How do I Create Button Symbols on a Flash CS3?

Add unique Flash buttons to your project.

Buttons are an integral part of many Flash presentations. The Flash CS3 interface enables you to create various types of symbols, including buttons. Your button can consist of simple text or a complex animation. When you create the button symbol, Flash automatically generates the up, over, down and hit events. You can customize the actions that occur for each of these events.

Instructions

1. Launch Flash and create a new document. Click "File" and "New" or press "Ctrl" and "N." Click "OK." Or open an existing document. Use the following example to create a blue oval button.

2. Click the corner of the "Fill color" button of the "Tools" panel and select a blue color.

3. Click the "Oval" tool and draw your shape on the stage. While the shape is still selected, press "F8" or pull down the Modify menu to "Convert to symbol" and choose the "Button" option from that pull down menu. Click "OK."

4. Double-click the button. In the timeline, the "Up" event contains the oval, while the others are blank. Left in this state, your button will not change when pressed or hovered over.

5. Click in the "Over" frame and press "F6" to add a keyframe. Keyframes are special frames in Flash that enable you to start a new action. Click the oval to select it, and choose a yellow color from the "Fill color" box of the "Properties" panel. Press "Ctrl" and "F3" if necessary to display the panel.

6. Press "Ctrl" and "Enter" to test the movie. When you hover the mouse over the button, it changes to yellow and returns to blue when you move the mouse away.

Resources

• Adobe: Working with Symbols