Dynamically loading XML files using the HTTPService tag

In previous examples, “Creating a simple image gallery with the Flex TileList control” and “Creating a simple image gallery with the Flex HorizontalList control”, we saw how you could create a simple image gallery using the TileList and HorizontalList controls.

The following example shows how you can load XML files using the HTTPService tag so that you can dynamically load different galleries.

Full code after the jump.

View MXML

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!-- http://blog.flexexamples.com/2008/03/29/dynamically-loading-xml-files-using-the-httpservice-tag/ -->
<mx:Application xmlns:mx="http://www.adobe.com/2006/mxml"
        layout="vertical"
        verticalAlign="middle"
        backgroundColor="white">

    <mx:Script>
        <![CDATA[
            import mx.rpc.events.ResultEvent;
            import mx.rpc.events.FaultEvent;
            import mx.controls.Alert;

            private var alert:Alert;

            private function loadGallery(src:String):void {
                httpService.url = src;
                httpService.send();
            }

            private function httpService_fault(evt:FaultEvent):void {
                var title:String = evt.type + " (" + evt.fault.faultCode + ")";
                var text:String = evt.fault.faultString;
                alert = Alert.show(text, title);
                xmlListColl.removeAll();
            }

            private function httpService_result(evt:ResultEvent):void {
                var xmlList:XMLList = XML(evt.result).images.image;
                xmlListColl = new XMLListCollection(xmlList);
            }
        ]]>
    </mx:Script>

    <mx:XMLListCollection id="xmlListColl" />

    <mx:HTTPService id="httpService"
            resultFormat="e4x"
            fault="httpService_fault(event);"
            result="httpService_result(event)" />

    <mx:ApplicationControlBar dock="true">
        <mx:Button label="gallery 1"
                click="loadGallery('gallery1.xml');" />
        <mx:Button label="gallery 2"
                click="loadGallery('gallery2.xml');" />

        <mx:Button label="gallery 404"
                click="loadGallery('gallery404.xml');" />
    </mx:ApplicationControlBar>

    <mx:TileList id="tileList"
            dataProvider="{xmlListColl}"
            itemRenderer="TileListItemRenderer"
            columnCount="3"
            columnWidth="150"
            rowCount="2"
            rowHeight="100" />

</mx:Application>

TileListItemRenderer.mxml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!-- http://blog.flexexamples.com/2008/03/29/dynamically-loading-xml-files-using-the-httpservice-tag/ -->
<mx:Canvas xmlns:mx="http://www.adobe.com/2006/mxml">

    <mx:Image source="{data.@src}"
            horizontalCenter="0"
            verticalCenter="0" />

    <mx:Label text="{data.@lbl}"
            fontWeight="bold"
            horizontalCenter="0"
            bottom="0" />

</mx:Canvas>

View source is enabled in the following example.