Digital Workshop

Using Pro XE4.5

Using freehand vector tool I create a triangle. In its properties I select the pointing finger cursor.

However, the cursor changes whenever it is over the outline 'box' that always bounds the vector triangle. Nodes clearly define the triangle and I only want the cursor to change when over the actual triangle.

Am I missing something here? - Probably !

John

Check the "Ignore transparent area" option on the General properties tab for the vector object.

Many thanks Duncan.

As I guessed - I missed the obvious.

Edit

Ummm - not sure now.

My vector triangle has no fill or stroke - it's transparent! So, when I set to ignore transparent area the whole object gets ignored!

John

Hi John,

Is your vector a typical vector or Hotspot? If you vector is 100% transparent and your stroke outline is transparent, how do you see the vector?

Have you tried using Duncan's tip, but making the object with a solid fill, but then giving it a transparent setting?

I hope you know what I mean.

EDIT: I have supplied an IMP example showing you what you're hopefully after. (I'm not sure if my 05 IMP will work in 04.5, so if not follow these steps...)

- Draw your vector triangle (you want the no sroke pen outline)
- On the Polygon "Use Background" (any colour will do)
- On the Vector's Properties: tick -> Ignore transparent area
- On the Vector's Effects Tab, use 100% transparency.
- Set up your mouse-over cursor accordingly.

That should now work.

Hi Steve,

Many thanks for response. Moused over the download but cannot get a response.

Am using 4.5XE

The user can explore a page by running the mouse over it and when the mouse turns to a pointing finger they can click and be taken to an associated page. There are a number of places on the page where this can happen and the hotspots/vectors are a variety of shapes.

The hotspots/vectors must be transparent, otherwise they make the picture look as though someone has graffitied it!

This ought be solvable - if I were using a map of Europe, or the States of US and the user had to click to select a country or state, I wouldn't want the vector/hotspots showing.

John

Hi John

Give your polygons a fill and pen

Set the vector (not polygon) properties to Effects >> transparent >> 100%

Enable Ignore transparent area

HTH

Chris

Hi Chris and Steve,

Very many thanks - works a treat

Your help is much appreciated.

John

Hi John,

If you use the "Hotspots" tool, all what you want is done for you. That is the purpose of the Hotspot tool. (you only need to do the mouse-over cursor)

The Hotspot object will also display semi-transparent on the page for you as a visual aid, but previews transparent. The "ignore transparency" is already hardwired in Hotspots. The only thing to bear in mind when creating a Hotspot, is that it has a fill colour selected, otherwise only the pen line is active for mouse-overs. So try the Hotspot tool, instead of the Vector tool.

Thanks Steve,

Tried the hotspots, but just cannot make them work when creating a triangular shape.

There must be some check box I'm not checking, or am checking when I shouldn't! But whatever it is I'm doing wrong, it isn't obvious to me.

However, using vectors and the procedure you and Chris both suggested, I can get exactly the effect I need - the hand cursor shows only over the triangular sector.

John