ptg 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 creat e a new tex t bo x fo r the overflow text, click a blank area or drag to create a text box. To use an exi sting te xt b ox , cl ic k in an existing text box. Overflow text from the first text box threads to the second text box. 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 ? 5 3 4 From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg 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 creat e a new tex t fr am e fo r th e overflow text, click a blank area or drag to create a text box. To use an exi sting te xt b ox , cl ic k in an existing text box. 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 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 2 3 3 2 4 From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg 168 Chapter 5 Flash includes a number of text properties to choose from. These include a font type, style, size, and color. You can set these attributes before you create a text box or alter them on existing text. To make changes to the entire text box, select it with the Selection tool without entering the box (or making it active). If you only want to change a por- tion of the box, enter the text box and select only those characters or words you want to change. Attributes such as font type, style, size, and color as well as more advanced text properties can be easily accessed in the Property Inspector. When the Text tool or any text box is selected, the Property Inspector displays all of the available attributes. Changing Font Type, Style, Size, and Color Change the Font Type, Style, and Size Select the text box you want to change with the Selection tool or select text within the text box with the Text tool. Click the Family list arrow in the Property Inspector, and then select a font name. The Family menu displays the font name and sample text for each font style to make it easier to decide what font you want to use. Click the Style list arrow in the Property Inspector, and then select a font style: Regular, Italic, Bold, or Bold Italic. Click the current point value in the Property Inspector, and then enter another point value in the Size entry box. Click any of the following format buttons in the Property Inspector: ◆ Subscript or Superscript. ◆ Underline (TLF). (New!) ◆ Strikethrough (TLF). (New!) 5 4 3 2 1 The Property Inspector displays text attributes whenever any text box is selected on the Stage. 1 4 3 2 5 From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg Chapter 5 Working with Text 169 Change the Font or Highlight Color Select the text box you want to change with the Selection tool, or select text within the text box with the Text tool. Click the Color box in the Property Inspector, and then select a fill color or click the Color Wheel icon to create or select a custom color. Click the Highlight box (TLF) (New!) in the Property Inspector, and then select a fill color or click the Color Wheel icon to create or select a custom color. 3 2 1 1 2 See Also See “Setting Text Preferences” on page 62 for information on setting options for showing font previews on font menus. Did You Know? You can change the text color in any of the color palettes. Change the fill color of any selected text box by click- ing on any of the color palettes. They are located in the Tools panel, the Color Mixer panel, and the Color Swatches panel. You can change the font type, size, and style in the Text menu. Click the Text menu, point to Font, Size, or Style, and then select an option. You can quickly select all text in a text box. If you are inside an active text box, press A+A (Mac) or Ctrl+A (Win) to select all of the text. 3 From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg 170 Chapter 5 Sometimes the space between text characters can appear awkward or where increasing the space is a creative solution. Flash provides meth- ods for adjusting these spaces, called kerning and tracking. Tracking is the space between characters and words on a single line and adjusting tracking affects the entire line. Kerning deals with the space between any two characters and adjusting it will only affect that space. Many Fonts contain built-in information about problematic character pairs. Flash makes use of this information when you turn on Auto Kern in the Property Inspector. Modifying Tracking and Kerning Adjust Tracking Select the text in a text box you want to track or you can select the text box with the Selection tool. Click the Text menu, point to Letter Spacing, and then click Increase or Decrease. The Tracking increases or decreases in 0.5-point (Classic) or 10 in 1000ths of an em (TLF) increments. TIMESAVER You can adjust tracking in the Property Inspector with the Letter Spacing (Classic) or Tracking (TLF) (New!) entry box or slider. 2 1 1 Increased tracking Decreased tracking Letter Spacing Entry Did You Know? You can quickly adjust kerning or tracking using the keyboard. Select the text or text box (to track) or place the cursor between two characters, and then press Option+A+right arrow (Mac) or Ctrl+Alt+right arrow (Win) to increase the space or Option+A+left arrow (Mac) or Ctrl+Alt+left arrow (Win) to decrease the space. Holding down the Shift key with this keyboard shortcut adjusts the space in larger increments. From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg Chapter 5 Working with Text 171 Adjust Kerning Enter a text box on the Stage by double-clicking on it. Place the cursor between the two characters you want to kern. Click the Text menu, point to Letter Spacing, and then click Increase or Decrease. Set Auto Kerning Select the text box you want to change with the Selection tool. Select the Auto Kern check box (Classic) in the Property Inspector or click the Kerning list arrow (TLF), and then click Auto (New!). Auto kern is enabled for that text box. 2 1 3 2 1 2 The Kerning increases or decreases in 0.5-point increments. Auto Kerning can correct problematic character combinations. 1 2 Classic text 2 TLF text From the Library of Wow! eBook . color. 3 2 1 1 2 See Also See “Setting Text Preferences” on page 62 for information on setting options for showing font previews on font menus. Did You Know? You can change the text color in. and adjusting it will only affect that space. Many Fonts contain built-in information about problematic character pairs. Flash makes use of this information when you turn on Auto Kern in the. select it with the Selection tool without entering the box (or making it active). If you only want to change a por- tion of the box, enter the text box and select only those characters or words