Flashkit Stylesheet for Tutorials Writers - Page 5

Which looks like this...

The example above is Flash button.

The button symbol has the ability to change its image according to what state the button is in. There are four of these states, Up, Over, Down and Hit. You can see in the button in its normal state, you can then interact with it by rolling the mouse cursor 'over' the button. When you click the button it will send the it into the 'down' state for as long as the mouse button remains pressed. A Button can also carry out an action when a certain state is reached, because of this, there is a four framed timeline to define each state.

But first you have to create a button. Choose Insert > New Symbol and select "Button" instead of "Graphic" as the behaviour option. Once your click OK, Flash will enter its edit symbol mode. The timeline will change to show four blank frames corresponding to the four button states mentioned before. The first frame will have a blank keyframe in it. Notice how the button symbol is different to the graphic symbol.

Each frame in the Timeline of a button symbol has a specific function:

1. Up is the state used whenever the mouse pointer is not over the button.
2. Over is used when the mouse pointer is over the button.
3. Down is the state attained when the button is clicked.
4. Hit is invisible and defines the area where the button will react to the mouse pointer.