Select a Link

The Select a Link dialog box lets you define actor and hotspot event links.

When a user clicks the actor or hotspot, the link performs the defined operation, such as displaying a file, activating a view, or playing an animation.

To display this dialog box, select an actor or hotspot, click in the Event > Link property (Properties pane), and then click the ellipsis [...].

To define a link, select a link type in the URL field, specify an appropriate target for that type, and then click OK.

Note: Only file://, http://, and ftp:// links are valid in vector output. Composer-specific links (such as view:// and play://) are ignored.

Link Type Description
file://

Opens a file. Type the full path to the file or use the file browser.

Tip: Selecting a file from the browser sets URL to file:// automatically.

Note: The Pack linked resource property appears in the Properties pane when you define a file:// link. It specifies whether the linked file is included in the Composer document.
http:// Displays the specified Web page in a browser.
ftp://

Displays the specified FTP location in a browser.

view:// Activates the specified Composer view.

Tip: You can also create a view:// link by Ctrl+dragging a view from the Views pane onto an actor. To create a 2D panel linked to a view, Ctrl+drag a view into empty viewport background.

next:// In animation mode, plays the animation from the current time to the next marker. In view mode, activates the next view. Because the link definition is relative (does not name a specific marker or view), you do not have to modify the link when you add or remove markers or views. Use next:// to step through all your markers or views. To include the entire animation, define markers at the beginning and end of your animation.

Tip: Author > Panels > Image 2D >Next Button creates a 2D panel configured as a "next" button.
previous:// In animation mode, moves the animation timebar to the previous marker. In view mode, activates the previous view. Because the link definition is relative (does not name a specific marker or view), you do not have to modify the link when you add or remove markers or views. Use previous:// to step through all your markers or views in reverse order. To include the entire animation, define markers at the beginning and end of your animation.

Tip: Author > Panels > Image 2D > PreviousButton creates a 2D panel configured as a "previous" button.

first:// In animation mode, moves the animation timebar to the first marker. In view mode, activates the first view. Because the link definition is relative (does not name a specific view or marker), you do not have to modify the link when you add or remove markers or views.

Tip: Author > Panels > Image 2D > FirstButton creates a 2D panel configured as a "first" button.

last:// In animation mode, plays the animation from the current time to the last marker. In view mode, activates the last view. Because the link definition is relative (does not name a specific view or marker), you do not have to modify the link when you add or remove markers or views.

Tip: Author > Panels > Image 2D > LastButton creates a 2D panel configured as a "last" button.

marker:// Moves the animation timebar to the specified marker.
play:// Plays the animation from the current time (select [Current position]) or specified marker to the end of the animation.
playmarkersequence:// Plays the animation from the current time (select [Current position]) or specified marker to the next marker.