Controls

The main animation is basically complete (you can continue to work on your movie after the tutorial - suggestions are provided in the Extra Credit section). We now need to add some controls to the movie.

First, we'll add a Stop action to the last frame so the movie doesn't loop.

Create a new layer and name it Actions. In this layer, select frame 35. Select Insert | Keyframe from the menu. Open the Actions panel, and double-click Stop. Test the movie to make sure it plays once and then stops.

Since we want users to be able to start the movie rather than having it start automatically, we also need to add a Stop action to the beginning of the movie, and a button with a Play action.

To add the Stop action to the beginning of the movie, select frame 1 of the Actions layer, and in the Actions panel double-click Stop. If you test the movie now, it won't play at all.

To add the watering can as a start button, create a new layer by clicking the New Layer icon. Note: If you had the last petal layer highlighted, the new layer will be inside your petals folder - drag it out and to the top of the layer list.

Double-click to rename this layer watering can.

Referring to the original timeline, the watering can is on the stage at the beginning of the movie, and then disappears at frame 3.

Select the first frame in the watering can layer, and drag a copy of the watering can button from the library. Position it on the stage somewhere above and to the left of the flowerpot.

Select frame 3, hold the shift key and select frame 35 in the watering can layer. The block of frames between 3 and 35 should be highlighted in black. Select Insert | Remove Frames from the menu. The watering can now appears in the movie only for the first three frames.

Select the first frame and click on the watering can on the stage.

In the Actions panel, double-click on Play. Note that the Actions panel title bar should read Actions - Button. If it says Actions - Frame, click on the watering can again.

and play like this: