Hierarchy

This keyword

This… is this. In ActionScript and in many other programming languages as well it means "object I am working on right now" or "object I am currently inside". It's like "myself". To refer to "this" symbol – simply use the keywore this before calling the method or reading the property.

• Create any movie symbol and drag an instance on the stage. In our example it's a red ball. You don't need to give an instance name to it for this exercise.
• Extend the timeline of the movie symbol up to 12 frames (to make it's lifespan 1 second).
• Enter the following code to the first frame of the symbol's timeline

  
  if(this._width<200){
    this._width +=10;
    this._height +=10;
  }
  else {
  	this._width = 20;
  	this._height=20;
  }
  

• Test your movie. Your symbol should increase the size every second and when reaching 200px start again.

What is good about this kind of code notation – it is universal. You may place it in any movie symbol timeline and it will work perfectly since another symbol also will be "this" from itself

Next