AS3 Works but I get a ReferenceError: Error #1069 Property startDrag not found

Question

I am trying to make a simple project when you click a button a draggable MovieClip is added to the stag and when you click it releases the MovieClip to the X/Y where you clicked, you can then pickup the MovieClip and drag it into a bin (MovieClip) where it destroys itself. The code is working great I can make multiple Movieclips with the button and they are all destroyed when I drag them in the bin however I don't like having "Error Codes".

import flash.events.MouseEvent;
var rubbish:my_mc = new my_mc();
btntest.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, makeRubbish);

function makeRubbish (event:MouseEvent):void {


addChild(rubbish);

rubbish.x = mouseX - 10;
rubbish.y = mouseY - 10;
rubbish.width = 50;
this.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, startDragging);
rubbish.buttonMode = true;
}

function stopDragging (event:MouseEvent):void {
    rubbish.stopDrag()
    event.target.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, startDragging);
    rubbish.buttonMode = true;
            if (event.target.hitTestObject(bin))
            {
                trace("hit");
                 event.target.name = "rubbish"; 
    removeChild(getChildByName("rubbish"));


            }
}
function startDragging (event:MouseEvent):void {
event.target.startDrag();
this.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, stopDragging);
}

Answer 1

Some Pointers:

• The target property of an Event is not always what it seems. It actually refers to the current phase in the event bubbling process. Try using the currentTarget property.
• I would also recommend tying the stopDragging method to the stage, as sometimes your mouse won't be over the drag as you're clicking.
• I would use the MOUSE_UP event as opposed to a CLICK for standard dragging behaviour.
• When dragging, keep a global reference to the drag in order to call the stopDrag method on the correct object.

Try This:

import flash.events.MouseEvent;

var rubbish:my_mc = new my_mc();
var dragging:my_mc;

btntest.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, makeRubbish);

function makeRubbish (event:MouseEvent):void {

  addChild(rubbish);

  rubbish.x = mouseX - 10;
  rubbish.y = mouseY - 10;
  rubbish.width = 50;
  rubbish.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, startDragging);
  rubbish.buttonMode = true;

}

function stopDragging (event:MouseEvent):void {

  this.stage.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, stopDragging);

  if(dragging !== null){

    dragging.stopDrag();

    if (event.currentTarget.hitTestObject(bin)){

      removeChild(dragging);

    }

    dragging = null;

  }
}

function startDragging (event:MouseEvent):void {

  dragging = event.currentTarget as my_mc;

  dragging.startDrag();

  this.stage.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, stopDragging);

}