Tips for working with icons

Here are tips for working with icons more efficiently.

Naming icons Give each icon in the flowline a meaningful name. If you're working in a team, this makes the logic much clearer for others looking at the piece. As a piece grows in complexity, or when you need to modify the flowline, icon names that describe the modules or the actual icons are invaluable.

Selecting more than one icon You can drag a selection rectangle around several icons on the flowline to select them. The Cut or Copy command will then apply to all the selected icons. You can also apply the Group command to several selected icons to place them all in a single map icon.

Rearranging icons You can rearrange icons by dragging them. When cutting and pasting icons, Authorware inserts them at the Paste Hand.

Embedding and linking content You can embed or link content directly to the flowline by using the File > Import command. Authorware looks at the file type and automatically places the correct type of icon (sound, display, or digital movie) at the Paste Hand. The Link to File option is available from the Import dialog box. Linking to a file stores the file separately from the Authorware file. For more information on linking files, see Working with Content.

Using the drag-and-drop feature You can use the drag-and-drop feature to quickly import content into your piece. For example, you can drag files (movies, sound, images, and text) from the Windows Explorer onto the flowline. You can also drag images and text directly onto a display icon. Press the Shift key as you drag to link content, rather than embed it.

You can drag several files onto an interaction icon, making each file the result of a response. Or drag several files to a framework icon so each becomes a page. If you drag files to a decision icon, each becomes a path. If you drag files to the flowline, they're arranged one after another. Authorware automatically inserts the appropriate icon for each type of file in the flowline.

Using the Property inspector to edit icon properties Each icon has attributes and options associated with it, which together are known as the icon's properties. You can modify icon properties using the Property inspector. The options available in the Property inspector depend on the type of icon. For example, the display icon's properties include name, size, layout, transition, and layer. See Modifying icon properties.

Image properties The display icon can contain more than one image. Each imported or linked image has its own Properties dialog box with options for transparency, foreground and background colors, positioning, scaling, and cropping. Select an image and then select Modify > Image Properties to view the Properties dialog box for the selected image.

Grouping icons You can group several related icons on a flowline into a map. This helps organize your information and makes it easier to find. See Grouping and moving icons.

Coloring icons You can use a color-coding scheme for icons on the flowline or in the library simply by selecting the icon and then selecting a color from the Color palette. See Coloring icons.

Media synchronization You can place icons to the right of sound or movie icons, in much the same way you set up decision icons. The icons placed to the right of another icon are called child icons. In addition, you can set those child icons to trigger based on the media position or number of seconds from when the media starts playing. See Media synchronization.

Customizing icons If the icons on the Icon palette are not set up with the options you most commonly use, you can create your own customized icons and drag them back to the Icon palette. These icons become the default when you select an icon from the Icon palette. See Customizing icons.

Tips for working with icons

See also