Skipping and Stepping Actions

Skipping and stepping actions effects the order in which actions on the action list are performed. Actions can be skipped and stepped by double-clicking cells in the Skip and Step columns in the action list. If you do so, you will see 'Skip' or 'Step' appear in the cell for that action. Double-click the cell again to remove the skip or step command.

Skipping an action simply means ignoring that action and moving on to the next action in the list.

Using the step command causes the actions on the action list to be performed step-by-step. Usually actions are performed one by one, in order of the action list, starting from action number 1. However, if a list starts with a step action, the actions will be performed until the list comes to another action designated as a step action, where it will stop. The rest of the action list will not be performed until the actions of that object are called to perform again, where the actions will be performed from where the action list left off previously. This is useful when setting an object to perform different actions every time it is clicked.

Creating IF action blocks

IF action blocks are used to perform a series of actions if a single condition is true. You create IF action blocks by double-clicking a cell in the IF column in the actions list. To start an IF action block, double-click the IF cell for an action that has a condition. In the dialog box which appears, click IF(start of action block) and click OK. To end the action block, double-click the IF cell for an action lower on the action list. In the dialog box, click ENDIF(end of action block). Now, if the condition is true, all of the actions between (and including) the IF action and the ENDIF action will be performed. In addition, you can create ELSE and ELSEIF blocks.

The following options appear in the IF action block settings dialog box:

1. Not used: Clears the IF action block. Makes the action a regular action.
2. IF(start of action block): Designates the action as the start of a block of actions that will be performed if the condition for that action is true.
3. ESLE IF: Designates the action as the start of a block of actions that will be performed if the condition for the starting IF action block is not true and the condition for the current action is true.
4. ELSE: Designates the action as the start of a block of actions that will be performed if the condition for the starting IF action block is not true.
5. END IF(end of action block): Designates the action as the last action to be performed in the action block. Subsequent actions will be performed normally.

Setting the action time

The action time is the event that must occur for an object to begin peforming the actions that have been assigned to it. The action time can be set by selecting an item from one of the drop-down boxes in the Actions Tab of the Object Properties window. When the action time occurs, the object begins performing the actions on its action list in the order that you have set. There are several different events that you can specify as the action time.

In the Click drop-down box

1. Button Press: The action is performed when the left mouse button is pressed over the object.
2. Button Release: The action is performed when the left mouse button that had been pressed over the object is released.

In the Focus drop-down box

1. Cursor In: The action is performed when the mouse cursor is placed over the object (focused).
2. Cursor Out: The action is performed when the mouse cursor is placed over and then moved away from the object (lose focus).

In the Current Object drop-down box

1. Before Show: The action is performed just before the current object is displayed.
2. After Show: The action is performed just after the current object is displayed.
3. Before Hide: The action is performed just before the current object is hidden.
4. After Hide: The action is performed just after the current object is hidden.