New Component: Menu_tickertape
(4 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)
Loading ...I am sure you have all seen those ticker tape, marquee or news ticker type displays. They’re a convenient way to display multiple headlines in a small space. The animation associated with them also increases user interest and often holds the user at the site until the display has completed at least one cycle. We have made the creation of this type of display easy with the introduction of the new Menu_tickertape component.
This component will work with SWiSH Max3 and miniMax3 with build dates of 20091130 or later, and although the component is not included with the 20091130 build’s installer, it can be download here.
After downloading it, extract both files within the zip file to:
C:\Program Files\SWiSH Max3\Components\Menu
Note that the exact location may be different depending on where you installed Max3.
The component will also be included with future versions of Max3 and miniMax3 within the Menu component group.
To use the component, drag it onto the stage (it requires an export setting of Flash 10 or later) and then use the Parameters panel to adjust the settings.
The meaning of the different parameters are described in detail in the component help webpage, but initially you can get started by adjusting the Text parameter so that it contains your chosen text.
The previous example uses the following value for the Text parameter:
<b>Menu_tickertape</b> component|http://www.swishzone.com/manuals/maxcomponents/index.html?p=menu_tickertape.htm|_blank <font color="#FF0000">from SWiSHzone.com</font>|http://www.swishzone.com|_blank <i>forums</i>|http://forums.swishzone.com|_blank <u>my.swishzone.com</u>|https://my.swishzone.com|_blank Google|http://www.google.com.au/search?q=swishzone|_blank YouTube|http://www.youtube.com/user/SWiSHzoneDOTcom|_blank
Note that each line of the text defines a single item. Each line is broken into 3 sections with the ‘|’ character, which is the default separation character.
The first section defines the name that is displayed by the component. It can include html tags such as <b>bold</b>, <i>italic</i>, <u>underline</u> as well as font tags such as <font color=”#rrggbb”>color</font> to set color, font and font size. If html tags are not used then the font defaults to the settings set by the Text Properties parameter.
The second optional section defines the associated URL. If this is defined and the Action parameter (Events group) is set to Goto URL, then the referenced URL will be opened after a mouse click. If the Action parameter is set to Goto Label or Event Function then the associated URL will be used as the label name (Goto Label) or value parameter for the events function.
The third optional section is only used when the Action parameter is set to Goto URL. It defines the location where the URL is to be opened. Typically _blank (new window) or _self (current window) would be used.
The information stored in the Text parameter can also be read dynamically from a text file. In this case, the text file should contain txt= on the first line.
For example, the above configuration if written to a text file would be:
txt=<b>Menu_tickertape</b> component|http://www.swishzone.com/manuals/maxcomponents/index.html?p=menu_tickertape.htm|_blank <font color="#FF0000">from SWiSHzone.com</font>|http://www.swishzone.com|_blank <i>forums</i>|http://forums.swishzone.com|_blank <u>my.swishzone.com</u>|https://my.swishzone.com|_blank Google|http://www.google.com.au/search?q=swishzone|_blank YouTube|http://www.youtube.com/user/SWiSHzoneDOTcom|_blank
When using a text file, you need to set the options in the Read from external file parameter group.
When playing, the component has no background color so it can be placed over images or shapes.
I hope you find this component useful.
Tags: marquee, news display, ticker
Hi
Hi
I downloaded it and installed it. Parameters work fine. I’m still trying out how to resize the 5-pointed star (or any graphic) within the parameters. I want the rotating star to be smaller. (I assume I can use any image I want, or is the star built in ????)
THanks
Rowby
Hi,
Expand the Tickertape component in the outline panel.
Then expand the movie clip divider.
The divider movie clip contains the star. From there you can alter the star properties or insert a different shape if you wish.
Jon
Ah,
I went to the component help page (as indicated in the above blog) and the instructions for modifying the Star image are clearly explained.
Works real nice!
Rowby
ah, I should have read this one first….
Glad it is all working.
[...] swishzone.com, Orignal in English . The Polish translation by [...]
That’s a nice, smooth tickertape component. Unfortunately, I’m unable to use it at the moment.
I have SWiSH Max3 (2009.09.04). When I click on ‘Updates’ it takes me to the SWisH Max3 website which states:
“There have been no updates released for SWiSH Max3 (ENU).”
If I go to the Download page it states SWiSH Max3 is on 2009.11.30 build.
Can I download 2009.11.30 and use it with my licence or will it fail?
Why does the Update web page state 2009.09.04 build is the most up to date? i’m guessing the ENU has something to do with it but no idea what that means.
Tad
Hi, Thanks for pointing that out. We will update our main website. In the meantime, just download and installer the 20091130 version which is available from our website. Jon
Thanks Jon,
If I may use this opportunity to say how grateful I am for the frequent blogs and advice/component development. It helps me re-think my website design and constantly improve (my opinion) my output. It also challenges me to delve ever deeper into scripting to produce more efficient coding. Great product. Great support.
Tad
Wow, regards a bunch m8
uhm yeah i can digg it
I found your post looking on google for just this information. I’m going to add you to favorites, I got alot from some of your other posts as well. Thanks!
ohh excellent information thank you admin Sesli chat
Generally subject for iPAD. Is anything ever going to get done to resolve the fact that all these new hardware platforms are not allowing flash to run? I use Swish to build flash banners and slideshows etc. for my client websites since I have found Swish to be easier to use than Adobe’s flash. BUT when trying to view these sites using an iPAD none of the flash works because Apple will not allow flash to run on their devices.
Anyone out there heard anything encouraging about a fix for this…with millions of iPAD users and iphone users it is a big problem.
Changes will only occur when the typical iPad buyer demands that their new product support flash. Unfortunately most iPad users are so excited by the glossy finish, that they don’t really care if the product is not capable of running flash (or multi tasking for that matter.) I suspect that the omission of flash is part of a conspiracy to keep people locked into the apple istore. If a general flash player was provided, then people could simply download .swf applications and thereby bypass the store.
I have to agree that apple has gotten them selves into a war over this. I think with flash having been around along time the ipad folks need to get all over apple and make them fix this problem. Flash is not going away…but maybe the ipad will after the glossy look fades.