Problems with if-else statements in dynamic text

[jayfromcleveland webforumsuser@macromedia.com]

Hi,

I'm new to Flash and ActionScript and have never previously done programming. However, I have a technical degree and experience and have a clear idea of what I'm trying to get out of ActionScript.

I've been trying for some period of time to make an if-else statement work with dynamic text. As far as can be determined, only two code blocks will work. Any numeric values will work in the two code blocks, but anything in the third or subsequent blocks returns the default, labeled "error."

I'm running Flash MX. According to Colin Moock's "ActionScript, the Definitive Guide," p. 134, I should be able to use an unlimited number of code blocks.

Appended below is the code. I tried to attach the *.fla file, but the forum said it was an unrecognized format! That's pretty bad if Macromedia's forum doesnt recognize the company's own file format! BTW, I had a bunch of problems getting on and using this forum.

BTW, among other things, I tried using double equal signs in the conditional -- no dice. Also, I included some other attempts -- switch statement and an an array push. Both gave identical results. Anyway, I'd be grateful if anyone could tell me how to fix this or at least why it won't work.

thanks, jay


/*For any given number for "value," the text will only properly display in the movie
if the number is within the first and second code blocks. Any number value within
the other code blocks returns as "error." It seems ridiculous that a conditional should
only work for two code blocks.*/
var value = 1.4

if (0.1 > value > 0) {
Info = "first";
} else if (1.5 > value > 0.1) {
Info = "second";
} else if (1.7 > value > 1.5) {
Info = "third";
} else if (3.0 > value > 1.7) {
Info = "fourth";
} else if (3.3 > value > 3.0) {
Info = "fifth";
} else if (4.6 > value > 3.3) {
Info = "sixth";
} else if (4.8 > value > 4.6) {
Info = "seventh";
} else if (6.2 > value > 4.8) {
Info = "eighth";
} else if (6.2 > value > 4.8) {
Info = "ninth";
} else {
Info = "error";
}

/*
Info = new Array();
Info.push(["first"]);
Info.push(["second"]);
Info.push(["third"]);
Info.push(["fourth"]);
Info.push(["fifth"]);
Info.push(["sixth"]);
Info.push(["seventh"]);
Info.push(["eighth"]);
Info.push(["ninth"]);
Info.push(["error"]);

if (0.1 > value > 0) {
Info = Info[0];
} else if (1.5 > value > 0.1) {
Info = Info[1];
} else if (1.7 > value > 1.5) {
Info = Info[2];
} else if (3.0 > value > 1.7) {
Info = Info[3];
} else if (3.3 > value > 3.0) {
Info = Info[4];
} else if (4.6 > value > 3.3) {
Info = Info[5];
} else if (4.8 > value > 4.6) {
Info = Info[6];
} else if (6.2 > value > 4.8) {
Info = Info[7];
}else if (value > 6.2) {
Info = Info[8];
} else {
Info = Info[9];
}

*/

/*
switch (value) {
case "(0.1 > value > 0)":
Info = "first";
break;
case "(1.47 > value > 0.1)":
Info = "second";
break;
case "(1.68 > value > 1.47)":
Info = "third";
break;
case "(3.03 > value > 1.68)":
Info = "fourth";
break;
case "(3.25 > value > 3.03)":
Info = "fifth";
break;
case "(4.60 > value > 3.25)":
Info = "sixth";
break;
case "(4.82 > value > 4.60)":
Info = "seventh";
break;
case "(6.17 > value > 4.82)":
Info = "eighth";
break;
case "(value > 6.17)":
Info = "ninth";
break;
default:
Info = "error";
}
*/
trace (value);
trace (Info);

[Jeckyl]

you cannot use 0.1 > value > 0 etc ... it nonsense

[jayfromcleveland webforumsuser@macromedia.com]

What do you mean "it nonsense" (sic)? It's a range of values, a perfectly acceptable mathematical expression, and a valid condition for a "true/false" determination. So how would you from select multiple values? Next time, why not write a helpful reply?

[domconlon webforumsuser@macromedia.com]

Flash works using the variable and then the value. So you can do the following:

if (myvar != 6 && myvar > 5) {
gotoAndPlay("label1");
}

but you can't do:

if (6 != myvar) {
gotoAndPlay("nochanceinhell");
}


hope this helps

Dom

[jayfromcleveland webforumsuser@macromedia.com]

Hi Dom, I see, so if I set this up as a compound conditional, Flash will know what to do since the variable will be presented first. I'll give that a try. Thanks! -jay

[Jeckyl]

its not really valid for a programming languages.

you can only do one comparison at a time.

mathematically you may write

a < b < c

to mean b is between a and c

in a programming language like AS, you would write

a < b && b < c

(ie a is less than b and b is less then c).

what you wrote is syntactically correct, but it doesn't do anything like
what you think it is doing !!!