| _root Global Property | Flash 5 (same as "/" in Flash 4 movies) |
| a reference to the main timeline of the movie in the current level | read-only | Description The _root property stores a reference to the main timeline of the current document level. We use _root to invoke methods on the main movie or to retrieve and set the main movie's properties. For example: _root.play(); // Play the main timeline _root._alpha = 40; // Make the whole movie partially transparent The _root property can also be used as the starting point from which to access nested clips using dot syntax. For example: _root.myClip.play(); _root.shapes.square._visible = false; The _root property provides access to a movie clip in explicit terms. That is, a reference that starts with _root is valid (and invariant) from anywhere in a movie. However, note that _root is not necessarily synonymous with _leveln (the main timeline of a given document level) or _global (the global variable space). For information on creating global variables, see _global.  | When used in a .swf file that is loaded into a movie cilp, the _root property changes meaning. For complete details, see "The _root and _parent properties" in Chapter 2. | | See Also _leveln; _parent; "Accessing Variables on Different Timelines," and "The _root and _parent properties," in Chapter 2; "Referring to Main Movies with _root and _leveln," in Chapter 13 | 
