As a nice little side project, I have decided I'm going to post my Experimental flash on my user page, along with the script and a brief explanation. I will provide a link to download the source and hotlink to the .swf. I'll start by posting a little engine I came up with in school.

I cannot Hotlink to the .swf at this time, sorry. (SwfUp is down and ImageShack hates me.)

Source.

Setting up the .fla:

Create a MovieClip, and remove it from the Stage so that it only exists in the library. Right click the MovieClip in the library and select "Linkage". Check "Export for ActionScript" and in "Identifier" type "dot". Change the Frame Rate from 12 so that it will run smoothly ( I used 40), and add this script to the Main Frame Panel:

var nd:Number = 0;
var lm:Number = 7;
function onMouseDown():Void {
if (nd<=lm) {
var dot:MovieClip = attachMovie("dot", "dot"+nd, getNextHighestDepth());
dot._x = _xmouse;
dot._y = _ymouse;
nd++;
}
}
function onEnterFrame():Void {
clear();
for (var i:Number = 0; i<nd; i++) {
var dot:MovieClip = this["dot"+i];
dot._x += Math.random()*2-1;
dot._y += Math.random()*2-1;
for (var j:Number = i+1; j<nd; j++) {
var ndot:MovieClip = this["dot"+j];
lineStyle(1, 0x000000, 100);
moveTo(dot._x, dot._y);
lineTo(ndot._x, ndot._y);
}
}
}

Now test the flash. What should appear is a blank screen. Start clicking around what should begin to appear is lines that connect the MovieClip you created. The result will be a very cool effect.

Explanation:

var nd:Number = 0;
var lm:Number = 7;

This initiates the variables that will be used later. "lm" limits the amount of dots allowed to be created. It can be changed from 7 to any other number, and I have recorded the script running smoothly at low quality with 30 dots on the stage. Just be cautious, as performance decreases at a geometric rate.

function onMouseDown():Void {

When you click....

if (nd<=lm) {

Check to see if you have not reached the limit.

var dot:MovieClip = attachMovie("dot", "dot"+nd, getNextHighestDepth());
dot._x = _xmouse;
dot._y = _ymouse;
nd++;

Attaches the MovieClip you created to the stage, gives it custom instance name (dot0,dot1,dot2....), and sets its position to the place you clicked,.

}
}

function onEnterFrame():Void {

Runs every frame.

clear();
for (var i:Number = 0; i<nd; i++) {
var dot:MovieClip = this["dot"+i];

Runs a for loop and specifies all the dots that have been created.

dot._x += Math.random()*2-1;
dot._y += Math.random()*2-1;

Moves the dots randomly for that "jiggle" effect

for (var j:Number = i+1; j<nd; j++) {
var ndot:MovieClip = this["dot"+j];
lineStyle(1, 0x000000, 100);
moveTo(dot._x, dot._y);
lineTo(ndot._x, ndot._y);

Within the previous for() loop, specifies the other dots created with instance names higher than the one before, and draws a line between them. This results in every single dot being connected by a line.

}
}
}

I will post more later.

EDIT EDIT EDIT EDIT EDIT EDIT

I re-wrote this script. Now you don't have to make a MovieClip, just add the script and done!!!

var nd:Number = 0;
var lm:Number = 100;
function onMouseDown():Void {
if (nd<lm) {
_root["x"+nd] = _xmouse;
_root["y"+nd] = _ymouse;
nd++;
}
}
function onEnterFrame():Void {
clear();
for (var i:Number = 0; i<nd; i++) {
if (Key.isDown(Key.SPACE)) {
_root["x"+i] += Math.random()*4-2;
_root["y"+i] += Math.random()*4-2;
}
for (var j:Number = i+1; j<nd; j++) {
lineStyle(1, 0xFADFAD, 100);
moveTo(_root["x"+i], _root["y"+i]);
lineTo(_root["x"+j], _root["y"+j]);
}
}
}

The difference is instead of making a MC it makes variables X0,Y0, X1, Y1...... It also only jiggles when you hold space, allowing you to draw really cool designs first.

Updated Swf.
Updated Source.

Updated: 01/20/08 2:17 PM Log in to comment! | Share this!