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Unit 2:
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Unit 3:
     Advanced

Tabular Data  |  Image Maps  |  Image Rollovers  | Flash Elements

Unit 3: Advanced Dreamweaver Features

Inserting Flash Elements

{quick links to:      Flash Text   |   Flash Buttons }

Inserting Flash Text

The Flash text object lets you create and insert a Flash movie that contains just text, all within the Dreamweaver environment. This allows you to create a small, vector-graphic movie with the designer fonts and the text of your choice. You must save your page before inserting a Flash Text object. Here is an example of Flash Text:

To Insert a Flash Text Object:

• With the Document window in Design view, select Insert Flash Text from the Media tab of the Objects panel or choose Insert > Interactive Images > Flash Text.
  
• The Insert Flash Text dialog box appears.

• Select a font from the Font pop-up menu. This menu lists all TrueType fonts currently loaded on your system.
  
• Enter a font size in the Size field; these are point sizes.
  
• Specify style attributes like bold or italic, and text alignment by clicking the appropriate style buttons.
  
• In the Color field, set the color of the text by using the color picker or entering a Web hexadecimal value (such as #FFFFFF).
  
• In the Rollover Color field, set the color that appears when the pointer rolls over the Flash text object. Use the color picker or enter a Web hexadecimal value (such as #FFFFFF).
  
• Enter the text you want in the Text field.
  
• To see the font style displayed in the Text field, select Show Font.
  
• If you want to associate a link with the Flash text object, enter a document-relative or absolute link in the Link field. If you use a document-relative link, be sure to save the SWF file to the same directory as the HTML file.
  
• If you entered a link, you can specify a target frame or target window for that link to go to in the Target field.
  
• In the Bg Color field, choose a background color for the text. Use the color picker or enter a Web hexadecimal value (such as
  #FFFFFF).
  
• In the Save As field, enter a name for the file.
  
• You can use the default file name (for example, tex1.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.
  
• Click Apply or OK to insert the Flash text in the Document window. If you click Apply, the dialog box remains open, and you can preview the text in your document.
  
• To modify your Flash Text movie, simply double-click on the movie and the Flash Text box will reappear.
  

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Inserting Flash Buttons

The Flash button object lets you customize and insert a set of predesigned Flash buttons. Note: You must save your document before inserting a Flash button or text object.  Here is an example of a Flash button:

To Insert a Flash Button Object:

• While in the Design view of the Document window, click on "Insert Flash Button" from the Media tab of the Objects panel or choose Insert > Interactive Images >Flash Button. You can also drag the Flash button icon over to the Document window. The Insert Flash Button dialog box appears:

• Select the button style you want from the Style list. You'll see an example of the button in the Sample field. You can click this sample to see how it functions in the browser. However, the Sample field does automatically update to show the changes to text or font that you might make. These changes will appear in Design view.
  
• In the Button Text field (optional), type the text you want to appear. For example, type My Course. This field only accepts changes if the selected button has a {Button Text} parameter defined. This is shown in the Sample field. The text you type in replaces the {Button Text} when you preview the file.
  
• In the Font field, specify a font size and select the font you want from the pop-up menu. You only need to make font and size selections if your button has text parameters defined. Keep in mind that you will not see the font you selected in the Sample field, but you can click Apply to insert the button in the page to see what the text will look like.
  
• In the Link field (optional), enter a document-relative or absolute link for the button. If you use a document-relative link, be sure to save the SWF file to the same directory as the HTML file. (Browsers vary in their interpretation of document-relative links and saving to the same directory ensures that the links will work correctly.)
  
• In the Target field (optional), specify a target frame or target window for the Flash button's link to go to.
  
• In the Bg Color field (optional), set the background color for the Flash movie. Use the color picker or type in a Web hexadecimal value (such as #FFFFFF).
  
• In the Save As field, enter a file name to save the new SWF file. You can use the default file name (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.
  
• Click Get More Styles to go the Macromedia Exchange site and download more button styles.
  
• Click Apply or OK to insert the Flash button in the Document window.
  
  Tip: Select Apply to see changes in Design view, while keeping the dialog box open;this way you can continue making changes to the button.

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