Forum Discussion
Selecting objects on the stage that are stacked on top of each other inside button states
When editing a complex button with multiple objects in a given state, what is the easiest way to select a layer object that is immediately under the current layer, so that I can nudge the objects position using the cursor keys, or format the object by right-clicking it?
Say I was editing the Visited state of a button.
I have a 30px circle at 0,0 (relative to the button origin) with a fill, and on top of that I have a 50px square at (-10,-10) with a border. I want to change the fill colour. How do I easily select the circle? If I select a shape and press Tab to switch through the objects until my circle is selected, then right-click to bring up the context menu, the object in front (square) is selected and it brings up the properties on that instead.
I am using Storyline x64 3.83.31444.0
I am guessing that you can technically see the different layers, otherwise there would be no point to having them. However, it sounds like the visible area of some layers is very small. Therefore, you are trying to right-click on a layer below, but Storyline thinks you want the top layer and selects that.
Using the Zoom feature and zooming way in may allow you to right-click on the actual layer you want in the small area where it is visible, separate and apart from the other layers.
That may not be as efficient as you were hoping for, but maybe it will work.
Kendal Rasnake
I often work with objects that are stacked exactly on top of each other. If one layer completely covers a lower one, it's hard to select. When you're on the stage, you can hit tab to cycle the objects. But when you are working in the state of a button, hitting tab doesn't cycle the object selection, and right-clicking first selects the top-most layer then applies the context menu to that. I can sometimes do the 'send to back' shuffle (depending on the complexity of the layers). In Illustrator I can hold a key (control) and click multiple times to cycle the selection to other objects underneath. There doesn't seem to be an equivalent.
Somewhat inconvenient, but when I have complicated states that need editing I often cut them from the state, paste them on the main slide, edit them (using the timeline, triggers, and normal controls), and then cut them and paste them back into the state.
While this does not apply directly in button states, it is often part of the solution I find.
I'm not sure if this meets your needs but I often use the 'Timeline' for these situations. It's easy to make the various items visible/hidden 1-by-1 until you get the one you want. Once selected in the timeline it will also be selected on the stage. It also makes changes to the layering very easy, just drag and drop the titles into the desired order. Tip: If needing to multi-select items (e.g. for grouping) make sure you select the area in the timeline on the left where the hide/lock boxes are, use ctrl+click (multi-select wont work if you ctrl+click on the title or anywhere right of the hide/lock boxes).
