User Guide

524 Chapter 12: Methods

For best results, send the message only to those sprites that will properly handle the message

through the

sendSprite() method. No error will occur if the message is sent to all the sprites,

but performance may decrease. There may also be problems if different sprites have the

same handler in a behavior, so avoid conflicts by using unique names for messages that will

be broadcast.

After the message has been passed to all behaviors, the event follows the regular message

hierarchy: cast member script, frame script, then movie script.

When you use the

sendAllSprites() method, be sure to do the following:

• Replace stringEventMessage with the message.

• Replace args with any arguments to be sent with the message.

If no sprite has an attached behavior containing the given handler,

sendAllSprites()

returns

FALSE.

Parameters

stringEventMessage

Required. A string that specifies the message to send to all sprites.

args Optional. An argument or arguments to send with the message.

Example

This handler sends the custom message allSpritesShouldBumpCounter and the argument 2 to

all sprites when the user clicks the mouse:

-- Lingo syntax

on mouseDown me

_movie.sendAllSprites(#allspritesShouldBumpCounter, 2)

end

// JavaScript syntax

function mouseDown() {

_movie.sendAllSprites("allspritesShouldBumpCounter", 2);

}