This lesson will show you how to use the mouse.hide action to
create a custom mouse cursor. While I feel this often confuses
the viewer more than enhances his or her experience, there are
times when it might really be a good idea. In any event, this is
a good lesson to go through if for no other reason than you get
another look at using ActionScript.
Step 1: Creating the New Cursor
Create a new Movie Clip
Name it newCursor
Edit the newCursor MC by double clicking it
Create 3 Layers and name
them: Actions, Labels, Cursor
On the Actions Layer, create a Stop
Action at both frames 1 and 10
On the Labels Layer, create a Frame
Label named normal at Frame 1 and a Frame Label named
over at Frame 10
On the Cursor Layer, create Blank
Keyframes (F7) at both Frames 1 and 10
Place a graphic or movie clip on
the Cursor Layer at Frame 1. This will be the Up State
or normal state of the cursor
Place another graphic or movie clip
on Frame 10. This will be the Mouse Over state for the
cursor when someone mouses over a button
Step 2: Set up your stage
elements
Create 3 layers: Actions,
Buttons, Cursor MC.
On the Button Layer, create a new
button
Make sure the Cursor MC you
created earlier is placed on the Cursor MC Layer. Give the MC
an Instance name of newCursor by going to the Instance Panel
and typing in newCursor in the Name field.
Step 3: Add the Mouse.Hide
action for Frame 1 on the Actions Layer
In the Actions Panel, select
Objects>Mouse>Hide
Actions>Start Drag
For Target, specify the
Instance name you gave the Cursor MC
in the previous step: newCursor
Check Lock mouse to center
Step 4: Add the following
button actions
Test your movie by pressing Command-Return/Control-Enter
