Setting up the general configuration

From this panel we will select on what the scrolling will be applied on. As well, we'll configure what effects will accompany the scrolling and configure how the scrolling will respond to the mouse wheel.

The first thing we have to do is to select an option from the list for Target Type – to consider if we're going to use the Scroll Area with a movie clip from the stage (select “Stage Item”) or with one from the library (select “Library Item”); this is an useful option in connection with the layout of our file (if we use a clip from the stage, we'll see it behind the Scroll Area component, if we use one from the library, we'll see it only when we preview the file). A very important hint is that when you use Scroll Area with a movie clip from the Library, you need to modify the Linkage of the clip and Export it for ActionScript.

Next we have to give the name of the movie clip to be scrolled (fill-in the Target text field). If we'll apply the Scroll Area to a clip from the library, we have to write its name; in case we apply the clip to an item from the stage we have to write in the Target text field the name of the instance of the clip we want to apply the scrolling to. If we just drag the Scroll Area over an unnamed instance of a movie clip, they will both be automatically given the same name.

A very nice parameter is the ON/OFF option which can add a smoothing effect to the scrolling (Smooth Scrolling). It is good to set it up together with the next one – Smooth Duration. If we want the effect to be more prominent we give a bigger value and vice-versa (I want to remind you that if the frame rate of the file is 35 fps, a duration of 35 will last 1 second).

The Mouse Scroll Step refers to the step of your mouse's scrolling wheel and actually works in connection with the Use Mouse Wheel ON/OFF option. When we check the check-box for Use Mouse Wheel, the Scroll Area becomes sensible to the mouse-wheel's behavior. As well, the scroll step represents the step of the mouse wheel (for example, if we use the mouse wheel by rotating it one step and the scrolling step is set-up to 10, the movie clip will move in the corresponding direction with 10 pixels).

The next setting is as well an ON/OFF option. If we select it, the scrolling will be accompanied by a blurring effect, and if we leave it unselected will add nothing in particular. A specification I would like to make is that the blurring effect is conditioned by the selection of Smooth Scrolling; so, the order is this: first, check ON for Smooth Scrolling and then for Motion Blur. The last parameter represents actually a configuration for the blur effect; by selecting a value from the list, we will increase or decrease the blur prominence (the default value is “high”).