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Working with Text
Introduction
In Flash, you can create two types of text: TLF (Text Layout
Framework) or Classic.
TLF
provides advanced text capabili-
ties (New!) for text in Flash targeted for Flash Player 10 and
ActionScript 3.0 or later, while
Classic
provides the standard
capabilities available in previous versions of Flash.
There are three types of Classic text: static, dynamic, and
input.
Static
is text that doesn’t change.
Dynamic
is text that
updates, such as stock quotes, weather reports, or sports
scores.
Input
is text entered by a user in forms or surveys.
You can create editable text boxes for use as static display
text or to implement dynamic text objects with the Text tool.
In the program's text menu, as well as the Property
Inspector, there are a number of attributes to choose from
such as Font type, style, size, color, indentation, orientation,
and direction. Also included are familiar letter form format-
ting procedures for kerning, tracking, and anti-aliasing.
Because text boxes are editable, you can change any text
attribute—as well as the content in the text box—after it is
created.
Use the Break Apart command to break editable text
boxes into shapes and edit them with any of the selection
tools or pen modifiers. This is especially useful for creating
new font forms, and it also allows you to implement shape
tweening. Create dynamic text boxes that can be updated
from a text file on a server or some other source using
ActionScript. In Flash, you can now configure the Find and
Replace feature to target text contained in specific elements
in your Flash document and swap these out with new entries
from the built-in Adobe dictionaries or from a personal dic-
tionary you create. Other features include the implementation
of Cascading Style Sheets for consistent HTML text format-
ting and the built-in Spell Checker for enhanced productivity.
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5
What You’ll Do
Create Classic Static or TLF Text
Link Text Together
Change Font Type, Style, Size, and Color
Modify Tracking and Kerning
Change Text Alignment
Create Text Columns
Change Text Direction and Orientation
Change Advanced Text Options
Use Break Apart to Modify Characters
Use Anti-Alias Text
Use Font Mapping
Set Device Fonts Versus
Embedded Fonts
Create Classic Dynamic Text and
Input Text
Check Spelling
Use Find and Replace
Use Cascading Style Sheets with
HTML Text
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From the Library of Wow! eBook
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164 Chapter 5
Classic static text refers to any classic text box that isn't dynamic or
input text. The Text tool creates an editable text box wherever you
touch down on the Stage. Flash will keep the text on a single line until
you press Enter (Win) or Return (Mac). If you need a text box with a
predefined width, you can create a text box before you start typing. The
entered text will automatically wrap relative to the boundaries of the
box and any formatting settings you've applied. To re-enter an existing
text box to change the text, simply double-click any character in the
Text box or click it with the Text tool to activate it and make it ready to
edit.
Creating Classic
Static Text
Create Classic Static Text
Click the Text tool on the Tools
panel.
The pointer becomes a crosshair
with a small "T" in the corner.
TIMESAVER
Press T to quickly
select the Text tool.
Click the Text Engine list arrow in
the Property Inspector, and then
click Classic Text.
Click the Text Type list arrow in the
Property Inspector, and then click
Static Text.
Click the Stage where you want to
create a single line text box or
drag to create a text box the size
you want that automatically wraps.
Begin typing in the box that
appears.
Click anywhere on the Stage
outside the text box to deselect it.
To r eselect a text box, c lick t o
select it.
A black bounding box with square
handles appears around a text box
when it’s selected.
To r esize a text box, d rag any of
the black resize handles, the white
small circle (single line) or white
square (text block) to resize.
The text in the box wraps to
accommodate to the new size
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Small square
indicates text
box
Small circle indicates
single line of text.
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From the Library of Wow! eBook
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Chapter 5 Working with Text 165
TLF (Text Layout Framework ) text (New!) provides advanced text
capabilities in Flash documents targeted for Flash Player 10 and
ActionScript 3.0 or later. You can create columns, rotate text, indent
text, change text direction and orientation, change text case, adjust the
text baseline, and apply text blending and color effects in the Property
Inspector. TLF text created in Flash is read-only by default, however,
you can change it to selectable or editable. If you need a text box with
a predefined width, you can create a text box before you start typing.
The entered text will automatically wrap relative to the boundaries of
the box and any formatting settings you've applied. To re-enter an exist-
ing text box to change the text, simply double-click any character in the
text box or click it with the Text tool to make it ready to edit.
Creating TLF Text
Create TLF Text
Click the Text tool on the Tools
panel.
The pointer becomes a crosshair
with a small "T" in the corner.
TIMESAVER
Press T to quickly
select the Text tool.
Click the Text Engine list arrow in
the Property Inspector, and then
click TLF Text.
Click the Stage where you want
your text box to begin or drag until
the box is the size you need.
Begin typing in the box that
appears.
Click anywhere on the Stage
outside the text box to deselect it.
To r eselect a text box, c lick t o
select it.
A black bounding box with square
handles appears around a text box
when it’s selected.
To r esize a text box, d rag any of
the black resize handles, the white
small circle (single line) or white
square (text block) to resize.
The text in the box wraps to
accommodate to the new size
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2
1
1
2
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Small square
indicates text
box
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From the Library of Wow! eBook
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If you type, paste, or import more text than a TLF text box can hold, an
Overflow icon (a tiny red plus sign in a square) appears on the edge of
the text box (New!). You can reshape the text box to display the text or
create a thread (link) to another text box. You can thread overflow text
from one text box to a new or existing text box (New!). You can think of
the linked text boxes as one, however, each text box still retains it’s
own properties. If you no longer want to thread two or more text boxes,
you can unthread or disconnect them. When you unthread text boxes,
the text in the text box remains in the first text box (it may still over-
flow). When you disconnect text frames, the text in the text frames
remains where it is.
166 Chapter 5
Linking Text Together
Link Text Boxes Together
Click the Text tool on the Tools
panel.
The pointer becomes a crosshair
with a small "T" in the corner.
TIMESAVER
Press T to quickly
select the Text tool.
Click the Text Engine list arrow in
the Property Inspector, and then
click TLF Text.
Click the Stage where you want
your text box to begin and drag
until the box is the size you need.
Begin typing in the box that
appears or paste in text from the
Clipboard until it fills the entire
text box.
Click the Overflow icon on the
selected text box.
The pointer changes to the Loaded
Text cursor.
To c reate a new te xt b ox for the
overflow text, click a blank area or
drag to create a text box.
To u se a n ex isting text box, c lick in
an existing text box.
Overflow text from the first text
box threads to the second text
box.
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From the Library of Wow! eBook
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Chapter 5 Working with Text 167
Unthread Text Boxes
Select the Selection tool or the
Text tool on the Tools panel.
Select a threaded text box with
the Selection tool or click in the
threaded text box with the Text
tool.
Double-click the In Port or Out
Port icon on the selected object.
Change the Thread Between
Text Boxes
Select the Selection tool or the
Text tool on the Tools panel.
Select a threaded text box with
the Selection tool or click in the
threaded text box with the Text
tool.
Click the In Port or Out Port icon
on the selected object.
To c reate a new te xt f rame for the
overflow text, click a blank area or
drag to create a text box.
To u se a n ex isting text box, c lick in
an existing text box.
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Did You Know?
You can delete a linked text box.
Select the text box with the Selection
tool, and then press Delete. The text in
the deleted text box is moved back to
the remaining text box thread.
Out PortIn Port
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From the Library of Wow! eBook
. Text
Introduction
In Flash, you can create two types of text: TLF (Text Layout
Framework) or Classic.
TLF
provides advanced text capabili-
ties (New!) for text in Flash. targeted for Flash Player 10 and
ActionScript 3.0 or later, while
Classic
provides the standard
capabilities available in previous versions of Flash.
There