XML Scrolling Thumbnail, Image Loader, & Buttons [halfway Works]?

Intro:I started a flash-based website a few years ago. Back in 2006 I was able to get a xml scrolling thumbnail, image loader to work without a glitch.For numerous reasons I had to put the project on hold until now. [one was that my 30 day trial of flash expired and only recently was I able to purchase the Adobe Web Suite CS4 as well as a new computer which could run the apps.]

Last Friday saw a bump in the road in the development of my site as two, rather straightforward task, turned into something short of a nightmare as I have been unable to get past these two, seemingly, relatively simple task.I have posted in 4 other flash forums the issues, in detail, that I am facing - and have quite a bit of interest/views in the topic as the numbers suggest - yet no response/answer as of yet. [Which confirms other messages I have seen which seem to state that working with buttons has become increasingly difficult with the newer version of flash - something Im a bit surprised with actually from Adobe. - I would have thought there would be a palette where you could set parameters...] 

Screenshot of Site/Timeline: Before getting into the two questions I have, I would like to post an image of the site as it looks whenever an swf file is saved out, as well as a piece of the timeline in the back for reference.As of now when the swf file is saved out you get exactly what you see above:

a: A scrolling thumbnail

b: ...which loads a large image when clicked on it - PEFECT...
 
BUT...1a: I need for the buttons to load in this action, not for it to just load on its own.[i.e., the silk_paintings gallery is what is open, so I need the "silk_paintings" button to call up this action]
 
note: Initially I had attacked this problem by taking out the actions layer you see above and applying it directly to the individual buttons with some crude MouseEvent Listener/Handerls... that did not work - at all.Im sure it may be "easier" to make an array out of it, but with my coding level it may be "easier" to apply it to the buttons.
 
1b: How I currently see it, I would take the xml-list and duplicate it for the number of galleries I have.[I would then re-name the xml-list to reflect the name of the galleries they are to represent, i.e. "silk_paintings"][also, I would have to rename the folders to "thumbnails1,2,3, etc., & "images 1,2,3, etc"
 
From there I would duplicate the actions and paste it into the buttons, changing the xml-list name to that of "silk_paintings", etc., as well as write in the MouseEvent listener Handler to make it work. [ah, ha, but what is that magic phrase, I have tried to implement various code from other tutorials, and all in vein.]
 
At this point I would be tickled pink just to get this to basic function to work.However, once the buttons are working and calling up the xml, etc., then I need the buttons to stay on the semi-transparent blue color it is whenever in the 'hit' state. [note: NOT pictured above.]With the way the buttons are currently set up, and with wanting to use scripting to get them to interact with the thumbnail gallery, it will have to be some miraculous code to tell that button what color to stay as whenever its clicked, and of course it going back to white when another button is clicked.
 
Conclusion:Since this is an Adobe Forum I would like to make a few additional statements in hopes that the developers, etc. may take heed.Adobes products are not cheap, and when I went to purchase the websuite I went in as a designer needing a program as not to need to program.I understand the flexibility that coding gives, but something as simple as linking buttons should not be in the realms of rocket science.

stop();
fscommand(allowscale, false);//keep SWF display at 100%

var x:XML = new XML ();//Define XML Object[code]....