contents
 

project: Making Invisible Buttons
 
   
 

description: In this tutorial you will learn how to make invisible buttons.

Files: The invisible_button.fla file is in the fla_files folder.
   
 
   
  step 1: Open the invisible_button.fla file and Command-Return to test it. (Figure A) What if you wanted to make links out of those words? Invisible buttons have other uses but for now it's enough that you learn how to make one and how to make it functional.
   
  A
   
  step 2: Window > Library (Command-L), examine the four symbols, then click on the New Symbol icon (Yes, we could also Insert > New Symbol or Command-F8). Set the Behavior to Button and name it. Select the Rectangle Tool (R), set the stroke to none, and after Insert > Blank Keyframe (F7), draw a small rectangle on the stage. (Figure B)
   
  B
   
  step 3: Watch the following movie and duplicate the steps. Hold the Option key when resizing the width with the Free Transform Tool (Q) so you only adjust the one end rather than stretching the instance from the center. (Figure C) Repeat for the other layers.
   
  C
   
  step 4: Click on the invisible button instance for Scene Three, Window > Actions (F9), and notice that the instance has a name (3) in this movie. You remember how to name instances, right? We want the goto action again but this time we'll direct the user to a scene rather than a frame. (Figure D) If you had multiple scenes the choices would appear in the pull-down menu. We'll explore this in class.
   
  D
   
  step 5: Command-Return and your invisible buttons should replay the animation as well. (Figure E)
   
  E
   
  step 6: Next up: Motion Guides.
   
   
   
   
 
contents