User Guide

233

fileName (cast member property)

Syntax

member(whichCastMember).fileName

the fileName of member whichCastMember

Description

Cast member property; refers to the name of the file assigned to the linked cast member specified

by whichCastMember. This property is useful for switching the external linked file assigned to a

cast member while a movie plays, similar to the way you can switch cast members. When the

linked file is in a different folder than the movie, you must include the file’s pathname.

You can also make unlinked media linked by setting the filename of those types of members that

support linked media.

The

fileName member property accepts URLs as a reference. However, to use a file from a URL

and minimize download time, use the

downloadNetThing or preloadNetThing command to

download the file to a local disk first and then set fileName member property to the file on the

local disk.

The Director player for Java doesn’t support the

downLoadNetThing command, so the player

can’t download files in the background before assigning a new file to a cast member. Changing the

fileName member property in a movie playing as an applet can make the applet wait for the new

file to download.

This property can be tested and set. After the filename is set, Director uses that file the next time

the cast member is used.

Example

This statement links the QuickTime movie “ChairAnimation” to cast member 40:

member(40).fileName = "ChairAnimation"

These statements download an external file from a URL to the Director application folder and

make that file the media for the sound cast member Norma Desmond Speaks:

downLoadNetThing("http://www.cbDeMille.com/ Talkies.AIF",the \

applicationPath&"Talkies.AIF")

member("Norma Desmond Speaks").fileName = the applicationPath & "Talkies.AIF"