There are three essential steps required to change the cursor image in Flash:
Create a new cursor-image.
Hide the default cursor-image.
Drag the new cursor-image.
IMPLEMENTATION
Step 1: Creating a new cursor image.
A cursor in Flash is essentially a MovieClip.
Create it as you would in creating a movie clip. Start by inserting a New Symbol.
Name the symbol. For this example, I name
it CustomCursor.
Draw the desired shape. Here are some things to
consider:
The size of the shape should not be too
large (the default Windows cursor is about 25 by 25 pixels, but some
as large as 32 by 32 pixels). A custom one should be about 25 to 32
pixels range.
If the cursor is to be used to point at
buttons that are small or positioned close to each
other, the shape should have a clear tip, otherwise it will be hard to tell where the
cursor is pointing to.
When drawing the shape, the shape should be positioned such that the
tip is located at the cross-hair. Whatever is at the cross-hair will be the
hotspot of the cursor. (You can use the Info window
to be precise.)
Here's an example:
Step 2: Hiding the default cursor-image.
Simply use the following action:
Mouse.hide();
To make the icon disappear when the movie starts, put this action on
the first frame of Scene 1 timeline.
In case you need to make the cursor re-appear, use this following
action:
Mouse.show();
For more info on this subject, consult the Flash 5 User Guide »
ActionScript Dictionary » Max - Mov Mouse(object) section.
Step 3: Drag the new cursor-image.
Add the following code to the first frame of
CustomCursor MovieClip symbol.
startDrag("", true); // true indicates the movie clip will be
// centered when being dragged,
// putting "this" instead of "" will
// also work
This dragging action will cause the cursor
cursor to
follow the "hidden" default cursor pointer, essentially replacing
it. Insert an instance of the CustomCursor onto the
stage.
Test it.
Note: The Flash 5 manual (page 80-81) has a slightly different way to
do this, but it will work as well.
CHANGING TO MULTIPLE CURSORS
Here's another example where user can change the cursor by clicking one
of the buttons.