can't get delete function to work properly AS3 - arrays

Question

I have a Volcano class. It's purpose is to randomly spray lavaMass.
In the main class I have made it so that when my character hits the lava, everything is removed, and the deleteLava() function is called.
My problem is that with the deleteLava() function, my Volcano class stops making lava after a few 'deaths'.
Now i gets a little complicated to explain.
I found out that inside the deleteLava() function I should also remove the lavaMass from the array, for it to keep making lava no matter how many 'deaths'.
I used 'lavaSpray.shift();', and tried 'splice'..
And this worked! Except that it doesn't delete all the lavaMass, so everytime the character dies a few of the lavaMass objects keeps hanging around in the level, not moving. So after many 'deaths' there is a lot of lavaMass objects just standing still, not moving and not being deleted.
Here's the volcano class:
package {
import flash.display.MovieClip;
import flash.events.Event;
public class Volcano extends MovieClip {
var lavaSpray:Array = [];
var lavaNum:Number;
var world:World;
public function LavaThing() {
addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, makeLava)
}
public function deleteLava()
{
this.parent.removeChild(this)
for (var m = 0; m < lavaSpray.length; m++) {
if (lavaSpray[m].parent) {
lavaSpray[m].parent.removeChild(lavaSpray[m]);
}
}
}
function makeLava (e:Event)
{
lavaNum = Math.random()*70
if (lavaSpray.length<20)
{
if (lavaNum > 68.15)
{
var lavaMass = new LavaMass();
lavaSpray.push(lavaMass);
addChild(lavaMass);
lavaMass.scaleY = 0.5;
lavaMass.scaleX = 0.5;
lavaMass.x += 90;
lavaMass.y += Math.random()*30
lavaMass.y -= Math.random()*30
}
}
for each (lavaMass in lavaSpray)
{
lavaMass.x += 4;
if (lavaMass.parent && lavaMass.x > 800)
{
lavaMass.parent.removeChild(lavaMass);
lavaSpray.shift();
}
}
}
}
}
I hope someone knows what I'm talking about. Thanks in advance.
I put up a video with my problem:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYxYHB7rcgY&feature=youtu.be

Answer 1

I suspect the issues is:
you don't remove the ENTER_FRAME Event Listener when you delete the lava.
removing the child doesn't mean you deleted it's listener.
so you may remove all the lava , but still the ENTER_FRAME creates more !
you have to remove it your self.
so you have to add
removeEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, makeLava)
as the first line at your function deleteLava()
....
or you may add
addEventListener(Event.REMOVED_FROM_STAGE, onRemoved)
and create onRemoved(e:Event){} function
then inside this function remove any listener you Added , including the ENTER_FRAME & the REMOVED_FROM_STAGE
try to read more about these subjects
Game Loop
entity system framework
Pool Object pattern
I may but links , but I prefer you Google them , and read from different resources - whatever the language they are explained with -
good luck

Answer 2

just for clarrifying your question.. You added the lavamass inside the volacano class? and you need to remove lavamass or volcano ? Dp you get any error during compilation? Also i encountered some thing like this when developing a shooting game, the removed bullets shows up after removing the bullerts. What i did was , i just added the bullets into a empty movieclip and removed the entire clip.