },
{ code:CR, text:Remember to
  cancel the refund payment. },
);
   
for each(test:Object in records){
if(grid.selectedItem.PAYMENT_TYPE_CODE == test[i].code)
Alert.show(test[i].text );
}
   
would that do it?
   
-eric
   
--- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Jason B nospam@ wrote:

 var records:Array = new Array({
   AC: Remember to reset the station address.,
   RN: Remember

[flexcoders] Re: simple array?

[Eric Cooper]

How about this:

var records:Array = new Array(
{ code:AC, text:Remember to reset 
the station address. },
{ code:RN, text:Remember to reset 
the station expiration date. },
{ code:CP, text:Remember to contact 
contractor to remove the certificates from this station. },
{ code:CR, text:Remember to cancel 
the refund payment. },
);

for each(test:Object in records){
if(grid.selectedItem.PAYMENT_TYPE_CODE == test[i].code)
Alert.show(test[i].text );
}

would that do it?

-eric

--- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Jason B nos...@... wrote:

 var records:Array = new Array({
   AC: Remember to reset the station address., 
   RN: Remember to reset the station expiration date.,
   CP: Remember to contact contractor to remove the 
 certificates from this station.,
   CR: Remember to cancel the refund payment.
   });
 
 
 for each(test:Object in records){
 
 //HERE we match up PAYMENT TYPE CODE with AC RN CP if one is a match we show 
 the value
 
 if(grid.selectedItem.PAYMENT_TYPE_CODE == test[i])
  Alert.show(SHOW ME ---Remember to reset the station address );
 
 
 
 }
 
 
 datagrid hidden column AC, RN, CP are in datagrid
 user selects RT item from grid and hits button
 system match's that row with what message should be displayed
 user never see's RT since its a hidden field in grid
 user now see's a message displayed as a reminder
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 --- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Paul Andrews paul@ wrote:
 
  Jason,
  
  I'm not sure I follow exactly what the problem is now.
  
  Paul
  - Original Message - 
  From: Jason B nospam@
  To: flexcoders@yahoogroups.com
  Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2009 4:02 PM
  Subject: [flexcoders] Re: simple array?
  
  
  i want to loop the records and compare the value addresschange to the 
  PAYMENT Type Code if its the right one display it
  
  
   --- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Paul Andrews paul@ wrote:
  
  
   - Original Message - 
   From: Jason B nospam@
   To: flexcoders@yahoogroups.com
   Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2009 3:46 PM
   Subject: [flexcoders] Re: simple array?
  
  
Thanks but i dont know how to do a compare based on your example show?
  
for(var i:uint = 0; i  records.length; i++) {
//If array matchs show text
   if(payment_grid.selectedItem.PAYMENT_TYPE_CODE ==
   records[i].addresschange){
   Alert.show(records[i].addresschange);
   }
   }
  
  
   
   
for(var i:uint = 0; i  records.length; i++) {
//If array matchs show text
if(payment_grid.selectedItem.PAYMENT_TYPE_CODE == records.valueof 
){
   Alert.show(records[0].addresschange);
   
}
   
   
   
--- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Pedro Sena sena.pedro@ wrote:
   
records[0].addresschange
   
You are putting an object inside your array
   
Using records[0] you retrieve your object
using records[0].addresschange you access its property called
addresschange
   
On Thu, May 21, 2009 at 11:14 AM, Jason B nospam@ wrote:
   


 var records:Array = new Array({
 addresschange: Remember to reset the station address.,
 etc.
 });


 Alert.show(records['addresschange']);
 Alert.show(records[0]);
 Alert.show(records.addresschange);

 how the heck can i access the item directly by index name?



   
   
   
-- 
/**
* Pedro Sena
* Systems Architect
* Sun Certified Java Programmer
* Sun Certified Web Component Developer
*/
   
   
   
   
   

   
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   Links
  
  
  
 

[flexcoders] Re: simple array?

[Eric Cooper]

I just tried compiling what I wrote - and realized that it didn't... so here 
are two variants. The first is same as previous, but it compiles. The second 
may be more in the spirit of what you were attempting initially - and kind of 
highlights similarities between arrays and objects.

First:

var records:Array = new Array(
{ code:AC, text:Remember to reset 
the station address. },
{ code:RN, text:Remember to reset 
the station expiration date. },
{ code:CP, text:Remember to contact 
contractor to remove the certificates from this station. },
{ code:CR, text:Remember to cancel 
the refund payment. }
);

for each (var test:Object in records) {
if (grid.selectedItem.PAYMENT_TYPE_CODE 
== test.code)
Alert.show(test.text );
}


Second:

var PAYMENT_TYPE_CODE:String = CR;
var records:Array = new Array(
{ AC: Remember to reset the station 
address. },
{ RN: Remember to reset the station 
expiration date. },
{ CP: Remember to contact contractor 
to remove the certificates from this station. },
{ CR: Remember to cancel the refund 
payment. }
);

for (var i:int = 0; i  records.length; ++i) {
if 
(records[i][grid.selectedItem.PAYMENT_TYPE_CODE])

Alert.show(records[i][PAYMENT_TYPE_CODE]);
}




--- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Jason B nos...@... wrote:

 SWEET thanks
 
 --- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Eric Cooper eric@ wrote:
 
  How about this:
  
  var records:Array = new Array(
  { code:AC, text:Remember to reset 
  the station address. },
  { code:RN, text:Remember to reset 
  the station expiration date. },
  { code:CP, text:Remember to contact 
  contractor to remove the certificates from this station. },
  { code:CR, text:Remember to cancel 
  the refund payment. },
  );
  
  for each(test:Object in records){
  if(grid.selectedItem.PAYMENT_TYPE_CODE == test[i].code)
  Alert.show(test[i].text );
  }
  
  would that do it?
  
  -eric
  
  --- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Jason B nospam@ wrote:
  
   var records:Array = new Array({
 AC: Remember to reset the station address., 
 RN: Remember to reset the station expiration date.,
 CP: Remember to contact contractor to remove the 
   certificates from this station.,
 CR: Remember to cancel the refund payment.
 });
   
   
   for each(test:Object in records){
   
   //HERE we match up PAYMENT TYPE CODE with AC RN CP if one is a match we 
   show the value
   
   if(grid.selectedItem.PAYMENT_TYPE_CODE == test[i])
Alert.show(SHOW ME ---Remember to reset the station address );
   
   
   
   }
   
   
   datagrid hidden column AC, RN, CP are in datagrid
   user selects RT item from grid and hits button
   system match's that row with what message should be displayed
   user never see's RT since its a hidden field in grid
   user now see's a message displayed as a reminder
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   --- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Paul Andrews paul@ wrote:
   
Jason,

I'm not sure I follow exactly what the problem is now.

Paul
- Original Message - 
From: Jason B nospam@
To: flexcoders@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2009 4:02 PM
Subject: [flexcoders] Re: simple array?


i want to loop the records and compare the value addresschange to 
the 
PAYMENT Type Code if its the right one display it


 --- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Paul Andrews paul@ wrote:


 - Original Message - 
 From: Jason B nospam@
 To: flexcoders@yahoogroups.com
 Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2009 3:46 PM
 Subject: [flexcoders] Re: simple array?


  Thanks but i dont know how to do a compare based on your example 
  show?

  for(var i:uint = 0; i  records.length; i++) {
  //If array matchs show text
 if(payment_grid.selectedItem.PAYMENT_TYPE_CODE

[flexcoders] Slider question: click on track and drag?

[Eric Cooper]

I would like to have sliders whose 'track' could be clicked on to move thumb 
and whose thumb would then become receptive to thumbDrag. Is there some easy 
way to enabled this?

What I see now, is that a mouse-down event on track will move thumb. But then 
the user has to release the mouse button and click again to get thumbDrag 
behavior.

Is there some way to avoid this up-and-down?

Thanks.
-Eric

[flexcoders] Re: Load time, multiple redundant Embed() calls, etc.

[Eric Cooper]

Thanks, Nate and Alex,
Your suggestions and information were very helpful. I think that simply 
eliminating 
redundant Embed() calls will save be close to 0.5MB. The third frame approach 
will be 
extremely helpful for end-user experience of load time. Ultimately, I could 
render most of 
the images as vector graphics - but I don't think that I'll have time to do 
that in the near 
term.
Thanks again,
-Eric

--- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Alex Harui [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Basically, the entire SWF must be downloaded to show up.  Flex SWFs default 
 to 2 frame 
SWFs.  The first frame should show the preloader, the second shows the app, and 
all 
embeds are in the second frame by default.
 
 Also see last paragraph of this post and its example. 
http://blogs.adobe.com/aharui/2008/09/using_the_flex_builder_3x_prof.html
 
 From: flexcoders@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of 
Nate Beck
 Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2008 4:45 PM
 To: flexcoders@yahoogroups.com
 Subject: Re: [flexcoders] Load time, multiple redundant Embed() calls, etc.
 
 
 Anytime you Embed anything, you're including it within your swf.  It may get 
compressed a little bit, but you're still embedding it.  That means your SWF 
file will contain 
all of the images that you used [Embed(source=foo.png)] on.
 
 Using Embed is not like HTML where you have your images in a directory and 
 then your 
swf calls them at runtime.
 
 Also, use vector graphics as much as you possibly can.
 
 Cheers,
 Nate
 On Tue, Dec 2, 2008 at 12:55 PM, Eric Cooper [EMAIL PROTECTED]mailto:[EMAIL 
 PROTECTED] wrote:
 
 Hi,
 
 I have inherited some code and it seems to build into a fairly large .swf and 
 takes a very 
long
 time to download. Running locally, things go fairly quickly - but not so 
 remotely. Part of 
this
 may be due to slow server and net connection - but I am not able to change 
 those any 
time
 soon.
 
 So, I wonder two things:
 
 1. Are there tools for highlighting cause of slowness of download (e.g., 
 areas of bloat in
 code)?
 
 2. If the code is rife with [Embed(source=foo.png)] - where same 'foo' is 
 being 
embedded in
 multiple files - would cause bloat? And would it be better to have one 
 managing 
singleton
 that embedded all images?
 
 Thanks!
 -Eric

[flexcoders] Load time, multiple redundant Embed() calls, etc.

[Eric Cooper]

Hi,

I have inherited some code and it seems to build into a fairly large .swf and 
takes a very long 
time to download. Running locally, things go fairly quickly - but not so 
remotely. Part of this 
may be due to slow server and net connection - but I am not able to change 
those any time 
soon.

So, I wonder two things:

1. Are there tools for highlighting cause of slowness of download (e.g., areas 
of bloat in 
code)?

2. If the code is rife with [Embed(source=foo.png)] - where same 'foo' is 
being embedded in 
multiple files - would cause bloat? And would it be better to have one managing 
singleton 
that embedded all images?

Thanks!
-Eric

[flexcoders] Re: UI component, a set function creationComplete

[Eric Cooper]

Mike,
I am wondering if what I am experiencing with createChildren() is similar to 
what you've 
described below. I am subclassing UIComponent - and I read that it is best to 
create 
children in a createChildren() method.

However, I am tying into someone else's existing code and she has done some 
nice work 
with loading state. Her code creates a new instance (of the class mentioned 
above that 
extends UIComponent - let's call it BTProcess).

What I am finding is that after the instantiation, the new object is having 
properties set ON 
children that have not yet been instantiated and hooked up to BTProcess.

I am guessing that I could have the state-loading code broken into two parts: 
one the 
instantiates and one that listens for CREATION_COMPLETE event before setting 
properties. 
But I am wondering if there is a faster way to do this. 

So, my question is does your approach address this by creating children in 
commitProperties() and does this provide a work-around to the problem that I am 
experiencing.

Thanks!
-Eric


--- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Michael Schmalle [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Well,
 
 Basically, if you subclass a UIComponent or decendent, and you are making a
 component that uses setters that 'communicate' with composite children, I
 would always use this algorithm.
 
 As far as the randomness, might have to do with bindings, other timing
 issues. If you set a property in mxml it will always be called before
 children are created, you can count on that.
 
 Mike
 
 On Thu, Sep 18, 2008 at 6:57 AM, Manu Dhanda [EMAIL PROTECTED]wrote:
 
 
  Thanks for the answer Mik.
 
  But, Isn't it strange that this situation can occur randomly??
  Or is there any particular case, when we always need to use the solution,
  like the one you provided.
 
  I am asking it because I had written other components in my code where
  everything is working seamlessly and I am worried now as if they are error
  prone??
 
  Thanks,
  Manu.
 
 
  Michael Schmalle wrote:
  
   Hi Manu,
  
   This is a pretty simple answer. The reason is the mxml properties get
   looped
   into your component before createChildren() creates the child
  descriptors.
  
   This is why we need the invalidation system. You need the following.
  
   public function set data(value:ArrayCollection) {
   _data = value;
   dataChanged = true;
   invalidateProperties();
   }
  
   ... in the same class
  
   override protected function commitProperties()
   {
   super.commitProperties()
   if (dataChanged)
   {
   // do things with child components IE
   myGrid.data = _data;
   dataChanged = false
   }
   }
  
  
   Setting your child properties in commitProperties() guarantees your
   children
   will be created.
  
   Peace,
   Mik
  
  
  
   On Thu, Sep 18, 2008 at 3:09 AM, Manu Dhanda
   [EMAIL PROTECTED] manuraj.dhanda%40gmail.comwrote:
  
  
   Hii Guyz,
  
   I am having some strange issue here.
  
   What I am doing is:
  
   comps:CustomUIComponent Data={_dataP}/
  
   I am using this component in some abc.mxml as above.
  
   Data is something like:
  
   public function set Data(value:ArrayCollection){
   //set ur data here.
   }
  
   But strangely, when I do it(pay attention to bold mxml code of line
  above
   now), I find one of flex components (say a Grid) in my CustomUIComponent
   as
   null, on which I want to set this Data.
  
   Now, I am worried like how a method, say set Data can be called before
   even creation complete of CustomUIComponent.
  
   Can someone please put some light here..
  
   Thanks,
   Manu.
  
   --
   View this message in context:
  
  http://www.nabble.com/UI-component%2C-a-set-function---creationComplete-
tp19547254p19547254.html
   Sent from the FlexCoders mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
  
  
  
  
  
  
   --
   Teoti Graphix, LLC
   http://www.teotigraphix.com
  
   Teoti Graphix Blog
   http://www.blog.teotigraphix.com
  
   You can find more by solving the problem then by 'asking the question'.
  
  
 
  --
  View this message in context:
  http://www.nabble.com/UI-component%2C-a-set-function---creationComplete-
tp19547254p19550295.html
  Sent from the FlexCoders mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
 
   
 
 
 
 
 -- 
 Teoti Graphix, LLC
 http://www.teotigraphix.com
 
 Teoti Graphix Blog
 http://www.blog.teotigraphix.com
 
 You can find more by solving the problem then by 'asking the question'.

[flexcoders] Re: UI component, a set function creationComplete

[Eric Cooper]

Thanks, Amy.

I have decided that my own model is more convoluted than is healthy. So, I have 
reworked 
things on my side and stuck with createChildren(). I was tempted to try Mike's 
suggestion 
- and, had I felt really good about my implementation, I might have.

At this point, with more checks for null values than ideally there should be, 
things are 
working in various scenarios.

Thanks again,
-Eric



--- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Amy [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 --- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Michael Schmalle 
 teoti.graphix@ wrote:
 
  Hi Eric,
   So, my question is does your approach address this by creating 
 children
  in
  commitProperties()
  Yes,
  
  This is basically what I do with all renderers in my commercial 
 components.
  I rarely use createChildren(). The only time I use createChilren() 
 is when
  the composite is 100% owned by it's parent containing the creation 
 code.
  
  commitProperties() will solve all timing issues if implemented 
 correctly.
  
  I'm not quite sure I get what you are asking in the second half 
 but, all
  item renderers use this algorithm which their state is entirely 
 dependent on
  the data being pushed into the component either through data or 
 public
  accessors.
  
  This means that children will not be instantiated until the data is 
 present
  for their instantiation.
  
  If this doesn't make sense, try to clarify a bit more.
 
 It's probably better practice to create children in createChildren, 
 then use commitProperties to do whatever setting of properties needs 
 to be done, and then use updateDisplayList() to do any layout, and 
 measure() to resolve any sizing issues.  These functions are in place 
 for very good reasons, and if you try to circumvent them you have a 
 really good chance of running into problems.
 
 For instance, if you put child creation logic in commitProperties(), 
 you are probably going to fail miserably unless you put that logic in 
 _before_ the super.commitProperties().  That's because any children 
 should be created prior to commitProperties.  And that's the reason 
 there's a commitProperties() function that's separate from 
 createChildren().  Oh, and if you do anything that edits layout, 
 etc., in commitProperties, you better do it _after_ the super.  Guess 
 why?
 
 You should try and catch her state changes and defer them until the 
 appropriate moment in the invalidation process.
 
 If what's going on is that her logic is affecting public properties 
 or styles that you've exposed on your class, then you just need to 
 make sure that they set a flag and call the right invalidation method 
 so that you can execute at the correct place in the invalidation 
 process.
 
 HTH;
 
 Amy

Re: [flexcoders] Equivalent to Java's Class.isInstance(Object) instance method?

[Eric Cooper]

The question has been answered (yes, it is possible to use is as part of 
isInstanceOf() method. Here's an example of my use of 
this mechanism (for determining if geometric shapes share an instance of a 
particular class of constraint, e.g. are these two line 
segments perpendicular to each other?)

public function sharesConstraintWith(that:MPShape, 
constraintClass:Class):MPConstraint
{
// Get those constraints that are shared between this 
and that, if there are any.
for each (var c0:MPConstraint in this.constraints)
{
for each (var c1:MPConstraint in 
that.constraints)
{
if (c0 == c1  c0 is constraintClass)
return c0;
}
}
return null;
}

It works for me.
-Eric


--- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Mark Carter [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 
 Hi Mike - sorry, you've lost me there...
 
 The few tests I've done show that obj is cls is what I need. Are you
 saying that does not work?
 
 
 Michael Schmalle wrote:
  
  Adding to the insight, if you wanted to use the 'is' operator with those
  two
  arguments, you need to create an instance of the Class and then use the
  'is'
  operator.
  This would let you know if it is an instance of the object passed.
  
  public static function
  isObjectInstanceOfClass(obj:Object, cls:Class):Boolean
  {
  return obj is new cls();
  }
  
  We have asked the player engineers about the performance hit on this is
  not
  as bad as describeType in some instances.
  
  
  Mike
  
 
 -- 
 View this message in context: 
 http://www.nabble.com/Equivalent-to-Java%27s-Class.isInstance%28Object%29-instance-
method--tp20171501p20190188.html
 Sent from the FlexCoders mailing list archive at Nabble.com.

[flexcoders] Resizing width of TextArea to fit content width

[Eric Cooper]

Hi,

I have searched through the archives and googled, but most related concerns 
seem to 
focus on text height. I am concerned solely with text width.

I have a subclass of UIComponent (called BTVariable) that contains an HBox 
which, in turn, 
contains between two and four TextArea objects. I would like BTVariable to be 
as narrow 
as possible and to adjust its size as necessary (growing when needed and 
shrinking when 
prudent).

I have tried implementing measure() on BTVariable, but I think that I have a 
cyclical 
relationship between various objects. The HBox needs to be given explicit width 
because 
its constituent TextAreas have no notion of their own width, apparently.

I am thinking that this is probably something that has been dozens of times and 
that 
there is a fairly straightforward way to do it. But, having spent many hours 
pursuing 
seemingly promising approaches, I am starting to think that I am overlooking 
some 
obvious mechanism.

Thanks in advance for any advice or pointers.
-Eric

[flexcoders] Re: Accessing *other* browser plugins from Flash

[Eric Cooper]

Yes. A little further outside the box than my charter would allow at this 
point. 

Thanks, Tracy and Josh, for replies. I will read up on ExternalInterface.

-eric

--- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Tracy Spratt [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Now *that's* thinking outside the box!
 
 Tracy
 
  
 
 
 
 From: flexcoders@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
 Behalf Of Josh McDonald
 Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 6:02 PM
 To: flexcoders@yahoogroups.com
 Subject: Re: [flexcoders] Accessing *other* browser plugins from Flash
 
  
 
 Why not embed Player inside your a C++ app and bypass the browser
 entirely?
 
 On Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 5:39 AM, Tracy Spratt [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]  wrote:
 
 You can explicitly allow swf scripting in the html wrapper.  It might
 take bit to get the security side handled, but it is doable.  
 
  
 
 You would actually control/communicate with the other objects by
 scripting them using javascript and ExternalInterface.
 
  
 
 Tracy
 
  
 
 
 
 From: flexcoders@yahoogroups.com mailto:flexcoders@yahoogroups.com
 [mailto:flexcoders@yahoogroups.com mailto:flexcoders@yahoogroups.com ]
 On Behalf Of Eric Cooper
 Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 3:05 PM
 To: flexcoders@yahoogroups.com mailto:flexcoders@yahoogroups.com 
 Subject: [flexcoders] Accessing *other* browser plugins from Flash
 
  
 
 Hi,
 
 I have access to some powerful C++ functionality. Porting this to
 ActionScript is not an 
 option. However, it looks like I could create a browser plugin that
 would wrap the C++ code.
 
 I am looking for pointers, caveats or advice on how to proceed.
 
 The obvious question is: can a .swf call out to another browser plugin
 or is this prevented by 
 the security sandbox of all browsers?
 
 And the followup: if this is possible, how?
 
 Thanks in advance!
 
 -Eric
 
 
 
 
 -- 
 Therefore, send not to know For whom the bell tolls. It tolls for
 thee.
 
 Like the cut of my jib? Check out my Flex blog!
 
 :: Josh 'G-Funk' McDonald
 :: 0437 221 380 :: [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 :: http://flex.joshmcdonald.info/ http://flex.joshmcdonald.info/

[flexcoders] Accessing *other* browser plugins from Flash

[Eric Cooper]

Hi,

I have access to some powerful C++ functionality. Porting this to ActionScript 
is not an 
option. However, it looks like I could create a browser plugin that would wrap 
the C++ code.

I am looking for pointers, caveats or advice on how to proceed.

The obvious question is: can a .swf call out to another browser plugin or is 
this prevented by 
the security sandbox of all browsers?

And the followup: if this is possible, how?

Thanks in advance!

-Eric

[flexcoders] Re: as3CoreLib

[Eric Cooper]

I think that I used http://as3corelib.googlecode.com/files/corelib-.90.zip

which is now marked as deprecated... but still probably bette than nothing.

I only use it for JSON.

-eric


--- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Amy [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 --- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Michael Schmalle 
 teoti.graphix@ wrote:
 
  Hi,
  
  Have you tried http://actionscript3libraries.riaforge.org/ ?
  
  I see downloads 376 but I don't have a username so maybe you can get 
 it
  there as a zip if you login.
 
 I don't see a way to download it.
 
 Thanks, though :-)

[flexcoders] Re: Trees, DataProviders and dynamic screen updates

[Eric Cooper]

Thanks, Tracy.

What I meant was that I was adding Objects like { object:myObject } to 
ArrayCollection - 
where myObject was an instance of a proxy class - and whose properties were 
getting 
changed. 

I have now gone to a slightly different scheme, adding Objects like { 
object:mpObject, 
value:myObject.value } - and when 'value' property changes, I iterate through 
ArrayCollection, looking for match on 'object' - and, when I find that, I set 
'value' to new 
myObject.value. This seems to trigger necessary dispatch and Tree's rendering 
updates.

Thanks again for your help.
=Eric

--- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Tracy Spratt [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 ...when the items referenced by the ArrayCollection change...  How is
 that happening?  The items... change?
 
 Tracy
 
  
 
 
 
 From: flexcoders@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
 Behalf Of Eric Cooper
 Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 6:24 PM
 To: flexcoders@yahoogroups.com
 Subject: [flexcoders] Re: Trees, DataProviders and dynamic screen
 updates
 
  
 
 I am adding to and removing from ArrayCollection - and when I do that,
 the Tree items 
 refresh and are current. But when the items referenced by the
 ArrayCollection change, I 
 am doing nothing.
 
 Is there a way to touch the ArrayCollection so as to prompt Tree to
 reload (or reevaluate) 
 its dataProvider and call labelFunction to generate updated rendering?
 
 Or is the preferred way to step walk through ArrayCollection and modify
 (in place) the 
 changed objects?
 
 Thanks.
 =Eric
 
 --- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com mailto:flexcoders%40yahoogroups.com
 , Tracy Spratt tspratt@ wrote:
 
  If you use the ArrayCollection API to make the updates to the
  dataProvider, the changes should automatically reflect in the UI.
  
  
  
  How are you updating the ArrayCollection items?
  
  
  
  Tracy
  
  
  
  
  
  From: flexcoders@yahoogroups.com mailto:flexcoders%40yahoogroups.com
 [mailto:flexcoders@yahoogroups.com mailto:flexcoders%40yahoogroups.com
 ] On
  Behalf Of Eric Cooper
  Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 3:53 PM
  To: flexcoders@yahoogroups.com mailto:flexcoders%40yahoogroups.com 
  Subject: [flexcoders] Trees, DataProviders and dynamic screen updates
  
  
  
  Hi,
  I am trying to display changes in state for proxy objects (where
 real
  state exists on a 
  server). I have defined a Tree and set its dataProvider to be an
  ArrayCollection. I have tried 
  having this be an array of references to actual proxy object and also
 as
  array of dynamically 
  created Objects (of form {name:foo.toString(), object:foo}
  
  Server-side events result in client being notified that properties in
  proxy object have 
  changed. I would like these changes in proxy object properties to
  propagate through the 
  Tree's items.
  
  I have searched docs and this forum, but not found anything that
  addresses this issue. At the 
  same time, I suspect that this is something that has been discussed -
  and may simply involve 
  setting some flag on the Tree or the DataProvider...
  
  Thanks for any help!
  =Eric
 

[flexcoders] Trees, DataProviders and dynamic screen updates

[Eric Cooper]

Hi,
I am trying to display changes in state for proxy objects (where real state 
exists on a 
server). I have defined a Tree and set its dataProvider to be an 
ArrayCollection. I have tried 
having this be an array of references to actual proxy object and also as array 
of dynamically 
created Objects (of form {name:foo.toString(), object:foo}

Server-side events result in client being notified that properties in proxy 
object have 
changed. I would like these changes in proxy object properties to propagate 
through the 
Tree's items.

I have searched docs and this forum, but not found anything that addresses this 
issue. At the 
same time, I suspect that this is something that has been discussed - and may 
simply involve 
setting some flag on the Tree or the DataProvider...

Thanks for any help!
=Eric

[flexcoders] Re: Trees, DataProviders and dynamic screen updates

[Eric Cooper]

I am adding to and removing from ArrayCollection - and when I do that, the Tree 
items 
refresh and are current. But when the items referenced by the ArrayCollection 
change, I 
am doing nothing.

Is there a way to touch the ArrayCollection so as to prompt Tree to reload 
(or reevaluate) 
its dataProvider and call labelFunction to generate updated rendering?

Or is the preferred way to step walk through ArrayCollection and modify (in 
place) the 
changed objects?

Thanks.
=Eric

--- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Tracy Spratt [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 If you use the ArrayCollection API to make the updates to the
 dataProvider, the changes should automatically reflect in the UI.
 
  
 
 How are you updating the ArrayCollection items?
 
  
 
 Tracy
 
  
 
 
 
 From: flexcoders@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
 Behalf Of Eric Cooper
 Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 3:53 PM
 To: flexcoders@yahoogroups.com
 Subject: [flexcoders] Trees, DataProviders and dynamic screen updates
 
  
 
 Hi,
 I am trying to display changes in state for proxy objects (where real
 state exists on a 
 server). I have defined a Tree and set its dataProvider to be an
 ArrayCollection. I have tried 
 having this be an array of references to actual proxy object and also as
 array of dynamically 
 created Objects (of form {name:foo.toString(), object:foo}
 
 Server-side events result in client being notified that properties in
 proxy object have 
 changed. I would like these changes in proxy object properties to
 propagate through the 
 Tree's items.
 
 I have searched docs and this forum, but not found anything that
 addresses this issue. At the 
 same time, I suspect that this is something that has been discussed -
 and may simply involve 
 setting some flag on the Tree or the DataProvider...
 
 Thanks for any help!
 =Eric

[flexcoders] Re: Trees, DataProviders and dynamic screen updates

[Eric Cooper]

I am adding to and removing from ArrayCollection - and when I do that, the Tree 
items 
refresh and are current. But when the items referenced by the ArrayCollection 
change, I 
am doing nothing.

Is there a way to touch the ArrayCollection so as to prompt Tree to reload 
(or reevaluate) 
its dataProvider and call labelFunction to generate updated rendering?

Or is the preferred way to step walk through ArrayCollection and modify (in 
place) the 
changed objects?

Thanks.
=Eric

--- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Tracy Spratt [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 If you use the ArrayCollection API to make the updates to the
 dataProvider, the changes should automatically reflect in the UI.
 
  
 
 How are you updating the ArrayCollection items?
 
  
 
 Tracy
 
  
 
 
 
 From: flexcoders@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
 Behalf Of Eric Cooper
 Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 3:53 PM
 To: flexcoders@yahoogroups.com
 Subject: [flexcoders] Trees, DataProviders and dynamic screen updates
 
  
 
 Hi,
 I am trying to display changes in state for proxy objects (where real
 state exists on a 
 server). I have defined a Tree and set its dataProvider to be an
 ArrayCollection. I have tried 
 having this be an array of references to actual proxy object and also as
 array of dynamically 
 created Objects (of form {name:foo.toString(), object:foo}
 
 Server-side events result in client being notified that properties in
 proxy object have 
 changed. I would like these changes in proxy object properties to
 propagate through the 
 Tree's items.
 
 I have searched docs and this forum, but not found anything that
 addresses this issue. At the 
 same time, I suspect that this is something that has been discussed -
 and may simply involve 
 setting some flag on the Tree or the DataProvider...
 
 Thanks for any help!
 =Eric

[flexcoders] Re: How to set the registration point for a UIComponent

[Eric Cooper]

How does one control (or even determine) the registration point? I am drawing a 
circle and 
it seems like the center of the circle is being used as the registration point 
- which means 
that when I display the center point and radius point (having subtracted 
topLeft from their 
real positions) I am seeing these points displayed outside the circle.
Thanks,
-Eric

--- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Alex Harui [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 There isn't really a registration point.  All that is is magic to
 reposition the graphical content to some other place.  IOW, instead of
 drawing a rectangle from 0,0 to 100, 100, you can effectively set the
 reg point at 50,50 by drawing from -50, -50 to 50,50
 
  
 
 
 
 From: flexcoders@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
 Behalf Of flexawesome
 Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 7:11 PM
 To: flexcoders@yahoogroups.com
 Subject: [flexcoders] Re: How to set the registration point for a
 UIComponent
 
  
 
 is it possible?
 
 --- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com mailto:flexcoders%40yahoogroups.com
 , flexawesome flexawesome@ 
 wrote:
 
  I was working on the scale for my application, I could set scaleX and 
  scaleY to change the size of my UIcomponent. ( it extends to the 
 right 
  and bottom )
  
  I had one problem is how to set the registration point in the middle 
 of 
  my UI ( black box ).
  
  http://www.privatepaste.com/e10vnP2DX1
 http://www.privatepaste.com/e10vnP2DX1 
  
  
  Thank you
 

[flexcoders] Re: Writing text directly to Graphics object.

[Eric Cooper]

In retrospect, it seems reasonable that one would need to use a drawXxx() 
command to have 
beginBitmapFill() affect the graphics port. Anyway, in case this useful to 
anyone else, here's a method 
that draws a string to a graphics object:

public function drawString(g:Graphics, str:String, x:Number, 
y:Number):void
{
var tf:TextField = new TextField();
tf.text = str;
var bmd:BitmapData = new BitmapData(tf.textWidth + 6, 
tf.textHeight, true, 0xFF);
bmd.draw(tf);
var matrix:Matrix = new Matrix();
matrix.createBox(1, 1, 0, x, y);
g.beginBitmapFill(bmd, matrix);
g.drawRect(x, y, bmd.width, bmd.height);
g.endFill();
}

Of course, in actual use, one would probably want to set fonts, colors, etc.


--- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Eric Cooper [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 I have tried this, but it doesn't seem to be working. Here's what I am doing:
 
   override public function renderShape(graphics:Graphics):void
   {
   var matrix:Matrix = new Matrix()
   matrix.createBox(1, 1, 0, this.center.x, this.center.y ); // 
 center is the vertex of an angle
   graphics.beginBitmapFill(this.bitmapData, matrix);
   graphics.endFill();
   }
 
   // use bright colors for debugging.
   private function generateBitmapData():void
   {
   this._textField.text = this.angle + º;
   this._textField.textColor = 0xFF;
   this._textField.background = true;
   this._textField.backgroundColor = 0xFF;
   _bitmapData = new BitmapData(this._textField.textWidth, 
 this._textField.textHeight, false, 
0x00FF00);
   _bitmapData.draw(this._textField);
   }
   private function get bitmapData():BitmapData
   {
   if (_bitmapData == null)
   this.generateBitmapData();
   return _bitmapData;
   }
 
 Note that the real renderShape() also draws a pie wedge to the canvas - and 
 the wedge is visible. As 
an aside, though, 
 I am also having trouble with drawing the pie wedge - the wedge works fine, 
 but if I try to draw just the 
arc of the 
 wedge, then I find that the arc deforms into a closed shape: the two end 
 points are connected by a line. 
If I omit 
 beginFill() and endFill() calls, relying only on lineStyle(), then connecting 
 line goes away, but I start 
seeing strange flood 
 fills. Reading about Graphics, I see that endFill() plays a role in getting 
 draw commands pushed onto 
draw stack. I also 
 see that the fill specified by beginFill() et al. persists until another 
 beginFill() call. Is there some mantra 
for turning off 
 fill?
 
 Thanks!
 -Eric
 
 --- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Doug McCune doug@ wrote:
 
  You can draw a TextField to a BitmapData object (using the draw() method)
  and then use graphics.beginBitmapFill and pass in that BitmapData (make sure
  to specify the right matrix for where to start the fill). But no, as far as
  I know there is not way to do it directly, I often use BitmapData as an
  intermediary to do stuff like that.
  
  Doug
  
  On Fri, Apr 11, 2008 at 3:50 PM, Eric Cooper eric@ wrote:
  
 Is there any way to write/draw text directly to a Graphics object? For
   that matter is there
   anyway to draw text (single line of static text) into a Canvas? I suspect
   that the answer is no,
   having searched and searched... but maybe there's some obscure utility
   class that I've
   overlooked.
   Thanks in advance.
   -Eric
  

  
 

[flexcoders] newbie design question

[Eric Cooper]

I have been working in Flex for about 3 months now. I am writing a geometry 
tool that allows user to create 
points, line segments, circle and polygons, as well as constraints between 
these objects (e.g., distance, angle, 
perpendicular, etc.). Initially, I created a (subclass of) 
ApplicationControlBar and (a subclass) of Canvas. Tools in 
the app control bar and objects (by which I mean geometric shapes) in the 
canvas.

My canvas listeners for Event.RENDER and then, provided it's been told that 
something has changed, calls its 
draw() method - which, essentially, loops through objects, drawing them to the 
graphics object - after having 
cleared the graphics object. Similarly, the canvas listeners for various 
MouseEvents and KeyboardEvents, and 
traverses the list of objects doing hit tests.

This was okay until I needed to render text (for distances and angles). 
Apparently there are ways around that - 
by rendering text to a bitmap and adding bitmap to graphics command stack 
(though I have yet to actually get 
this working). There are other concerns that I have about my approach thus far.

But switching over to a model where each geometric object is a Sprite or a 
Shape raises some questions, too.

Currently, I can highlight points, edges and angles of polygons are the mouse 
moves over them. I have no idea 
how I would accomplish this with Sprite or Shape, as neither appears to have a 
draw() or paint() method... Would 
I need to add Shapes for selected look for each point, line segment, etc. and 
toggle visible property 
appropriately? Is this something that skins might be used for? If so, how?

I realize that this is a somewhat open-ended question, and I am hesitant asking 
it. I have done a fair amount of 
reading (books, blogs, docs), but I think that I am missing something here. If 
you have pointers or advice, I 
would be most grateful.

Thanks.
-Eric

[flexcoders] Re: How do I repaint?

[Eric Cooper]

I am not sure if this is best practice - but have you tried calling 
stage.invalidate() ?

-eric

--- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Matt [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 I am dynamically setting the 'icon' to a LinkButton using Ben Stucki's
 IconUtility and it works great when the link first gets loaded, but if
 I want to dynamically change the icon after it is displayed it doesn't
 refresh properly.
 
 If I add a line to displayLoader that calls
 component.styleChanged('icon') that seems to help a little...when I
 move my mouse over the link the icon will change to the correct one.
 I'm still missing a step I think. What else do I need to do in order
 to get it to completely redraw the LinkButton to display the new icon?
 
 Is there some way I can replicate the mouseover validation that occurs
 (since there is obviously something in there that's doing what I need)?

[flexcoders] problems with ArrayCollections, Trees and PopUpButtons

[Eric Cooper]

I have spent the day trying to understand how to get a dynamically-backed 
hierarchical popup menu to work (within a ControlBar). I have gone from a 
fairly 
complex starting point to a minimal test case - and things are still not 
working. I am seeing three failures, depending on how I attempt this feat.

I have an ArrayCollection which is static (thanks to posting by Peter Ent):

public var componentsAC:ArrayCollection = new ArrayCollection(
[
{ name: Polygon_1, data: top, children: new 
ArrayCollection(
[
{ name: Line_sement_2 },
{ name: Line_sement_3 },
{ name: Line_sement_4 },
{ name: Line_sement_5 }
])
}
]);

a Tree and a PopUpButton:

private var popbComponents:PopUpButton = new PopUpButton();
private var treeComponents:Tree = new Tree();

and I have a utility method with a couple of boolean arguments for testing 
purposes.

private function makeComponentsUI(usePopUpButton:Boolean, 

validateProps:Boolean=false):void
{
treeComponents.showRoot = true;
treeComponents.labelFunction = treeLabel;
treeComponents.dataProvider = componentsAC;
if (usePopUpButton)
{
popbComponents.popUp = treeComponents;
popbComponents.label = Components;
if (validateProps)
popbComponents.validateProperties();
addChild(popbComponents);
return;
}
// else
addChild(treeComponents);
}

and I have three cases:

1.  Call this.makeComponents(false, false)

Tree shows up but seems to, somehow, remove all the other buttons and sliders 
that precede it in my subclass of ControlBar. This is lacking the popup 
aspect and would take much more real estate than it merits, but otherwise is 
okay.

2. Call this.makeComponents(true, false)

I get this:

TypeError: Error #1009: Cannot access a property or method of a null object 
reference.
at 
mx.controls::PopUpButton/commitProperties()[E:\dev\3.0.x\frameworks\projects\framework\src\mx\controls\PopUpButton.as:469]
at 
mx.core::UIComponent/validateProperties()[E:\dev\3.0.x\frameworks\projects\framework\src\mx\core\UIComponent.as:5670]
at 
mx.managers::LayoutManager/validateProperties()[E:\dev\3.0.x\frameworks\projects\framework\src\mx\managers\LayoutManager.as:519]
at 
mx.managers::LayoutManager/doPhasedInstantiation()[E:\dev\3.0.x\frameworks\projects\framework\src\mx\managers\LayoutManager.as:669]
at Function/http://adobe.com/AS3/2006/builtin::apply()
at 
mx.core::UIComponent/callLaterDispatcher2()[E:\dev\3.0.x\frameworks\projects\framework\src\mx\core\UIComponent.as:8460]
at 
mx.core::UIComponent/callLaterDispatcher()[E:\dev\3.0.x\frameworks\projects\framework\src\mx\core\UIComponent.as:8403]

which seems related to another topic that was discussed - except that I do not 
think that I am removing anything from the stage (at least not knowingly).

3. Call this.makeComponents(true, true)

It doesn't crash, so that's good, I guess ;-) But all I get is a popup button 
labeled Components - but which lacks any popup-ness.

I would prefer to find a solution that works with ArrayCollection instead of 
with XMLListCollection. And, fwiw, I was able to get things working with a Menu 
and ComboBox, but that lacked the hierarchical aspect.

Thanks for any help with this.
-eric

[flexcoders] Re: problems with ArrayCollections, Trees and PopUpButtons

[Eric Cooper]

Okay, a combination of factors and I got something working. I did need to 
resort to 
listening for Event.ADDED_TO_STAGE and re-setting popUp value. And I agree with 
others 
that that seems sub-optimal. I also needed to set the labelField property for 
my Tree. And 
I needed to set the width for my PopUpButton.
Ironically, it seems that the much easier and friendly solution of wrapping an 
HBox around 
the Tree looks and behaves much better for my purposes... Now I need to figure 
out what 
it take to create some sort of floating windoid... oh joy.
-eric 


--- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Eric Cooper [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 I have spent the day trying to understand how to get a dynamically-backed 
 hierarchical 
popup menu to work (within a ControlBar). I have gone from a fairly 
 complex starting point to a minimal test case - and things are still not 
 working. I am 
seeing three failures, depending on how I attempt this feat.
 
 I have an ArrayCollection which is static (thanks to posting by Peter Ent):
 
   public var componentsAC:ArrayCollection = new ArrayCollection(
   [
   { name: Polygon_1, data: top, children: new 
 ArrayCollection(
   [
   { name: Line_sement_2 },
   { name: Line_sement_3 },
   { name: Line_sement_4 },
   { name: Line_sement_5 }
   ])
   }
   ]);
 
 a Tree and a PopUpButton:
 
   private var popbComponents:PopUpButton = new PopUpButton();
   private var treeComponents:Tree = new Tree();
 
 and I have a utility method with a couple of boolean arguments for testing 
 purposes.
 
   private function makeComponentsUI(usePopUpButton:Boolean, 
   
 validateProps:Boolean=false):void
   {
   treeComponents.showRoot = true;
   treeComponents.labelFunction = treeLabel;
   treeComponents.dataProvider = componentsAC;
   if (usePopUpButton)
   {
   popbComponents.popUp = treeComponents;
   popbComponents.label = Components;
   if (validateProps)
   popbComponents.validateProperties();
   addChild(popbComponents);
   return;
   }
   // else
   addChild(treeComponents);
   }
 
 and I have three cases:
 
 1.  Call this.makeComponents(false, false)
 
 Tree shows up but seems to, somehow, remove all the other buttons and sliders 
 that 
precede it in my subclass of ControlBar. This is lacking the popup 
 aspect and would take much more real estate than it merits, but otherwise is 
 okay.
 
 2. Call this.makeComponents(true, false)
 
 I get this:
 
 TypeError: Error #1009: Cannot access a property or method of a null object 
 reference.
   at 
mx.controls::PopUpButton/commitProperties()[E:\dev\3.0.x\frameworks\projects\framew
ork\src\mx\controls\PopUpButton.as:469]
   at 
mx.core::UIComponent/validateProperties()[E:\dev\3.0.x\frameworks\projects\framework
\src\mx\core\UIComponent.as:5670]
   at 
mx.managers::LayoutManager/validateProperties()[E:\dev\3.0.x\frameworks\projects\fra
mework\src\mx\managers\LayoutManager.as:519]
   at 
mx.managers::LayoutManager/doPhasedInstantiation()[E:\dev\3.0.x\frameworks\projects\
framework\src\mx\managers\LayoutManager.as:669]
   at Function/http://adobe.com/AS3/2006/builtin::apply()
   at 
mx.core::UIComponent/callLaterDispatcher2()[E:\dev\3.0.x\frameworks\projects\framewo
rk\src\mx\core\UIComponent.as:8460]
   at 
mx.core::UIComponent/callLaterDispatcher()[E:\dev\3.0.x\frameworks\projects\framewor
k\src\mx\core\UIComponent.as:8403]
 
 which seems related to another topic that was discussed - except that I do 
 not think 
that I am removing anything from the stage (at least not knowingly).
 
 3. Call this.makeComponents(true, true)
 
 It doesn't crash, so that's good, I guess ;-) But all I get is a popup button 
 labeled 
Components - but which lacks any popup-ness.
 
 I would prefer to find a solution that works with ArrayCollection instead of 
 with 
XMLListCollection. And, fwiw, I was able to get things working with a Menu 
 and ComboBox, but that lacked the hierarchical aspect.
 
 Thanks for any help with this.
 -eric

[flexcoders] Re: Writing text directly to Graphics object.

[Eric Cooper]

I have tried this, but it doesn't seem to be working. Here's what I am doing:

override public function renderShape(graphics:Graphics):void
{
var matrix:Matrix = new Matrix()
matrix.createBox(1, 1, 0, this.center.x, this.center.y ); // 
center is the vertex of an angle
graphics.beginBitmapFill(this.bitmapData, matrix);
graphics.endFill();
}

// use bright colors for debugging.
private function generateBitmapData():void
{
this._textField.text = this.angle + º;
this._textField.textColor = 0xFF;
this._textField.background = true;
this._textField.backgroundColor = 0xFF;
_bitmapData = new BitmapData(this._textField.textWidth, 
this._textField.textHeight, false, 0x00FF00);
_bitmapData.draw(this._textField);
}
private function get bitmapData():BitmapData
{
if (_bitmapData == null)
this.generateBitmapData();
return _bitmapData;
}

Note that the real renderShape() also draws a pie wedge to the canvas - and 
the wedge is visible. As an aside, though, 
I am also having trouble with drawing the pie wedge - the wedge works fine, but 
if I try to draw just the arc of the 
wedge, then I find that the arc deforms into a closed shape: the two end points 
are connected by a line. If I omit 
beginFill() and endFill() calls, relying only on lineStyle(), then connecting 
line goes away, but I start seeing strange flood 
fills. Reading about Graphics, I see that endFill() plays a role in getting 
draw commands pushed onto draw stack. I also 
see that the fill specified by beginFill() et al. persists until another 
beginFill() call. Is there some mantra for turning off 
fill?

Thanks!
-Eric

--- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Doug McCune [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 You can draw a TextField to a BitmapData object (using the draw() method)
 and then use graphics.beginBitmapFill and pass in that BitmapData (make sure
 to specify the right matrix for where to start the fill). But no, as far as
 I know there is not way to do it directly, I often use BitmapData as an
 intermediary to do stuff like that.
 
 Doug
 
 On Fri, Apr 11, 2008 at 3:50 PM, Eric Cooper [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
Is there any way to write/draw text directly to a Graphics object? For
  that matter is there
  anyway to draw text (single line of static text) into a Canvas? I suspect
  that the answer is no,
  having searched and searched... but maybe there's some obscure utility
  class that I've
  overlooked.
  Thanks in advance.
  -Eric
 
   
 

[flexcoders] Re: Writing text directly to Graphics object.

[Eric Cooper]

Yes, this is what I was hoping for. And even though it is not now available, I 
wonder, 
Gordon, if you are at liberty to tell us about the future? Is 
Graphics.drawText() be 
something that might get added?

-eric

--- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Gordon Smith [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 I think the original poster was looking for something like
 
  
 
 graphics.drawText(Hello, format);
 
  
 
 But there are (alas!) no APIs in the Graphics class that know how to
 render a text string. Only TextField knows how to do that.
 
  
 
 Gordon Smith
 
 Adobe Flex SDK Team
 

[flexcoders] Re: graphics object seems to degrade performance

[Eric Cooper]

Is there a way to clock exactly how long the actual drawing to the screen was 
taking? 
I know that profiling tools will show time spent within [pre-render] and 
[render], but I 
wonder if there is some thing that could be done inside my own code. In 
particular, I am 
trying to figure out where time is being spent. I suspect that it is not in 
rendering - but I 
would like to confirm that.
Thanks.
-Eric


 --- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Gordon Smith [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

  Btw, is there any way to inspect the graphics object to see the
 drawing commands that it has?
 
  
 
 Unfortunately, no.
 
  
 
 Gordon Smith
 
 Adobe Flex SDK Team
 
  
 
 
 
 From: flexcoders@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
 Behalf Of Eric Cooper
 Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2008 1:47 PM
 To: flexcoders@yahoogroups.com
 Subject: [flexcoders] Re: graphics object seems to degrade performance
 
  
 
 Thanks. Yes, that one got me when I first started -- and took me a few
 days to realize what 
 was happening.
 
 Btw, is there any way to inspect the graphics object to see the drawing
 commands that it has? 
 
 --- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com mailto:flexcoders%40yahoogroups.com
 , Alex Harui aharui@ wrote:
 
  Also make sure you are calling graphics.clear() before re-drawing all
 of
  your graphic commands.
 

[flexcoders] Re: graphics object seems to degrade performance

[Eric Cooper]

I am experiencing performance issues similar to those described in this thread. 
By way of 
background, I am working on a geometry tool that allows the user to create 
points, line 
segments, circles and polygons, to move then about and to create constraints 
between 
them. I am new to ActionScript/Flex/Flash and, perhaps, tainted by other 
languages/frameworks. So, I have subclasses Canvas and it is responsible of 
rendering all 
the geometric shapes. In other words, my geometric shapes do extend 
DisplayObject and 
are *not* in the display list.

As I add more and more shapes (i.e., more than 10), I see that drag performance 
degrades 
rapidly. I am considering adopting Alex's suggestion: generating a bitmap at 
the start of a 
drag (such that the bitmap contains all shapes that are not about to be 
dragged), clearing 
the graphics object, blitting the bitmap and then drawing the object(s) being 
dragged.

I am wondering, though, if I would get this for free if I used DisplayObject 
and the built-
in drag events. I am also wondering, if I am saving that much in terms of 
memory and 
speed, by rolling my own as it were.

Thanks,
-Eric

--- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Alex Harui [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 It will help some, but you'll still end up with 500,000 vectors spread
 thorough 1000 overlaid shapes.
 
  
 
 In order to handle undo, you would track the vectors in your own array
 of points and take snapshots as I suggested.  I wouldn't even encode as
 png, all you need is one extra bitmapdata.

[flexcoders] Re: graphics object seems to degrade performance

[Eric Cooper]

Thanks. Yes, that one got me when I first started -- and took me a few days to 
realize what 
was happening.

Btw, is there any way to inspect the graphics object to see the drawing 
commands that it has? 

--- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Alex Harui [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Also make sure you are calling graphics.clear() before re-drawing all of
 your graphic commands.
 

[flexcoders] Re: graphics object seems to degrade performance

[Eric Cooper]

Thank, Tom. Perhaps I should have started by extending DisplayObject. At this 
point, that 
would be a bit of a slog. I may end up resorting to that, but would like to try 
other 
avenues first.

--- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Tom Chiverton [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 On Tuesday 15 Apr 2008, Eric Cooper wrote:
  I am wondering, though, if I would get this for free if I used
  DisplayObject and the built- in drag events. I am also wondering, if I am
  saving that much in terms of memory and speed, by rolling my own as it
  were.
 
 I would definetaly use Adobe's to start with, then until or unless some 
 problem actually appeared.
 
 -- 
 Tom Chiverton
 Helping to continually aggregate leading-edge infrastructures
 on: http://thefalken.livejournal.com
 
 

[flexcoders] Re: graphics object seems to degrade performance

[Eric Cooper]

Thanks, Troy. 
I am using alpha currently, and think that I will be able to use various matrix 
manipulations when I get there. I 
am drawing to a Canvas. I think that I will be exploring bitmap caching 
shortly. But if it starts looking like I will 
need to manage my own dirty rectangles then I will spend some time extending 
DisplayObject.
-Eric

--- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Troy Gilbert [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

   I am wondering, though, if I would get this for free if I used
  DisplayObject and the built-
   in drag events. I am also wondering, if I am saving that much in terms of
  memory and
   speed, by rolling my own as it were.
 
 If you make each draggable item (each shape) its own DisplayObject
 then yes, you'll get some optimizations for free, such as bitmap
 caching. You'll also get the benefit of the fact that the drawing
 loop is at least written in native code (the display list), and may
 even have some additional optimizations helping you depending on your
 specific dataset (dirty rectangle lists, etc.).
 
 Finally, by making each object a DisplayObject instead of managing the
 shapes yourself, you get a huge amount of features for free, such as
 alpha, filters, sort order, scaling, rotation... all those nice,
 native things DisplayObjects do.
 
 Troy.

[flexcoders] Re: graphics object seems to degrade performance

[Eric Cooper]

John,
This is helpful. I am not dealing with complex polygons. Rather, I am dealing 
with triangles and quadrilaterals. I am calling 
out to a C++ server that includes code that helps maintain constraints within 
and between my polygons (e.g., 
perpendicular, concentric, congruence, etc.). This means that every moveBy 
call on a polygon gets sent to the server and 
the server sends back a list of points that have changed position. I suspect 
that much of my slowness is a result of the 
drawing taking a bit longer than the network roundtrip - with the result that a 
backlog of point updates builds up.
I wonder, though, if caching bitmaps for each polygon would speed things up. I 
don't think that I can get away with 
creating a single bitmap of non-dragged polygons because there is a potential 
for interaction between dragged and non-
dragged objects (that's one way that constraints can be made, albeit with 
modifier key).
Thanks.
-Eric

--- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Jon Bradley [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 
 On Apr 15, 2008, at 12:23 AM, Eric Cooper wrote:
 
  I am wondering, though, if I would get this for free if I used  
  DisplayObject and the built-
  in drag events. I am also wondering, if I am saving that much in  
  terms of memory and
  speed, by rolling my own as it were.
 
 My personal choice was not to use any of the built-in drag event  
 stuff for this.
 
 I created my own handler for clicking and 'selecting' or initiating a  
 drag or other transform on a display object using transformation  
 matrices. Objects extend some base classes that implement an  
 interface containing a setTransformation method. Each object can then  
 override the capabilities of the transformation that is being applied  
 (as a matrix parameter).
 
 I find it pretty weird you run into issues with more than 10 display  
 objects. I would imaging you'd have issues with a few hundred or  
 thousand, but not low single digits.
 
 If you get to really complex vector shapes dragging can slow down  
 quickly because the renderer has to deal with visibility and  
 compositing of that complex shape. Bitmap representations here are  
 much more efficient, using cacheAsBitmap=true (gotta extend  
 movieclip) and have your class that contains the graphics  
 automatically handle the drawing of the bitmap into itself. I do this  
 with text because animating or moving type in a layered 'canvas' has  
 performance and display issues.
 
 My 0.02.
 
 cheers,
 
 jon

[flexcoders] Writing text directly to Graphics object.

[Eric Cooper]

Is there any way to write/draw text directly to a Graphics object? For that 
matter is there 
anyway to draw text (single line of static text) into a Canvas? I suspect that 
the answer is no, 
having searched and searched... but maybe there's some obscure utility class 
that I've 
overlooked.
Thanks in advance.
-Eric

[flexcoders] Re: Question about DisplayObject.hitTestPoint() and the shapeFlag

[Eric Cooper]

jon,
thanks! my polygons are only triangles and quadrilaterals at this point, but 
your method works beautifully for 
concave quads. I did have to change one line (which appears a few times) in 
order to compile:

w += 2 * ( p[ip].y  
p[i].y ) - 1;

became:

w += 2 * (( p[ip].y  
p[i].y ) ? 1 : 0) - 1;

I am new to AS, so this may have been unnecessary or they may have been a more 
elegant way to do this.

thanks again.
-eric


--- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Jon Bradley [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 
 On Apr 7, 2008, at 8:46 AM, Jon Bradley wrote:
 
  /**
   *  Point inside polygon using winding number method
   *  q   Point2d A point 2d structure with x,y properties
   *  p   Polygon A polygon as an array of points in 
  clockwise order
   *  returns Boolean Point is inside polygon if winding (w) number  
  is != 0
   */
 
 
 Forgot to add that the parameter p for the polygon is a closed loop  
 where p[0] == p[n].
 
 cheers,
 
 jon

[flexcoders] Re: Question about DisplayObject.hitTestPoint() and the shapeFlag

[Eric Cooper]

FWIW, I decided to write my own hit test using dot products for concave 
polygons. I will 
need to do something a bit more involved for convex polygons, but I don't need 
that 
immediately.
I would still be interested to answer to my original question, if anyone knows 
the answer. 
Alternatively, a pointer to some discussion of this issue would be most 
helpful. (I googled 
for several hours before posting original question - without any good hits.)



--- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Eric Cooper [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 I am writing a simple geometry editor (i.e., user can create, move and deform 
 circles 
and 
 polygons). I am *not* adding geometric shapes to display list. Instead, I am 
 managing 
 them myself. (This may be a bad idea, but doesn't really affect my overall 
 question.)
 
 Here is a method that is defined on my Polygon class. I would like to know 
 why it 
returns 
 true when (x, y) is on top of a polygon and shapeFlag is false -- but returns 
 false when 
(x, 
 y) is on top of a polygon and shapeFlag is true.
 
   override public function containsPoint(x:Number, 
 y:Number):Boolean
   {
   var shapeFlag:Boolean = false;
   var testShape:Shape = new Shape();
   testShape.graphics.beginFill(0xFF, 1.0);
   testShape.graphics.lineStyle(1.0, 0xFF, 1.0);
   this.renderInteractionShape(testShape.graphics);
   testShape.graphics.endFill();
   return ((testShape == null) ? false : 
 testShape.hitTestPoint(x, y, shapeFlag)); 
   }
 
 With shapeFlag = false, any points in the polygon's bounding rectangle will 
 cuse 
 containsPoint() to return true. I need to deal with non-rectangular shapes 
 and rotated 
 rectangles.
 
 Performance is important, so generating and regenerating bitmaps would be 
suboptimal. 
 Then again, if that is part of the solution, then I could cache bitmaps of 
 unmoved 
shapes.
 
 Here's Polygon.renderInteractionShape() for completeness. The MPPoint class 
 wraps a 
 point and provides some UI.
 
   override public function 
 renderInteractionShape(graphics:Graphics):void
   {
   var scale:Number = drawing.getScale();
   var pt:MPPoint = _vertices[0];
   graphics.moveTo(pt.x * scale, pt.y * scale);
   for (var i:int = 1; i  _numSides; i++)
   {
   pt = _vertices[i];
   graphics.lineTo(pt.x * scale, pt.y * scale);
   }
   // close up the polygon.
   pt = _vertices[0];
   graphics.lineTo(pt.x * scale, pt.y * scale);
   }
 
 Thanks in advance,
 -ec

[flexcoders] Question about DisplayObject.hitTestPoint() and the shapeFlag

[Eric Cooper]

I am writing a simple geometry editor (i.e., user can create, move and deform 
circles and 
polygons). I am *not* adding geometric shapes to display list. Instead, I am 
managing 
them myself. (This may be a bad idea, but doesn't really affect my overall 
question.)

Here is a method that is defined on my Polygon class. I would like to know why 
it returns 
true when (x, y) is on top of a polygon and shapeFlag is false -- but returns 
false when (x, 
y) is on top of a polygon and shapeFlag is true.

override public function containsPoint(x:Number, 
y:Number):Boolean
{
var shapeFlag:Boolean = false;
var testShape:Shape = new Shape();
testShape.graphics.beginFill(0xFF, 1.0);
testShape.graphics.lineStyle(1.0, 0xFF, 1.0);
this.renderInteractionShape(testShape.graphics);
testShape.graphics.endFill();
return ((testShape == null) ? false : 
testShape.hitTestPoint(x, y, shapeFlag)); 
}

With shapeFlag = false, any points in the polygon's bounding rectangle will 
cuse 
containsPoint() to return true. I need to deal with non-rectangular shapes and 
rotated 
rectangles.

Performance is important, so generating and regenerating bitmaps would be 
suboptimal. 
Then again, if that is part of the solution, then I could cache bitmaps of 
unmoved shapes.

Here's Polygon.renderInteractionShape() for completeness. The MPPoint class 
wraps a 
point and provides some UI.

override public function 
renderInteractionShape(graphics:Graphics):void
{
var scale:Number = drawing.getScale();
var pt:MPPoint = _vertices[0];
graphics.moveTo(pt.x * scale, pt.y * scale);
for (var i:int = 1; i  _numSides; i++)
{
pt = _vertices[i];
graphics.lineTo(pt.x * scale, pt.y * scale);
}
// close up the polygon.
pt = _vertices[0];
graphics.lineTo(pt.x * scale, pt.y * scale);
}

Thanks in advance,
-ec