How can I get a JavaScript VAR with ExternalInterface?

Question

I am trying to use the ExternalInterface.call function in my ActionScript(2.0) to get a javascript var value set in the wrapping document. The following seems to work in FireFox and in Chrome but, naturally, it does not work in IE(8). Can anyone suggest another method for getting the value stored at this variable? Thanks!

var linkPath = ExternalInterface.call("function(){return window.customLinkLocation;}", null);

JavaScript:

<head>
    <script type="text/javascript">
    var customLinkLocation = "http://localhost/file.xml";
    </script>
</head>

Could it be the way I am embedding my swf??

 <body>
<object width="550" height="400" id="mySwf">
<param name="movie" value="mySwf.swf">
<embed src="mySwf.swf" width="550" height="400">
</embed>
</object>

Any reason you're using an anonymous function?

John Giotta
– John Giotta

2010-11-05 15:15:16 +00:00
Commented Nov 5, 2010 at 15:15 — John Giotta
– John Giotta, Commented Nov 5, 2010 at 15:15

Tim Down · Accepted Answer · 2010-11-05 15:17:23Z

1

ExternalInterface.call("window.customLinkLocation.toString");

answered Nov 5, 2010 at 15:17

Tim Down

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3 Comments

Alin P. Over a year ago

Are you sure about this? I thought you can only call functions.

Nick Over a year ago

No reason. I thought that the call function required the first param to be a function. The above answer does not seem to make a difference.

Tim Down Over a year ago

@Alin: window.customLinkLocation.toString is a function. @Nick: OK. I wasn't convinced it would work anyway because your original code should work, so there must be something else wrong.

9re · Accepted Answer · 2010-11-05 15:22:39Z

1

are you embedding swf with id provided?

http://forums.adobe.com/message/2638459#2638459

answered Nov 5, 2010 at 15:22

9re

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1 Comment

Nick Over a year ago

I added an 'id' attribute to my object tag and it did not make a difference. Although this makes me suspect the way I am embedding the flash. I will update my question to show this. Thanks

Community · Accepted Answer · 2020-06-20 09:12:55Z

1

From my understanding of the documentation and some (but not too much) previous experience: You need to call a function by supplying its name. You can't execute custom code from ActionScript. In you case you need to create a function in JavaScript that returns the values you need.

function getCustomLinkLocation(){
    return customLinkLocation;
}

and call

ExternalInterface.call("getCustomLinkLocation");

I don't know why Firefox and Chrome allow you to call an anonymous function, but the ExternalInterface reference doesn't say anything about it.

From ActionScript, you can do the following on the HTML page:

Call any JavaScript function.

Pass any number of arguments, with any names.

Pass various data types (Boolean, Number, String, and so on).

Receive a return value from the JavaScript function.

edited Jun 20, 2020 at 9:12

CommunityBot

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answered Nov 5, 2010 at 16:00

Alin P.

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3 Comments

Nick Over a year ago

That's why I am using an anonymous function. I do not want to implement a function in my javascript (client constraint).

zzzzBov Over a year ago

Then you could try calling eval, and pass it the correct string. I'm not sure if you'll be prevented from doing this for possible security reasons.

Alin P. Over a year ago

Maybe IE8 has some security policy that doesn't allow you to use anonymous functions. Calling an anonymous function allows you to run any code you want. It may be possible that IE8 considers that too much of a threat.

Nick · Accepted Answer · 2010-11-05 16:44:54Z

1

Got it. The problem is that IE requires that you use the classid attribute on the 'object' element.

<object width="550" height="400" id="mySwf" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000">
<param name="movie" value="mySwf.swf">
<embed src="mySwf.swf" width="550" height="400">
</embed>
</object>

answered Nov 5, 2010 at 16:44

Nick

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Comments

John · Accepted Answer · 2010-11-05 17:48:08Z

0

Also make sure allowscriptaccess is set to 'always' in your embed code.

answered Nov 5, 2010 at 17:48

John

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Comments

Miki Berkovich · Accepted Answer · 2015-02-22 21:19:17Z

0

You can also do this:

ExternalInterface.call("eval","getVar=function(obj){return obj}");
var yourVar:String = ExternalInterface.call("eval","getVar(JSvar)");

answered Feb 22, 2015 at 21:19

Miki Berkovich

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