Actionscript: how do I make a class that uses arguments (aka parameters?) from another class?

Question

I'm really new to actionscript so I'm not even sure how to ask this. First off I'm not using any Adobe IDE just notepad with flex as a compiler. What I want to know is how to make a class but make it with arguments and then have that class use those arguments.

The only way I can clarify what I mean is through an example. So for example say I have my main class and a class called square. Now I think (and i could be wrong) I can 'make' a square class in the main class by simply saying new square(); in some function of the main class. But lets say I want this square class to have a x and y value. Would I establish this by saying new square(x,y); in the main class (where x and y are integer values)? If not how so? Also how would I get the square class to read these values? How would I go about getting the square class to draw a square with its center at the x,y given to it in the main class?

Answer 1

You would specify those in the class constructor. So for example:

Square Class:

public class Square
{
    //Create two private variables that will hold the width and height of the square
    private var _width:Number;
    private var _height:Number;

    /*
    This is the class constructor, here we specify what parameters
    are needed to create an instance of this class
    */
    public function Square(width:Number, height:Number)
    {
        _width = width;
        _height = height;
    }

    //Calculate the are of this square
    public function area():Number
    {
        return width * height;
    }
}

Using the square class

var my_square:Square = new Square(50, 50);
trace(my_square.area());

Is this what you're talking about? If so, I'd suggest reading up on some introductory tutorials on classes in flash (preferably in AS3).

Like: http://www.kirupa.com/developer/as3/classes_as3_pg1.htm