You can create a horizontal or vertical list of scrolling items from data in an external data source. Database queries are especially useful with list objects, because they can easily accommodate the creation of a variable number of symbols in list form.
Insert List creates a nonscrolling list.
Insert Scrolling List creates a list of items that can be scrolled. To scroll the list, you must specify an instance name and provide buttons for scrolling. The scrolling list is created inside a movie clip with enough frames to scroll to the end of the list.
In this example, Generator refreshes the scrolling list with the latest weather conditions:
Insert Ticker creates a scrolling list that scrolls in a continuous loop. The ticker is created inside a movie clip with enough frames to show a complete cycle of the ticker.
Lists, scrolling lists, and tickers have the following properties in the Generator inspector:
Data Source specifies the data source for the list. The only required column for a list is Clip. Use it to name the symbol that you want to insert in the list. The list will contain as many items as rows in the database. You can specify a single symbol multiple times or use a variety of symbols.
Orientation specifies whether the list is laid out horizontally or vertically.
Mask to Box masks the contents of the list by the template command box when this option is set to True.
Step size specifies the number of pixels that the list should scroll in a single frame. The motion will appear smoothest to the human eye at one pixel per frame. This is for scrolling lists and tickers only.
Spacing is either Fixed or Auto. Fixed creates a list in which each item will take the same amount of space as specified in the Item Space option. Auto creates a list in which each item will use just as much space as it needs. The width or height of each item is added to the Item Space option.
Item Space specifies the number of pixels between items in the list if Spacing is set to Fixed.
Horizontal and Vertical Alignment specify how the list elements should be aligned. Items are aligned by the center point of the symbols that define them. Design the symbols based on the alignment to be used. For example, when you use left top alignment, the center point should be at the left top of the symbol. When you use center bottom alignment, the alignment point should be at the center bottom of the symbol.
Instance Name identifies the instance of the object so that it can be used with actions such as Tell Target and Set Property. See Using variables as parameters for Flash actions for more information on using this parameter.