How to sort out this Portfolio mess, please!

[Quetzal]

Hello

I have six scrollable images and when clicked the thumbnail becomes a larger image accompanied, in theory, by relevant text to describe it.

The problem I have is that the text which accompanies each larger image (there is no text for the thumbnails) is the same text.

If you can imagine visiting an art gallery only to find that each and every painting has the same description attached to it, whether a seascape, bowl of fruit, or self-portrait!

The text is not part of the image; rather the image slides in to a 'frame' which the text is part of.

It has been suggested that I use an xml file to list, for each image, the thumbnail, larger image and text, storing the three strings into an array or into 3 arrays. This would enable me to associate each thumb, larger image and text.

To be honest, that is far above my level, and I am unsure how my present Portfolio could be made to accommodate an xml file/array/dynamic text box. But I'm all ears!

This is the Action Script I have at the moment:

Movie Clip (1)

on (rollOver) { this.gotoAndPlay(2); } on (release) { if (_root.scrollN>-2) { _root.scrollN-- } }

Movie Clip (2)

for (i=2;i<7;i++) { duplicateMovieClip("1",i,this.getNextHighestDepth( )); this[i]._y=this[i-1]._y+121; this[i]._name=i; }

To give you a better idea, please visit this link, select Portfolio, and then one of the thumbnails.

http://stevehigham59.7host.com/9Test/9Test.html

Many thanks.

Steve

[Medyman]

In general I'd agree with the advice you were given. Believe it or not, it's a lot more simpler, intuitive and easily maintained than your current code. But, as you've stated, I'm not sure how this could be worked into your current setup.

Of course, it could be done. But your website looks like it's based off of a template. Please let me know if that assumption is wrong. Most templates that I've run across are horribly coded and really make a mess to fix.

To your original question:
Without examining the code that relates to switching between projects in your portfolio, it's impossible for me to offer any advice on how to fix it. So, you'll need to post your .fla if you wan't an difinitive answer.

[Quetzal]

Hello Medyman

Many thanks for your reply.

Yes, originally it was one of the Flashmint templates though, graphically and in terms of the online form in ASP, it has been modified substantially.

Originally, too, it weighed in at a huge 10,000KB, a size I have now managed to slim down to 3,000KB (the movie size is about 550KB).

It's still too heavy for this forum, so if you don't mind I'll send it to Rapidshare and post the link here.

I'm grateful to you for taking the time to look at it.

Cheers

Steve

[Medyman]

Sure, post a link when it's up. I'll take a look later today.

[Quetzal]

Hello Medyman

Here is the link:

http://rapidshare.com/files/124957355/9Test.zip.html

Many thanks for your time.

Cheers

Steve

[Quetzal]

Hello Medyman

I'm not sure if you have seen the link I posted, but it's in my previous post.

Thank again.

Steve

[Medyman]

Hey Steve...

Sorry, I completely missed that you had posted a link. I'll take a look at your source tonight.

[Quetzal]

Hello Medyman

It would be great if you could take a look at it.

If you are unsure about certain aspects of it, please let me know.

Thanks again.

Steve

[Medyman]

Steve,

I had a chance to look through it. Honestly, it's way more complicated than it needs to be (this is typical of templates though). The reason that your particular text isn't changing is simply that there is no mechanism to make it change.

The text is hardcoded into the flash. You would have to code everything from scratch.

My advice:
Since you're going to be doing that anyway. Switch to a XML-based application so that you can maintain it easier in the long run.

[Quetzal]

Hello Medyman

Thanks for your reply and for looking at the file.

Coding everything from scratch seems like quite a tall order, but I agree that XML will allow the FLA a flexibility which does not exist at the moment.

Thanks again - I'd better roll my sleeves up!

Steve