Changing the Cursor

The aim of the tutorial is to learn how to change the standard arrow cursor to one of your own.

First you need a picture that will replace the cursor.

1. Go to Insert > New Symbol
2. In the dialogue box give your symbol a name
3. Select Movie Clip as the behavior.
4. Click OK.
5. You must now create some sort of image that will replace the cursor. There are many ways of doing this in flash, the simplest being to draw one with the paint brush. But you could insert a Jpeg/Gif. Alternatively you could copy and paste a drawing from another program such as Illustrator or Freehand or copy and paste some clip art from Word. However you do it, you must create a picture inside your new symbol.
   
   Important Note: The picture or drawing that you create must be in the centre of the Symbol. If it is not in the centre it will not align correctly. The 'click' point of your new cursor will be the cross hair in the centre of the symbol.
   
   
   

   Note that the cross hair is at the point you would want to click with.
   
   
6. When this is done return to the main stage by clicking on the Scene 1 Tab . You will return to the main stage, which should be empty.
7. Click on Window > Library. Your symbol should be in the library.
8. Drag your symbol onto the main stage. The position of the symbol does not matter.

Step Two: Assigning an action to the symbol

1. Right click (Mac - control click) on the instance of the symbol on stage and select Actions.
2. Select Normal Mode from the View Options button .
3. Click on the Plus button .
4. Select: Actions > Movie Clip Control > onClipEvent.
5. In the options above select Enter Frame.
6. Click on the Plus button .
7. Select: Actions > Movie Clip Control > Start Drag.
8. In the options go to target and type: this
9. In the options select the target as an Expression.
10. In the options select Lock mouse to centre.
    
    
    

    Your script and options should look like this.

Step three: Hiding the cursor

1. Right click on frame 1 and select Actions (ie: if the Actions box is closed - if the Actions box is open just click on frame 1 to select it).
2. Click on the Plus button .
3. Select: Objects > Movie > Mouse> Methods > hide.
   Your script should look like this:
   
   

   Mouse.hide();

It's that simple, you are now done so save and test your movie.