Random Text in Flash

[Rugrat]

Hello,

I am a relative newbie to flash and php scripting and would appreciate some help in regards to a "hopefully" simple project.

I have written a php script that searches a database and pulls out a random word from the database.  It works fine if you view just the php in the web browser on-line. Code is shown here:

<?php

// use the connection to the database with the variable $dbcnx

$dbcnx = mysql_connect('localhost','******','*****');

// select the database that you wish to use

mysql_select_db('*******');


// store in the variable news the sql query and error trapping


$blah = @mysql_query("SELECT ID, Keyword FROM tblKeyword ORDER BY RAND() LIMIT 1");
if (!$blah) {
 echo("<p>Error retrieving news from database!<br />".
      "Error: " . mysql_error() . "</p>");
 exit();
}


// build an array to contain the whole list of classmembers
// the htmlspecialchars codes the html for special characters

while ($new = mysql_fetch_array($blah)) {
 $id   = $new["ID"];
 $varkeyword = htmlspecialchars($new["Keyword"]);

print "&keywordtext=" . urlencode("$varkeyword") . "&";
}
?>

Now to the specific nature of the problem.  I want my flash movie to display the words in a random way. I set up a dynamic text box within  a movie clip called textmovieclip.  How do I get the instances of the movie clip to display the random words from the database?  I am just using loadVariables to reference the php script.  But each time the textmoveclip displays the same word.  I think I have to reload the script each time and I am not sure how to do that.

Thanks,

Derek

[flashswami]

Try putting the dynamic text box inside a movieclip. Give this mc an instance name and place your loadVariables script inside this mc on frame1, together with the dynamc text box. Add this just before the loadVariables script-

r=random(999);

This will append a randomo value to the url string when you initiate the loadvariables action, effectvley making sure Flash loads a 'fresh' script every time. Now, lets say your PHP script is called 'fetcher.php', your loadvariables action should be-

loadVariablesNum ("fetcher.php", this, "GET");

Now, extend the timeline of your mc over, say, 40 frames. This means that every 40 frames the mc will loop, hit frame1 again and hopefully return a random word.

[Rugrat]

Thank- you very much for you help. It worked great.    

Derek

[flashswami]

No worries, glad to help