Adobe Flash

Add Button Animation and Navigation in Flash

A button is a symbol that contains special frames for different button states, such as when the user's mouse pointer is over the button or when the user clicks the button.

When you select the Button behavior for a new symbol, Macromedia Flash Basic 8 and Macromedia Flash Professional 8 create the Timeline for the button states. You can add navigation to buttons by using behaviors or by writing ActionScript. This tutorial teaches you about creating and modifying buttons, including adding animation to a button.

First, you'll open the start file for the lesson and set up your workspace to use an optimal layout for taking lessons.

  1. To open your start file, in Flash select File > Open and navigate to the file:
    • In Windows, browse to boot drive\Program Files\Macromedia\ Flash 8\Samples and Tutorials\Tutorial Assets\Basic Tasks\ Add Button Animation and Navigation and double-click buttons_start.fla.
    • On the Macintosh, browse to Macintosh HD/Applications/ Macromedia Flash 8/Samples and Tutorials/Tutorial Assets/ Basic Tasks/Add Button Animation and Navigation and double-click buttons_start.fla.

    Note: The Add Button Animation and Navigation folder contains completed versions of the tutorial FLA files for your reference.

  2. Select File > Save As and save the document with a new name, in the same folder, to preserve the original start file.
  3. Select Window > Workspace Layout > Default to set up your workspace for taking lessons.
  4. In the Stage View pop-up menu, in the upper-right side of the Timeline, select Show Frame to view both the Stage and the workspace.
  5. Click in the workspace, away from objects on the Stage, so that no objects are selected.