Within a single layer, text boxes, grouped objects and drawing-objects stack as if they were sitting on sublayers above any ungrouped merge-shapes. Stacking order exists even if objects don't literally lie on top of one another. If you have a group on one side of the Stage and a drawing-object on the other, you can't see which one stacks higher than the other; but if you drag the objects so they overlap, the order becomes apparent. (Symbols, which you'll learn about in Chapter 7, are another type of graphic-object that stacks on top of ungrouped merge-shapes.) Understanding Stacking Order Merge-shapes on a single layer always stay on the same layer, segmenting one another whenever they inhabit the same space on the Stage. All graphic-objects (drawing-objects, groups, and symbols) stack on top of one another. By default, Flash stacks each new graphic-object that you create on top of the preceding one; the last graphic-object created winds up on top of all the others (Figure 5.19). A higher-level graphic-object obscures any graphic-object that lies directly beneath it. Figure 5.19. This schematic shows Flash's default stacking order for graphic-objects. The most recently created graphic-object is on top. Merge-shapes are always on the bottom. |
You can change the stacking order of graphic-objects via the Modify > Arrange menu. You can move objects up or down in the stacking order one level at a time, or you can send an object to the front or bottom of the stack of sublayers. To change position in the stack by one level 1. | On the Stage, create at least three graphic-objects. Use any combination of grouped shapes or drawing-objects. | 2. | Select one of the graphic-objects. | 3. | From the Modify > Arrange menu, choose either of the following: To move the selected item up one level, choose Bring Forward, or press -up arrow (Mac) or Ctrl-up arrow (Windows). To move the selected item down one level, choose Send Backward, or press -down arrow (Mac) or Ctrl-down arrow (Windows). Flash moves the selected item up (or down) one sublayer in the stacking order (Figure 5.20). Figure 5.20. Each dumbbell here is a separate group (top). Choose Modify > Arrange > Bring Forward (middle) to move a selected group up one level in the stacking order (bottom). | To move an element to the top or bottom of the stack 1. | On the Stage, select one of the graphic-objects you created in the previous task. | 2. | From the Modify > Arrange menu, choose either of the following: To bring the item to the top of the stack, choose Bring to Front, or press Option-Shift-up arrow (Mac) or Ctrl-Shift-up arrow (Windows). To move the item to the bottom of the stack, choose Send to Back, or press Option-Shift-down arrow (Mac) or Ctrl-Shift-down arrow (Windows). Flash places the selected item at the top (or bottom) of the heap. | |