Using the Text Tool

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The text tool creates blocks of editable text. You can set the text to read horizontally or vertically. You can also apply a variety of text attributes to textincluding text and paragraph styles. Editable text can later be turned into raw shapes .

To create a single line of text for use as a graphic element:

  1. In the Toolbox, select the text tool or press T (Figure 2.53).

    Figure 2.53. Select the text tool in the Toolbox to start creating text boxes on the Stage.

    graphics/02fig53.gif

    For this task, use the current settings for type and paragraph styles. You learn to change these settings in upcoming tasks .

  2. Move the pointer over the Stage.

    The pointer turns into a crosshair with a letter A in the bottom-right corner (Figure 2.54).

    Figure 2.54. The text-tool pointer.

    graphics/02fig54.gif

  3. Click the Stage at the spot where you want your text to start.

    Flash creates a text box with a round resize handle and a blinking insertion point, ready for you to enter text (Figure 2.55).

    Figure 2.55. Click the Stage with the text tool to create a text box. The round resize handle indicates that the text box does not have word wrap turned on.

    graphics/02fig55.gif

  4. Start typing to enter your text.

    The text box grows to accommodate whatever you type (Figure 2.56).

    Figure 2.56. As you type, the box grows horizontally to accommodate your text. The text will not wrap.

    graphics/02fig56.gif

  5. When you finish typing, click elsewhere on the Stage (if you want to create another piece of text) or change tools. Flash hides the text box, leaving just the text visible. When you click this text with the arrow tool, Flash selects the text box automatically so that you can reposition it or change the text's attributes directly.

What Is Editable Text?

The term editable text has two meanings in Flash. First, you can modify text within the Flash authoring environment. As you create text elements for your movie, you can go back and change your font, pick a new text color , select another font size , fix typosyou name it. Flash calls this type of text static text .

Second, text can be modified in a movie playing in the Flash Player. Through the use of actions and variables , your movie can retrieve user input and put it to work in various ways. Flash calls such text input text . Or you, the creator, can use editable text fields to update and provide new information in a movie. Flash calls such text dynamic text .

In this chapter, you learn about using static text, which is strictly a graphic element in the final movie. To find out more about input text and dynamic text, check out Chapter 15.

To create a text box with set width and word wrap:

  1. With the text tool selected in the Toolbox, click the Stage at the spot where you want your text to start.

    Flash creates a text box with a round resize handle.

  2. Move the pointer over the resize handle.

    The pointer changes to a double-headed arrow.

  3. Click and drag the handle until your text box is as wide as you want it (Figure 2.57).

    Figure 2.57. Click and drag the resize handle to create a text box with a specific width. The handle changes to a square, indicating that the text you enter will wrap to fit the column width of the text box. The text box continues to grow in lengthbut not widthas you enter more text.

    graphics/02fig57.gif

    The resize handle changes to a square.

  4. Release the mouse button.

    The blinking insertion point appears in the text box.

  5. Enter your text.

    Flash wraps the text horizontally to fit inside the column that the text box defines. The box automatically grows taller (not wider) to accommodate your text.

graphics/01icon02.gif Tips

  • To reposition a text box with the text tool active, position the pointer along the edge of the text box. The pointer changes to the selection arrow. Now you can drag the text box to a new location.

  • If you enter so much text on one line that the end of the text box starts to disappear off the Stage, you can fix the problem. Either drag the text box to the left with the selection arrow or choose View > Work Area (Shift- graphics/01icon01.gif W[Mac], Ctrl-Shift-W[Windows]) and reduce magnification until you can see the resize handle. Then you can force the text to wrap by resizing the text box.


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Macromedia Flash MX for Windows and Macintosh. Visual QuickStart Guide
Macromedia Flash MX 2004 for Windows and Macintosh (Visual QuickStart Guides)
ISBN: 0582851165
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2002
Pages: 243

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