Checking Customer Login status from my Flash application?

Hi-

I want to use the same login as the zen cart store. I made a flash application so customers can choose custom colors for embroidery patterns they are ordering- http://iandi.com/shop/color_picker.php

When the customer clicks "Save Colors" a php script runs that should check if the customer is logged into Zen Cart. I've tried accessing $_SESSION['customer_id'] and printing all session variables but they are always empty. Right now the flash movie is in the root of my shop folder, but I can put it anywhere...this seems like it should be something straightforward but I've searched & tried suggestions for a few hours with no luck. any help is appreciated- thanks!

-xana

When and how do you run your PHP script?

in the action script:
var request:URLRequest = new URLRequest ("http://iandi.com/shop/welcome.php");
request.method = URLRequestMethod.POST;

then welcome.php checks the session:
if (isset($_SESSION['customer_id']))
echo "loggedin=true";
else
echo "loggedin=false";

I've determined that the script does run, but doesn't ever return a value in the session

Your script needs to run /includes/application_top.php if you want it to start and access a Zen Cart session.

I added include("/includes/application_top.php"); to the php script but I'm still not getting a value for $_SESSION['customer_id'].

You won't if you're not logged in.

I tried logging in, out, and in again. still nothing coming up in my session variable.

Not sure what to tell you. It works for me.
Maybe your problem is with the Flash component.