Writing Scripts with ActionScript > Assigning actions to a button |
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Assigning actions to a button
To make a movie perform an action when a button is clicked or rolled over, you can assign an action to the button. You must assign actions to an instance of the button; other instances of the symbol aren't affected.
When you assign an action to a button, you must nest the action inside an on
handler and specify the mouse or keyboard events that trigger the action. When you assign an action to a button in normal mode, the on
handler is automatically inserted and you can choose an event from a list. (For more information about event handlers, see Controlling when ActionScript runs.)
You can also use events of the ActionScript Button object to execute scripts when a button event occurs. For more information, see Handling events with ActionScript.
The following instructions describe how to assign actions to a button using the Actions panel in normal mode. Once you've assigned an action, you test the movie to see whether it works.
To assign an action to a button:
1 |
Select a button and choose Window > Actions to open the Actions panel if it isn't already open. Alternatively, you can select the button or movie clip instance from the jump menu in the Actions panel. |
2 |
To assign an action, do one of the following: |
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Click a folder in the Actions toolbox (at the left side of the panel). Double-click an action to add it to the Script pane (at the right side of the panel). |
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Drag an action from theActions toolbox to the Script pane. |
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Click the Add (+) button and choose an action from the pop-up menu. |
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Use the keyboard shortcut listed next to an action in the Add (+) button pop-up menu. |
Selecting an action from the Actions toolbox in normal mode |
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3 |
In the parameter text boxes at the top of the panel, enter parameters for the action as needed. |
Parameters vary depending on the action you choose. For detailed information on the required parameters for each action, see the online ActionScript Dictionary in the Help menu. To insert a target path for a movie clip into a parameter text box, click the Insert Target Path button above the Script pane. For more information, see Working with Movie Clips and Buttons. |
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4 |
Repeat steps 2 and 3 to assign additional actions as necessary. |
To test a button action:
Choose Control > Test Movie.
For more information on using simple actions, see Controlling movie playback. For more information on creating interactivity, see Creating complex interactivity.
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