Re: Leaving XWD Because of Immense Frustration
Certainly, if errors are found in the proceedure above, let me know and I'm sure they can be corrected.
Good luck all. :)
Re: Leaving XWD Because of Immense Frustration
Curtis you have gone to a lot of effort in the above three posts.
May I suggest that you create a single PDF for members to download (via a link in your signature)?
Re: Leaving XWD Because of Immense Frustration
Good idea, Steve. Until I do the PDF file, I'll put a link in my signature to the opening post of the tutorial. :)
Re: Leaving XWD Because of Immense Frustration
Maybe it is just as easy, could you add just 1 move level to one of the 2nd tiers, to make it three?
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Re: Leaving XWD Because of Immense Frustration
Things get just a little bit more complicated when a third level is added. To illustrate how this is done however, I have added a 3rd level to just one of the 2nd tier buttons (4c). Horizontally, I kept it in line with button 5, for asthetics. You'll note that there is no interruption in flow as you move your mouse cursor from button 4c to 4c¹. This is because I've added a 99% transparent rectangle between the two.
This is how it's done:- Create a new layer called btn4c and position it at the top of the [b]Layer Gallery[/url].
- Create its complementary rollover layer called mouseOver_btn4c, making sure that is stacked immediately on top of btn4c.
- Create the first button on this 3rd tier fly-out menu by marquee-selecting around button 4d ... making sure that its two layers (btn4 and mouseOver_btn4) are both visible and selectable. The status line should read "2 groups on 2 layers" (provided you haven't yet re-soft-grouped your buttons yet). Create a clone (Ctrl+K).
- Position the button's two groups by tapping holding down the Ctrl key, then tapping the right arrow key 11 times (55 pixels).
- Change the text for both groups (on 2 layers) to "4c¹" (or whatever you want).
- Marquee-select both groups and Arrange > Apply Soft Group.
- Duplicate the new button and attach the copy to the bottom and in line with the first button. Change it's text to "4c²" (or whatever you like). Remember that at this point your buttons are soft-grouped. This requires that you only change one of the two text elements, and the other will be changed automatically.
- Create a third button by repeating the same steps.
- Once your three buttons are created, do an Arrange > Remove Soft Group. This makes it much easier to move the groups to their new layers.
Move the gouped objects to their new layers
- Make mouseOver_btn4c selectable/visible.
Make all other layers locked/invisible. - Select the three colored buttons (4c¹ 4c² and 4c³). The status line should read, "3 groups on layer mouseOver_btn4".
- Select the mouseOver_btn4c layer in the Layer Gallery, then hit the Move button at the top of the gallery.
- Make btn4 selectable/visible.
Make all other layers locked/invisible. - Select the three black buttons (4c¹ 4c² and 4c³). The status line should read, "3 groups on layer btn4".
- Select the btn4c layer in the Layer Gallery, then hit the Move button at the top of the gallery.
- Make mouseOver_btn4 selectable/visible.
Make that all other layers locked/invisible. - Select colored button 4c. the status line should read, "1 group on layer mouseOver_btn4".
- Select the btn4c layer in the Layer Gallery, then hit the Move button at the top of the gallery.
Assign a popup trigger - Make btn4 selectable/visible.
Make that all other layers locked/invisible. - Select black button 4c, and apply popup trigger:
Web Properties > Mouse-over (tab) > Show popup layer [ btn4c ].
And lastly ... - Add the 99% transparent bridging rectangle on btn4c and position it between buttons 4c and 4c¹.
I don't think I left anything out. If I did, please advise. Thanks. :)
Re: Leaving XWD Because of Immense Frustration
I would basically take two things from this:
1) Do you really need such cumbersome menus in the first place? They are pretty much out of fashion for web navigation.
2) If you do, then perhaps XWD 1.0 isn't the right tool for the job.
[This isn't a criticism of Curtis, or the tutorial]
Re: Leaving XWD Because of Immense Frustration
I would agree with Paul.
Why the need for such a complex drop menu? I use an Index page like in a book with any number of buttons to select links to other pages and articles.
The above comment is in no way meant to detract from the tute by Curtis. I want to compliment Curtis on his work and effort put into the tutorial.
Great job!
Rupert