Dreamweaver

Modify a Flash button object

You can modify the properties and content of a Flash button object.

The Property inspector displays the Flash button properties. You can use the Property inspector to specify the button’s HTML physical attributes, such as width, height, and background color. (Click the expander arrow in the lower-right corner to see more properties.)

To modify other content properties of a Flash button, such as button text and color, and the URL the browser opens when the button is clicked, use the Insert Flash Button dialog box.

Modify Flash object properties in the Property inspector

  1. In the Document window, click the Flash button object to select it.
  2. Open the Property inspector, if it is not already open. (Click the expander arrow in the lower-right corner to see more properties.)
  3. Set the options in the Property inspector.
    Name
    Specifies the name to identify the button for scripting. Enter a name in the unlabeled text box on the far left side of the Property inspector.

    W and H
    Specify the width and height of the object, in pixels. (In Design view, you can resize the object easily by using the resizing handles. You can return the object to its original size by selecting Reset Size in the Property inspector.)

    File
    Specifies the path to the Flash object file. Click the folder icon to browse to a file, or type a path.

    Edit
    Opens the Flash object dialog box for edits to the selected Flash object.

    Reset Size
    Resets the selected object to the original size.

    V Space and H Space
    Specify the number of pixels of white space above, below, and on both sides of the button.

    Quality
    Sets the quality parameter for the object and embed tags that define the button. Flash content looks better with a high setting, but it requires a faster processor to render correctly on the screen. Low emphasizes speed over appearance, whereas High favors appearance over speed. Auto Low emphasizes speed at first, but improves appearance when possible. Auto High emphasizes both qualities at first, but sacrifices appearance for speed if necessary.

    Scale
    Sets the scale parameter for the object and embed tags that define the button or text object. This parameter defines how the Flash content displays within the area defined for the SWF file by the width and height values. The choices are Default (Show All), No Border, and Exact Fit. Show All makes the entire SWF file visible in the specified area, maintaining the aspect ratio of the SWF file and preventing distortion; borders of the background color may appear on two sides of the SWF file. No Border is similar to Show All, except portions of the SWF file may be cropped. With Exact Fit, the entire SWF file fills the specified area, but the aspect ratio of the SWF file is not maintained and distortion may occur.

    Align
    Defines how the object is aligned on the page.

    Bg
    Specifies a background color for the object.

    Play/Stop
    Previews the Flash object in the Document window. Click the green Play button to see the object in Play mode; click the red Stop button to stop the object from playing and be able to edit it.

    Parameters
    Opens a dialog box for entering additional parameters.

Modify Flash object content

  1. To make changes to content, display the Insert Flash Button dialog box using one of the following methods:

    • Double-click the Flash button object.

    • Click Edit in the Property inspector.

    • Right-click (Windows) or Control‑click (Macintosh), and select Edit from the context menu.

  2. Select a button style from the Style list.

    You can view an example of the button in the Sample text box. Click the sample to see how it functions in the browser.

    Note: While you are defining the Flash button (for example, changing text or font choices), the Sample box does not automatically update to reflect the changes. These changes will appear when you close the dialog box and view the button in Design view.
  3. (Optional) In the Button Text box, type the text you want to appear.

    This text box only accepts changes if the selected button has a {Button Text} parameter defined. This is shown in the Sample text box. The text you type in replaces the {Button Text} when you preview the file.

  4. From the Font menu, select the button text font.

    If the default font for a button is not available on your system, select another font from the menu. The Sample box doesn’t display the font, but you can click Apply to insert the button in the page to preview the text.

  5. In the Size box, enter a numeric value for the font size.
  6. (Optional) In the Link text box, enter a document-relative or absolute link for the button.

    This is the URL the browser will open when the visitor clicks the button.

  7. (Optional) In the Target box, specify the location in which the linked document will open. You can select a frame or window option in the pop‑up menu. Frame names are listed only if the Flash object is being edited while in a frameset.
  8. (Optional) In the Bg Color box, set the background color for the Flash SWF file. Use the color picker or type in a web hexadecimal value (such as #FFFFFF).
  9. In the Save As box, enter a filename to save the new SWF file.

    You can use the default filename (for example, button1.swf), or type in a new name. If the file contains a document-relative link, you must save the file to the same directory as the current HTML document to maintain document‑relative links.

  10. Click Get More Styles to go the Adobe Exchange site and download more button styles.
  11. Click Apply or OK to insert the Flash button in the Document window.
    Select Apply to see changes in Design view, while keeping the dialog box open—this way you can continue making changes to the button.