Controlling Stacking Order


Within a single layer, text boxes, grouped objects and drawing-objects stack as if they were sitting on sublayers above any ungrouped merge-shapes. Stacking order exists even if objects don't literally lie on top of one another. If you have a group on one side of the Stage and a drawing-object on the other, you can't see which one stacks higher than the other; but if you drag the objects so they overlap, the order becomes apparent. (Symbols, which you'll learn about in Chapter 7, are another type of graphic-object that stacks on top of ungrouped merge-shapes.)

Understanding Stacking Order

Merge-shapes on a single layer always stay on the same layer, segmenting one another whenever they inhabit the same space on the Stage. All graphic-objects (drawing-objects, groups, and symbols) stack on top of one another. By default, Flash stacks each new graphic-object that you create on top of the preceding one; the last graphic-object created winds up on top of all the others (Figure 5.19). A higher-level graphic-object obscures any graphic-object that lies directly beneath it.

Figure 5.19. This schematic shows Flash's default stacking order for graphic-objects. The most recently created graphic-object is on top. Merge-shapes are always on the bottom.



You can change the stacking order of graphic-objects via the Modify > Arrange menu. You can move objects up or down in the stacking order one level at a time, or you can send an object to the front or bottom of the stack of sublayers.

To change position in the stack by one level

1.

On the Stage, create at least three graphic-objects.

Use any combination of grouped shapes or drawing-objects.

2.

Select one of the graphic-objects.

3.

From the Modify > Arrange menu, choose either of the following:

  • To move the selected item up one level, choose Bring Forward, or press -up arrow (Mac) or Ctrl-up arrow (Windows).

  • To move the selected item down one level, choose Send Backward, or press -down arrow (Mac) or Ctrl-down arrow (Windows).

Flash moves the selected item up (or down) one sublayer in the stacking order (Figure 5.20).

Figure 5.20. Each dumbbell here is a separate group (top). Choose Modify > Arrange > Bring Forward (middle) to move a selected group up one level in the stacking order (bottom).


To move an element to the top or bottom of the stack

1.

On the Stage, select one of the graphic-objects you created in the previous task.

2.

From the Modify > Arrange menu, choose either of the following:

  • To bring the item to the top of the stack, choose Bring to Front, or press Option-Shift-up arrow (Mac) or Ctrl-Shift-up arrow (Windows).

  • To move the item to the bottom of the stack, choose Send to Back, or press Option-Shift-down arrow (Mac) or Ctrl-Shift-down arrow (Windows).

Flash places the selected item at the top (or bottom) of the heap.




Macromedia Flash 8 for Windows & Macintosh Visual QuickStart Guide
Macromedia Flash 8 for Windows & Macintosh
ISBN: 0321349636
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2005
Pages: 204

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