How to Add a Large Text Doc to a Flash Program

The procedure for placing Microsoft Word (DOC or DOCX) or other word processor documents, regardless of the document size, is primarily the same. While you can import or embed text documents into a Flash movie, unless you are a proficient ActionScript programmer, it's easier to save the text as Rich Text Format (RTF) and then use copy and paste to place the document into a Flash Dynamic Text box. Large text blocks in Flash usually require a scrollbar to allow the user to scroll through the text. Use Flash's built-in UIScrollbar component to create a scrollable text box.

Things You'll Need

  • Macromedia Flash 8, Flash MX or Adobe Flash CS1 or later
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Instructions

    • 1

      Open an existing Flash FLA movie file or create a new one.

    • 2

      Select the Text tool from the Tools panel and draw a text box on the stage. Resize and move the text to the desired size and location on the stage. Set the Text Type to "Dynamic" in the Properties panel (first drop-down in the panel), and then click the Behavior drop-down (located in the Paragraph section of the Properties panel) to "Multiline."

    • 3

      Click the "Render text as HTML" button (second button beneath the Anti-Alias drop-down in the Character section of the Properties panel). When this option is active, this button appears depressed. "Render text as HTML" tells Flash to allow and maintain certain character formatting, such as bold, italic, and a few other formatting options. (Flash supports very few word processor formatting options. If you want to, for example, set different type sizes for headings and subheadings, you'll have to apply manually with the formatting options in the Properties panel.)

    • 4

      Click the "Window" menu and choose "Components" to open the Components panel. Find the UIScrollBar panel in the list of components and drag it to the stage. Place it just inside the right side of the text box, dragging it slowly toward the right edge of the box until it snaps to the outside of the text box. (To place the scrollbar on the left side, position the component near the left side of the box.)

    • 5

      Prepare your text in a word processor, and then save it in RTF format. Depending on the word processor, you would use either "Save As" or "Export" on the File menu.

    • 6

      Select and copy all of the text in the document. (In most word processors you can use the Select All option to select all the text.)

    • 7

      Return to Flash and paste the text into the text box. Make the desired formatting changes to the text from the Properties panel.

    • 8

      Test the movie to see the scrolling text box.

Tips & Warnings

  • In most Flash movies, you really shouldn't use huge text blocks that require excessive scrolling and reading. Your users will probably find this annoying and may not read all or most of the text. A much better design technique is to break the text into smaller chunks and illustrate the text with animation and images.

  • If you paste the text before applying the UIScrollbar component to the text box, the box will resize to fit the text. Your text box won't be scrollable.

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