Understanding ActionScript > Using the Actions panel > Normal Mode

Normal Mode

In Normal Mode you create actions by selecting actions from a list on the left side of the panel, called the Toolbox list. The Toolbox list contains Basic Actions, Actions, Operators, Functions, Properties, and Objects categories. The Basic Actions category contains the simplest Flash actions and is only available in Normal Mode. The selected actions are listed on the right side of the panel, in the Actions list. You can add, delete, or change the order of action statements; you can also enter parameters (arguments) for actions in parameter fields at the bottom of the panel.

In Normal Mode you can use the controls in the Actions panel to delete or change the order of statements in the Actions list. These controls are especially useful for managing frame or button actions that have several statements.

The Actions panel in Normal Mode.
 

To select an action:

1 Click an Actions category in the toolbox to display the actions in that category.
2 Double-click an action or drag it to the Script window.

To use the Parameters fields:

1 Click the Parameters button in the lower right corner of the Actions panel to display the fields.
2 Select the action and enter new values in the Parameters fields to change parameters of existing actions.

To insert a movie clip target path:

1 Click the Target Path button in the lower right corner of the Actions panel to display the Insert Target Path dialog box.
2 Select a movie clip from the display list.

To move a statement up or down the list:

1 Select a statement in the Actions list.
2 Click the Up or Down Arrow buttons.

To delete an action:

1 Select a statement in the Actions list.
2 Click the Delete (-) button.

To change the parameters of existing actions:

1 Select a statement in the Actions list.
2 Enter new values in the Parameters fields.

To resize the Toolbox or Actions list, do one of the following:

Drag the vertical splitter bar that appears between the Toolbox and Actions list.
Double-click the splitter bar to collapse the Toolbox list; double-click the bar again to redisplay the list.
Click the Left or Right Arrow button on the splitter bar to expand or collapse the list.

When the Toolbox list is hidden, you can still access its items using the Add (+) button in the upper left of the Actions panel.