TechNote (Archived)

Changing the text attributes of the Flash Help Panel

Introduction

This TechNote describes how to adjust the text display attributes in the Help Panel, and specifically describes how to change (increase or decrease) the font size.

Solution

Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac OS X users can adjust font display by editing the Help Panels's Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) file with a text editor.

Locate the Help CSS file

The Help CSS file is in different locations depending upon the operating system and application version. The locations given below assume the default installation location:

• Flash 8
  • Windows: Program Files\ Macromedia\ Flash 8\<language>\ First Run\ HelpPanel\ _sharedassets\ help_pc.css
  • Mac OS X: Users: Shared: Application Support: Macromedia: Flash 8: <Language>: Configuration: HelpPanel: _sharedassets: help_mac.css
• Flash MX 2004
  • Windows: Program Files\ Macromedia\ Flash MX 2004\ <language>\ First Run\ HelpPanel\ _sharedassets\ help_pc.css
  • Mac OS X: Applications: Macromedia: Flash MX 2004: First Run: HelpPanel: _sharedassets: help_mac.css

Edit the Help CSS file

The instructions below show how to change the font size, since this is a common request, but the procedure can be used for other cosmetic changes.

1. Quit Flash, and make a backup of the appropriate help_xxx.css file.
2. Open the CSS file with a text editor.
3. Locate the body rule at the top of the file.
4. Within the body rule edit the value of thefont-size property. The default value is.7em and suitable values range up to1em.
5. Save the help_xxx.css file and relaunch Flash8 for the changes to take effect.

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