Locking Sprites

Locking Sprites

Director allows you to lock a sprite, preventing any of its properties from being changed inadvertently. This feature can be particularly useful when you don't want to accidentally move or delete a carefully positioned sprite on the Stage. Locked sprites remain visible on the Stage but can't be selected from the Stage.

The locked sprites are displayed with a lock symbol in the Score ( Figure 3.75 ). When selected in the Score, a locked sprite is surrounded by a red border on the Stage, which includes a lock symbol in the top-right corner ( Figure 3.76 ). Property fields are dimmed for locked sprites in both the Property Inspector and the Sprite toolbar.

Figure 3.75. Locked sprites in the Score are dimmed and accompanied by a lock symbol.

Figure 3.76. A locked sprite on the Stage.

To lock a sprite or group of sprites:

1. In the Score or on the Stage, select a sprite or range of sprites that you want to lock.

   You can select multiple nonadjacent sprites. Note that you can't lock part of a sprite.

2. Choose Modify > Lock Sprite.

   or

   Click the Lock button in the Property Inspector ( Figure 3.77 ) or Sprite toolbar.

   Figure 3.77. Click the Lock button to lock selected sprites.

   

To unlock a sprite or group of sprites:

1. In the Score, select a sprite or ranged of locked sprites that you want to unlock.

2. Choose Modify > Unlock Sprite.

Tip

• You can change a property (such as blend percentage) of a multiple-sprite selection consisting of both locked and unlocked sprites, but only the unlocked sprites change.