delay()

Usage

-- Lingo syntax
_movie.delay(intTicks)

// JavaScript syntax
_movie.delay(intTicks);

Description

Movie method; pauses the playhead for a given amount of time.

The only mouse and keyboard activity possible during this time is stopping the movie by pressing Control+Alt+period (Windows) or Command+period (Macintosh). Because it increases the time of individual frames, delay() is useful for controlling the playback rate of a sequence of frames.

The delay() method can be applied only when the playhead is moving. However, when delay() is in effect, handlers still run; only the playhead halts, not script execution. Place scripts that use delay() in either an enterFrame or exitFrame handler.

To mimic the behavior of a halt in a handler when the playhead is not moving, use the milliseconds property of the System object and wait for the specified amount of time to pass before exiting the frame.

Parameters

intTicks Required. An integer that specifies the number of ticks to pause the playhead. Each tick is 1/60 of a second.

Example

This handler delays the movie for 2 seconds when the playhead exits the current frame:

-- Lingo syntax
on keyDown
   _movie.delay(2*60)
end

// JavaScript syntax
function keyDown() {
   _movie.delay(2*60);
}

This handler, which can be placed in a frame script, delays the movie a random number of ticks:

-- Lingo syntax
on keyDown
   if (_key.key = "x") then
      _movie.delay(random(180))
   end if
end

// JavaScript syntax
function keyDown() {
   if (_key.key == "x") {
      _movie.delay(random(180));
   }
}

See also

endFrame, milliseconds, Movie

Send me an e-mail when comments are added to this page | Comment Report

Current page: http://livedocs.adobe.com/director/mx2004/release_update_en/07_met74.htm

Add Comment