Ordering Object Builds

You can control the order in which objects build on or off the slide by selecting the object and choosing from the Order pop-up menu in the Build Inspector ( Figure 9.20 ). Every time you create a different object build, Keynote adds a number to the Order pop-up menu. If you have both a Build In and a Build Out for a slide, the same object can have different Order numbers on the Build In and Build Out tabs. For example, let's say that you have the following graphics that fly onto the screen in this order during the Build In:

• Earth

• The Moon

• Mars

Figure 9.20. The Order pop-up menu on the Build In and Build Out tabs lets you set the build order for each object to which you have assigned a build style.

In the Build Out, the three graphics fly out in the reverse order. On the Build In tab, the graphic of the Moon would have an Order number of 2. On the Build Out tab, the Moon's Order number is 5. This is a simple example, but you can have objects exit the slide in any order by making selections in the Build Out tab. Keynote automatically prevents two objects from having the same Order number.

You can see the order list in the Build Order drawer . You can use this list to reorder objects' build order, and the Start Build pop-up menu lets you control when each object animates. You can also control the length of time between builds.

To reorder object builds

1.	In the Build Inspector, if the Build Order drawer isn't open , click the Set Automatic Builds button. The Build Order drawer opens.
2.	Click an item in the list to select it, then drag it up or down in the list to where you want it to go ( Figure 9.21 ). Figure 9.21. Drag an item in the Build Order drawer to change when it appears on the slide. A black line in the list shows you where the item will land when you release the mouse button.

Tip

• Changing an object's order automatically changes its number in the Build Inspector's Order pop-up menu.

To control when an object animates

1.

In the Build Order drawer, select an item.

2.

From the Start Build pop-up menu, choose one of the following: On Click begins the build when you click the mouse. Automatically after transition only appears on the first item in the build order. It triggers the build after a slide appears, and after the amount of time in the Delay field at the bottom of the Build Order drawer. Automatically after build n starts the build after the previous build, which is denoted by n , and after the amount of time in the Delay field. Automatically with build n starts the build at the same time as the previous build in the list, and after the amount of time in the Delay field.

To control the length of time between builds

1.	In the Build Order drawer, select an item.
2.	Enter an amount in seconds in the Delay field.