MACROMEDIA Director MX User manual

Lingo Dictionary

Macromedia Director MX

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Part Number ZDR90M200

Acknowledgments

Writing: Jay Armstrong, George Brown, Stephanie Gowin, and, Tim Statler

Editing: Rosana Francescato, Mary Ferguson, Mary Kraemer, and Noreen Maher

Project Management: Stuart Manning

Production: Chris Basmajian, Caroline Branch, John Francis, and Patrice O’Neill

Multimedia: Aaron Begley and Benjamin Salles

First Edition: December 2002

Macromedia, Inc.

600 Townsend St.

San Francisco, CA 94103

3

CHAPTER 1

Lingo by Feature

This chapter lists various Macromedia Director MX features and the corresponding Lingo

elements that you can use to implement those features.

Accessibility

These terms are useful for making movies accessible to the disabled:

Text-to-speech

Keyboard navigation

voiceCount() voiceSet()

voiceGet() voiceSetPitch()

voiceGetPitch() voiceSetRate()

voiceGetRate() voiceSetVolume()

voiceGetVolume() voiceSpeak()

voiceInitialize() voiceState()

voicePause() voiceStop()

voiceResume() voiceWordPos()

autoTab selection (cast property)

hilite (command) selectedText

keyboardFocusSprite selEnd

selection (text cast member property) selStart

selection() (function)

Chapter 14

Animated GIFs

These terms are useful for working with animated GIFs:

Animation

These terms are useful for creating animation with Lingo:

Behaviors

The terms in this section are useful for authoring behaviors and using behaviors while the

movie plays.

Authoring behaviors

Use these terms to set up behaviors and the behavior’s Parameters dialog box:

Sending messages to behaviors

Use these commands to send messages to behaviors attached to sprites:

Identifying behaviors

Use these terms to identify the behaviors attached to sprites:

directToStage pause (movie playback)

frameRate playBackMode

linked resume sprite

moviePath rewind sprite

blend locV

ink member (sprite property)

loc regPoint

locH tweened

ancestor on getBehaviorDescription

on runPropertyDialog on getPropertyDescriptionList

on getBehaviorTooltip property

on isOKToAttach

call sendSprite

callAncestor sendAllSprites

currentSpriteNum scriptInstanceList

me spriteNum

Lingo by Feature 5

Bitmaps

The terms in this section are useful for working with bitmaps.

Bitmap properties

Use these terms to check and set bitmap properties:

Alpha channel

Use these terms to control alpha channel effects:

Image objects

Use these terms to create and control image objects:

Buttons

See Buttons and check boxes in the Interface Elements section.

alphaThreshold foreColor

backColor palette

blend picture (cast member property)

depth pictureP()

dither rect (member)

trimWhiteSpace (property) imageCompression

imageQuality movieImageCompression

movieImageQuality

alphaThreshold dither

depth useAlpha

createMask() createMatte()

extractAlpha() setAlpha()

copyPixels() fill()

crop() (image object command) image

draw() image()

duplicate() (image function) rect (image)

getPixel() setPixel()

Chapter 16

Cast members

The terms in this section are useful for working with cast members.

Creating cast members

Use

importFileInto and new() to create cast members.

Authoring

Use

duplicate member, erase member, and pasteClipBoardInto to work with cast members

during authoring.

Graphic cast members

Use these terms to check and set the images assigned to graphic cast members:

General cast member properties

Use these terms to check and set cast member properties:

Graphic cast member dimensions

Use

height, rect (member), and width to check and set dimensions for graphic cast members.

Casts

The terms in this section are useful for working with casts.

Loading casts

Use

preLoadMode to check and set when Director preloads a cast.

Cast properties

Use these terms to specify cast properties:

center palette

crop (cast member property) picture (cast member property)

depth pictureP()

media regPoint

fileName (cast member property) number (cast member property)

media preLoadMode

modified type (cast member property)

name (cast member property) URL

castLib number (cast property)

fileName (cast property) number (system property)

name (cast property)

Lingo by Feature 7

Cast management

Use these terms to manage casts:

Computer and operating system

Use these terms to check and control the computer:

Operating system control

Use

restart and shutDown to control the operating system.

Data types

These terms are useful for specifying data types:

Digital video

These terms are useful for working with AVI and QuickTime digital video:

activeCastLib number of members

duplicate member pasteClipBoardInto

erase member save castLib

findEmpty() selection (cast property)

move member

beep freeBlock()

beepOn freeBytes()

cpuHogTicks maxInteger

emulateMultiButtonMouse multiSound

floatPrecision romanLingo

# (symbol) string()

float() stringP()

floatP() symbol()

integer() symbolP()

integerP() VOID

objectP() voidP()

controller trackNextSampleTime

digitalVideoTimeScale trackPreviousKeyTime

digitalVideoType trackPreviousSampleTime

directToStage trackStartTime (sprite property)

duration trackStartTime (cast member property)

frameRate trackStopTime (sprite property)

loop (cast member property) trackStopTime (cast member property)

movieRate trackText

Chapter 18

QuickTime

Use these terms to work with QuickTime:

RealMedia video

Use these terms to with RealMedia video:

movieTime trackType (cast member property)

pausedAtStart (Flash, digital video) trackType (sprite property)

quickTimeVersion() trackCount (cast member property)

timeScale trackCount (sprite property)

trackEnabled video (QuickTime, AVI)

trackNextKeyTime videoForWindowsPresent

enableHotSpot nodeType

fieldOfView nudge

getHotSpotRect() pan (QTVR property)

hotSpotExitCallback ptToHotSpotID()

hotSpotEnterCallback quickTimeVersion()

invertMask rotation

isVRMovie scale

loopBounds swing()

mask staticQuality

motionQuality tilt

mouseLevel translation

node triggerCallback

nodeEnterCallback warpMode

nodeExitCallback

audio (RealMedia) play

currentTime (RealMedia) realPlayerNativeAudio()

displayRealLogo realPlayerPromptToInstall()

duration (RealMedia) realPlayerVersion()

image (RealMedia) seek

lastError soundChannel (RealMedia)

mediaStatus state (RealMedia)

password stop (RealMedia)

pause (RealMedia) userName (RealMedia)

pausedAtStart (RealMedia) video (RealMedia)

percentBuffered

Lingo by Feature 9

Events

Use these event handlers for Lingo that runs when a specific event occurs:

Use the

pass and stopEvent commands to override the way that Director passes messages along

the message hierarchy.

External files

The terms in this section are useful for working with external files.

Path names and filenames

Use these terms to check and set path names and filenames:

Obtaining external media

Use these terms to obtain external media:

activeCastLib on moveWindow

close window on mouseWithin

on cuePassed open window

on deactivateWindow on prepareFrame

on enterFrame on prepareMovie

on EvalScript on resizeWindow

on exitFrame on mouseUpOutside

on idle on rightMouseDown (event handler)

on keyDown on rightMouseUp (event handler)

on keyUp on startMovie

on mouseDown (event handler) on stepFrame

on mouseEnter on streamStatus

on mouseLeave on timeOut

on mouseUp (event handler) on zoomWindow

on stopMovie on beginSprite

on endSprite on hyperlinkClicked

@ (pathname) getNthFileNameInFolder()

applicationPath moviePath

fileName (cast property) searchCurrentFolder

fileName (cast member property) URL

downloadNetThing preloadNetThing()

importFileInto

Chapter 110

Managing external files

Use these terms to manage external files:

Flash

These terms are useful for working with Flash cast members:

closeXlib showXlib

open sound playFile

openXlib

actionsEnabled originV

broadcastProps pathName (movie property)

bufferSize pausedAtStart (Flash, digital video)

buttonsEnabled percentStreamed

bytesStreamed play

callFrame() playBackMode

centerRegPoint playing

clearError posterFrame

clickMode print()

defaultRect printAsBitmap()

defaultRectMode quality

directToStage rewind sprite

endTellTarget() See tellTarget() rotation

eventPassMode scale

findLabel() scaleMode

fixedRate on sendXML

flashRect setCallback()

flashToStage() settingsPanel()

frame() (function) setFlashProperty()

frame (sprite property) setVariable()

frameCount showProps()

frameRate sound

frameReady() the soundMixMedia

getError() sourceFileName

getFlashProperty() stageToFlash()

getFrameLabel() state (Flash, SWA)

getVariable() static

goToFrame stop (Flash)

Lingo by Feature 11

These terms are useful for working with global Flash objects, which do not require a Flash

cast member:

Frames

The Lingo terms in this section let you work with frames.

Frame events

Use the

on enterFrame, on exitFrame, and on prepareFrame event handlers to contain Lingo

that runs at specific events within a frame.

Frame properties

Use these Lingo terms to check and set frame properties:

hitTest() stream

hold streamMode

imageEnabled streamSize

linked tellTarget()

loop (keyword) URL

mouseOverButton viewH

newObject() viewPoint

obeyScoreRotation viewScale

originH viewV

originMode volume (cast member property)

originPoint

clearAsObjects() setCallback()

newObject()

frameLabel frameTempo

framePalette frameTransition

frameScript label()

frameSound1 labelList

frameSound2 marker()

the markerList

Chapter 112

Interface elements

The Lingo terms in this section are useful for working with interface elements.

Menus

Use these terms to create menus:

Buttons and check boxes

Use these terms to specify buttons and check boxes:

Keys

The Lingo terms in this section are related to using the keyboard.

Identifying keys

Use these terms to identify keys:

Keyboard interaction

Use

keyPressed(), lastEvent(), and lastKey to detect what the user types at the keyboard.

Keyboard events

Use these terms to set up handlers that respond to pressing keys:

enabled name (menu item property)

installMenu number (menu items)

menu number (menus)

name (menu property) script

alert checkBoxType

buttonStyle checkMark

buttonType hilite (cast member property)

checkBoxAccess

charToNum() keyPressed()

commandDown mouseChar

controlDown numToChar()

key() optionDown

keyCode() shiftDown

on keyDown keyDownScript

on keyUp keyUpScript

flushInputEvents

Lingo by Feature 13

Lingo

The Lingo terms in this section are important language elements that you use to construct scripts.

Boolean values

Use these terms to test whether a condition exists:

• FALSE (0 is the numerical equivalent of FALSE).

• TRUE (1 is the numerical equivalent of TRUE).

• not

• or

Script control

Use these terms to control how a script executes:

Code structures

Use

if to create if..then statements.

Use

case, end case, and otherwise in case statements.

Use these terms for repeat loops:

Syntax elements

Use these terms as part of Lingo’s syntax:

abort pass

do result

exit scriptsEnabled

halt scriptText

nothing stopEvent

end repeat repeat with

exit repeat repeat with...down to

next repeat repeat with...in list

repeat while

# (symbol) member (keyword)

" (string) of

¬ (continuation) or

-- (comment) property

() (parentheses) sprite

castLib the

end window

global

Chapter 114

Lists

The terms in this section are useful for working with lists.

Creating lists

Use

[ ] (list), duplicate() (list function), or list() to create a list.

Adding list items

Use these terms to add items to a list:

Deleting list items

Use these terms to delete items from a list:

Retrieving values from a list

Use these terms to retrieve values from a list:

Getting information about lists

Use these terms to get information about lists:

Setting values in a list

Use these terms to set values in a list:

[ ] (bracket access) addVertex

add append

addVertex

deleteAll deleteOne

deleteAt deleteProp

[ ] (bracket access) getOne()

deleteProp getPos()

deleteProp getProp()

getLast() getPropAt()

count() max()

findPos min

findPosNear param()

ilk() paramCount()

listP()

[ ] (bracket access) setAt

setaProp setProp

Lingo by Feature 15

Media synchronization

Use these terms to synchronize animation and sound:

Memory management

The terms in this section are useful for determining memory requirements and controlling when

the movie loads and unloads cast members.

Idle events

Use the

on idle event handler for Lingo that runs when the movie is idle.

Idle loading

Use these terms to control idle loading:

Preloading and querying media

Use these terms to load media into memory and check whether media are available:

Available memory

Use these terms to check how much memory is available:

cuePointNames on cuePassed

cuePointTimes isPastCuePoint()

mostRecentCuePoint

cancelIdleLoad idleLoadPeriod

finishIdleLoad idleLoadTag

idleHandlerPeriod idleReadChunkSize

idleLoadDone() netThrottleTicks

frameReady() preloadNetThing()

loaded preLoadMember

mediaReady preLoadMovie

preLoad (command) preLoadRAM

preLoad (cast member property) purgePriority

preLoadBuffer member unLoad

preLoadEventAbort unLoadMember

preLoadMode unloadMovie

freeBlock() movieFileFreeSize

freeBytes() movieFileSize

memorySize

Chapter 116

Memory requirements

Use

ramNeeded() and size to determine how much memory required for a cast member or a

range of frames.

Menus

See Menus in the Interface elements section.

Message window

Use these terms to work in the Message window:

Monitor

Use colorDepth, deskTopRectList, and switchColorDepth to check and control the monitor.

Mouse interaction

The terms in this section are useful for Lingo related to using the mouse.

Mouse clicks

Use these terms to detect what the user does with the mouse:

put traceLoad

showXlib traceLogFile

trace appMinimize

clickOn mouseLine

doubleClick mouseLoc

emulateMultiButtonMouse mouseMember

lastClick() mouseOverButton

lastEvent() on mouseUp (event handler)

lastRoll mouseV

mouseChar mouseWord

on mouseDown (event handler) on rightMouseDown (event handler)

mouseH on rightMouseUp (event handler)

mouseItem rollOver()

mouseLevel stillDown

Lingo by Feature 17

Mouse events

Use these terms to set up handlers that respond to mouse events:

Cursor control

Use

cursor (command), cursor (sprite property), and cursorSize to control the

pointer (cursor).

Movies in a window

The terms in this section are useful for working with movies in a window.

Movie in a window events

Use these event handlers to contain Lingo that you want to run in response to events in a movie

in a window:

Opening and closing movies in a window

Use these terms for opening and closing windows:

Window appearance

Use these terms to check and set the appearance of a movie’s window:

mouseDownScript on mouseUp (event handler)

mouseUpScript on mouseUpOutside

on mouseDown (event handler) on mouseWithin

on mouseEnter on rightMouseDown (event handler)

on mouseLeave on rightMouseUp (event handler)

activeCastLib on openWindow

on closeWindow on resizeWindow

on moveWindow on zoomWindow

close window open window

forget windowList

drawRect sourceRect

fileName (window property) tell

frontWindow title

modal titleVisible

moveToBack visible (window property)

moveToFront windowPresent()

name (window property) windowType

rect (window) appMinimize

Chapter 118

Communication between movies

Use the

tell command to send messages between movies.

Movies

The terms in this section are useful for managing movies.

Stopping movies

Use these terms to stop or quit the movie or projector:

Movie information

Use these terms to obtain information about the movie and the movie’s environment:

Source control

Use these terms to manage Director projects being worked on by more than one person:

Saving movies

Use

saveMovie and updateMovieEnabled to save changes to a movie.

Error checking

Use the

alertHook event to post alerts that describe errors in a projector.

Movie events

Use the

on prepareMovie, on startMovie, and on stopMovie event handlers for Lingo that

responds to movie events.

exitLock quit

halt restart

pauseState shutDown

environment moviePath

lastFrame number (system property)

movie runMode

movieFileFreeSize safePlayer

movieFileSize version

movieName movieFileVersion

comments creationDate

modifiedBy modifiedDate

linkAs() seconds

Lingo by Feature 19

Multiuser server

Director MX users should use Macromedia Flash Communication Server MX for

communication among Director movies and with application servers. For more information

about using Flash Communication Server MX, see Using Flash Communication Server MX in

Using Director.

Navigation

Use these terms to jump to different locations:

Network Lingo

The terms in this section are useful for working with the network.

Downloading and streaming media

Use these terms to obtain or stream media from the network:

Checking availability

Use

frameReady() and mediaReady to check whether specific media are

completely downloaded.

Using network operations

Use these terms to check the progress of a network operation or get information regarding

network media:

delay goToFrame

go gotoNetMovie

go loop gotoNetPage

go next play

go previous play done

downloadNetThing (For projectors and

authoring only)

gotoNetPage

getNetText() postNetText

gotoNetMovie preloadNetThing()

getStreamStatus() netMIME()

getLatestNetID netTextResult()

netAbort on streamStatus

netDone() proxyServer

netError() tellStreamStatus()

netPresent URLEncode

netLastModDate()

Chapter 120

Working with the local computer

Use these terms to work with the user’s computer:

Browsers

Use

on EvalScript, externalEvent, and netStatus to interact with browsers. For additional

information about browser scripting using languages such as JavaScript, see “Shockwave

Publishing” on the Director Support Center at www.macromedia.com/support/director/

internet.html.

Accessing EMBED and OBJECT tag parameters

Use

externalParamCount(), externalParamName(), and externalParamValue() to access

EMBED and OBJECT parameter tags:

Operators

The terms in this section are operators available in Lingo.

Math operators

Use these terms for math statements:

Comparison operators

Use

and, not, and or to compare expressions.

Palettes and color

Use these terms to check and set palettes for movies and for cast members:

browserName() clearCache (For projectors and

authoring only)

cacheDocVerify() (For projectors and

authoring only)

getPref()

cacheSize() (For projectors and

authoring only)

setPref

* (multiplication) <> (not equal)

/ (division) > (greater than)

+ (addition) >= (greater than or equal to)

- (minus) < (less than)

= (equals) <= (less than or equal to)

color() paletteMapping

depth puppetPalette

palette rgb()

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