Creating Hyperlinked Text

Any text within a regular text cast member can be made into a hyperlink , similar to the text links on a Web page. Assuming that the Use Hypertext Styles property is selected for the cast member (as it is by default), Director applies the Web's standard link formatting to the text: The link appears underlined , with a blue color before it's been clicked and a purple color after.

For anything to happen when the user clicks the link, you must assign the Text > Hypertext - General behavior to the cast member, or write an equivalent Lingo script. (See Chapter 14, "Adding Behaviors.") The behavior will cause the link to go to a Web URL or perform some other action.

To format text as a hyperlink:

1. Double-click a regular text sprite on the Stage or a regular text cast member in the Cast window.

   If the text cast member is on the Stage, it enters editing mode; if it's in the Cast window, it opens for editing in the Text window. (See "To edit text on the Stage" or "To edit in the Text or Field window," earlier in this chapter.)

2. Select the portion of text that you want to make into a hyperlink ( Figure 12.51 ).

   Figure 12.51. Select the portion of text that you want to turn into a hyperlink.

   

3. If the Text Inspector isn't currently open , Choose Window > Text Inspector to display it.

4. In the hyperlink box at the bottom of the Text Inspector, type the URL that you want to send to the Lingo script ( Figure 12.52 ).

   Figure 12.52. Type the URL or other message in the hyperlink box at the bottom of the Text Inspector.

   

5. Press Enter.

   The selected text is formatted as a hyperlink ( Figure 12.53 ).

   Figure 12.53. Text formatted as a hyperlink is blue and underlined.