Changing the Mouse Cursor with Flash 5 - Page 4

Create New Cursor

Next, we have to create another mouse cursor to replace the old one. Now, Flash 5 operates quite differently from other applications. Instead of making you chose from a cursor file - a .cur, .ani or even .ico file, Flash lets you create an object to replace the cursor. This is a part of the substitution trick.

On Flash's main window, select the menu Insert > New Symbol to create a new symbol. On the window that opens, call it "new cursor" (of course you can change the name if you want to). Make sure this is symbol has "Movie Clip" behavior selected, and then click Ok.

Now you'll create your symbol. There's no big secret here - you can draw whatever you want to. The only thing you must remember is that the center of the symbol (indicated by a small cross) is the center of your cursor, that is, this will be the "sensitive" part of your new cursor. You can make whatever you want above or below the center of the symbol, but this center will act as the "clicking point" of your new cursor (see image for an example of correct use).