Opening URLs in new browser windows using ActionScript 3.0 and ActionScript 2.0

by Peter deHaan on December 8, 2008 · 12 Comments

The following example shows how you can open new browser windows from Flash Player using the navigateToURL() method in ActionScript 3.0 or the getURL() method in ActionScript 2.0.

Full code after the jump.

In ActionScript 3.0 you can use the navigateToURL() method to open a new browser window, as seen in the following example:

// ActionScript 3.0
/* Requires
 * - Button symbol on Stage with instance name "buttonSymbol"
 */
buttonSymbol.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, buttonSymbol_click);
 
function buttonSymbol_click(evt:MouseEvent):void {
    var req:URLRequest = new URLRequest("http://www.adobe.com/");
    navigateToURL(req, "_blank");
}

In ActionScript 2.0, you use the getURL() method to open a new browser window, as seen in the following example:

// ActionScript 2.0 (code on timeline)
/* Requires
 * - Button symbol on timeline 
 * - Button symbol on Stage with instance name "buttonSymbol"
 */
buttonSymbol.onRelease = function ():Void {
    getURL("http://www.adobe.com/", "_blank");
}

Or, in ActionScript 2.0 if you were placing code directly on instances on the Stage, as seen in the following example:

// ActionScript 2.0 (code directly on instance)
/* Requires
 * - Button symbol on Stage
 */
on (release) {
    getURL("http://www.adobe.com/", "_blank");
}

12 Responses to Opening URLs in new browser windows using ActionScript 3.0 and ActionScript 2.0

Daniel says:

December 8, 2008 at 5:51 pm

Hi peter, there is something special I have to do to open the url in a new tab?

Reply
Peter deHaan says:

December 8, 2008 at 6:23 pm

Daniel,

I typically specify the target attribute as “_blank”. I believe it may be up to the user’s browser settings to control whether that opens in a new tab or new browser window.

Peter

Reply
Peter deHaan says:

December 8, 2008 at 6:38 pm

For example, I searched around and found this link: “Internet Explorer 7: Open New Windows in Tabs in IE7″.
Here’s how to have new windows and pop-ups to default to new tabs:
1. Open IE7
2. Click Tools
3. Click Internet Options
4. Click Settings
5. Select Always open pop-ups in new tab
6. Click OK until you are back in your browser
Reply
Vijendra says:

December 20, 2008 at 3:31 am

Hi Peter i want to open URL on enter frame … how is this done???

Reply
Ronald says:

July 9, 2009 at 9:02 pm

So how do you in Actionscript 3.0 get a Flash document to open a like in the “_parent” window since I use frames? If anyone knows the answer, please send answer via e-mail. Much appreciated.

Reply
Anonymous says:

September 23, 2009 at 7:54 pm

is it possible to interact with the opened window?

Reply
thomas says:

November 14, 2009 at 6:11 pm

if you want a one line command do this:

btn.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, function() {navigateToURL(new URLRequest(“http://www.adobe.com”, “_blank”))};

Reply
Alex says:

January 12, 2010 at 10:26 am

Hi Peter, I would like to know is there anyway to configure the new window attributes, like size, toolbars etc from within AS3

Reply
Peter deHaan says:

February 21, 2010 at 8:39 am

@Alex,

I believe if you want to control toolbars and window size, you’d need to launch the window via JavaScript using the ExternalInterface class.

Peter

Reply
dengyasong says:

August 18, 2010 at 8:59 am

Hi Peter, I would like to know is there anyway to configure the new window attributes, like size, toolbars etc from within AS3

Reply
john says:

June 14, 2011 at 8:16 pm

how can i give the url in xml

Reply
Kev Man says:

June 27, 2011 at 5:28 pm

Holy weak tutorial. You can get this with code snippets in CS5.

Even more pathetic questions.

How about this:

How do you open up a sized window with actionScript 3?

Reply