When working with Flash and AS3, one of the essential skills to have is the ability to manipulate the position of MovieClips. MovieClips are objects that can display graphics, animations, and even interactive elements. In this article, we will discuss how to get and set the absolute position of a MovieClip in Flash/AS3.
First, let's define what is meant by absolute position. The absolute position of a MovieClip refers to its location on the stage, relative to the top left corner. This is different from the relative position, which is the location of the MovieClip in relation to its parent object.
To get the absolute position of a MovieClip, we will use the `x` and `y` properties. These properties represent the horizontal and vertical coordinates of the MovieClip. By default, the `x` and `y` properties are set to 0, which means the MovieClip is positioned at the top left corner of the stage.
To get the current absolute position of a MovieClip, we can use the `x` and `y` properties in our code. For example, if we have a MovieClip named `myClip`, we can use the following code to get its absolute position:
```
var xPos:Number = myClip.x;
var yPos:Number = myClip.y;
```
The `xPos` and `yPos` variables will now hold the horizontal and vertical coordinates of `myClip` on the stage.
Now, let's move on to setting the absolute position of a MovieClip. To do this, we will use the `x` and `y` properties again, but this time we will assign new values to them. For example, if we want to move `myClip` to the center of the stage, we can use the following code:
```
myClip.x = stage.stageWidth / 2;
myClip.y = stage.stageHeight / 2;
```
The `stage` object represents the entire stage and has properties that give us information about its size. By dividing the `stageWidth` and `stageHeight` by 2, we can position `myClip` at the center of the stage.
It's essential to note that the `x` and `y` properties of a MovieClip are relative to its parent object. This means that if `myClip` is nested inside another MovieClip, its absolute position will be calculated based on its parent's coordinates. In some cases, this may not be the desired behavior.
To set the absolute position of a MovieClip regardless of its parent, we can use the `localToGlobal()` method. This method takes in a `Point` object as its parameter and returns a `Point` object with the MovieClip's global coordinates. We can then use these global coordinates to set the absolute position of the MovieClip.
Let's say `myClip` is nested inside a MovieClip named `container`. To set `myClip`'s absolute position, we can use the following code:
```
var globalPos:Point = container.localToGlobal(new Point(myClip.x, myClip.y));
myClip.x = globalPos.x;
myClip.y = globalPos.y;
```
Now, `myClip` will be positioned at the same location on the stage, regardless of its parent's position.
In conclusion, understanding how to get and set the absolute position of a MovieClip is crucial when working
