Creating MXML components via an ActionScript loop in Flex

Question

I'm using Flash Builder 4.6 to create an app for a uni project. I have a custom Spark component, and I need to dynamically create a number of instances of that component at runtime depending on the number of XML elements returned via a PHP script.

That might be a bit confusing, so let me write the steps: 1) The application sends an HTTPService request to a PHP script hosted on the server. 2) The PHP accesses the SQL database and returns a series of XML data. 3) The ActionScript dynamically creates X instances of my custom Flex component, where X is the number of data in the XML.

Here's the code I've got so far (untidy because I'm trying to make it work):

ActionScript:

        [Bindable]
        public var holderArray:Array = new Array(100);

        public function createMenu(e:MouseEvent):void {
            var count:int = 0;
            var curMenuItem:menuItemContainer = new menuItemContainer();
            while (count < loadedMenu.length){
                curMenuItem.itemName = loadedMenu.getItemAt(count).name;
                curMenuItem.itemDesc = loadedMenu.getItemAt(count).description;
                curMenuItem.itemPrice = numForm.format(loadedMenu.getItemAt(count).price);                  
                curMenuItem.imageFile = loadedMenu.getItemAt(count).url;
                //curMenuItem.y = count * 120
                //menuItemGroup.addElement(curMenuItem);
                holderArray[count] = curMenuItem;
                count ++;
            }
            //testString = holderArray[1].itemName;
            var count2:int = 0;
            for each (var menuItem:menuItemContainer in holderArray){
                menuItem.name = "menuItem" + count2;
                menuItem.id = "menuItem" + count2;
                //testString += menuItem.name;
                menuItemGroup.addElement(menuItem);
                count2++;
            }
        }

MXML:

<s:VGroup id="menuItemGroup" x="40" y="150">
</s:VGroup>

What seems to be happening with that code is that each of my three XML data that get returned are being used in instances of menuItemContainer, but when each one is added to menuItemGroup, it's overwriting the one that's already there. I'm not sure if the item is actually getting overwritten, or if the new item is just sitting atop the earlier ones, but if the latter is true I can't find a way to arrange the components. I've tried setting menuItem.y in the loop (as a function of count2), but to no avail.

Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions/answers. Benjamin.

Looks like someone already gave you the correct answer. My only other comment, is that you may consider displaying your items in a list w/ an itemRenderer and an XMLListCollection instead of manually creating children and placing them inside a Group. — JeffryHouser
– JeffryHouser, Commented Jul 11, 2012 at 5:24
I have to back @www.Flextras.com on this one: you should use a List or a DataGroup (or a Repeater in Flex 3) in this kind of situation. Much easier. — RIAstar
– RIAstar, Commented Jul 11, 2012 at 8:35
I'm still learning a lot of Flex stuff. I've only been using it for a few months. There seems to be a lot of different ways to achieve anything (as with most programming). If I use an XMLListCollection, how would I display that in the app? I tried using a DataGroup but I didn't get far. Cheers. — user1516524
– user1516524, Commented Jul 12, 2012 at 6:52

NoobsArePeople2 · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-11 04:29:22Z

2

Put this line

var curMenuItem:menuItemContainer = new menuItemContainer();

inside your while loop. With your code as it is you are only creating one instance of menuItemContainer then continually changing the properties of that one menuItemContainer in your while loop. Instead you need to create a new, different instance of menuItemContainer with each iteration of the loop.

answered Jul 11, 2012 at 4:29

NoobsArePeople2

1,99616 silver badges23 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

user1516524 Over a year ago

Yep, that's done it, thank you. I thought that adding them to the VGroup in each iteration would display an instance of the object with its current data, but it seems I was wrong. Thanks again! B.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Creating MXML components via an ActionScript loop in Flex

1 Answer 1

1 Comment

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related