Question

function item_back_click(evt:Event):void {
     var back:MovieClip = MovieClip(evt.currentTarget);
     var req:URLRequest = new URLRequest(MovieClip(back.parent).data.@link);
     var listnumber = ("listbox" + MovieClip(back.parent).data.@link);
     trace(listnumber);
     if (listnumber.visible == false) listnumber.visible = true;
}

trace(listnumber); displays listbox1

but

if (listnumber.visible == false) listnumber.visible = true;

Gives error:

ReferenceError: Error #1069: Property visible not found on String and there is no default value.
    at listbox_fla::listbox_1/item_back_click()

Why is this?

and this works well:

if (listbox1.visible == false) listbox1.visible = true;

Answer 1

“listBox1” is a string not a variable. So basically you are trying to access the visible property of a string which doesn’t exist.

"listBox1".visible = true;  // error

Try :

this[listnumber].visible = true;