Why does Flash ignore actions put in the first frame?

Question

Sometimes it seems to follow them, like "stop()" commands. But many other actions, seem to get ignored in the first frame of a movie clip, like telling a movieclip to "play()". Why is this?

Example:
stop();
works in the first frame but:
_parent.myMCname.play();
is ignored and I have to put in a later frame to work.

Answer 1

Flash variables are dependent on the frame they are contained within. If you place a variable in the first frame and it is an action that

1) Would happen even without the variable
or
2) Can't happen due to errors or some other factor

Flash will ignore it. If I create a play factor in the first frame to play the main movie, of course flash will ignore it because Flash will do that automatically. However, a stop variable forces Flash to perform an action outside of it's current behavior so it will have to follow it.

Make sence? I'm not the best at explaining things. However, that makes perfect sence in my mind...

Answer 2

It depends which other coding you use with it, if you use "play();" with nothing else, its just going to play the movie like normal because that's what "play();" does, but with other stuff, it varies.