Button Problems

Question

While creating a button for use in a navigation bar, if I
apply a style to the button, I get strange behaviour that I can't
figure out. And it doesn't happen if I do not apply a style to the
button.
1) Create a new FW document - size 955px x 28px
2) Using rectangle tool, create rectangle and through
properties adjust size to 119px x 28px - set both x and y to 0
3) Hit F8, convert to symbol, name it btn_test and make it a
type button
4) Using pointer tool, double-click to bring up the button
editor
5) Change style to the second style in the palette... (or any
style it seems)
6) You don't need to do anything more to see the "problem"
7) Click done
Back in the document, the button appears (in green) at the
left of the canvas, but a lighter shade of green extends to the
right (more than the width of another button) and there is a blue
vertical line at the end of the green.
What is this, why does it happen, and what am I doing wrong?
If I don't apply any style to the button, but leave it as a
colored rectangle, this does not happen.
Thanks for any help.
(I'm really struggling with this program - it's a 30-day
trial version - and I'm frustrated with the lack of books and the
fact that the help file has so little illustration... mostly text -
it makes it very hard for a newbie with the program to figure
things out.)

Answer 1

EldorG wrote:
> My 30-day trial of FW is almost over, and right now I'm
leaning towards not
> making the purchase...
>
> My main use of this would be to make navigation buttons,
and it's frustrating
> that what I think should be very simple doesn't appear
to work. And my request
> for help on this has also gone unanswered.
>
> Is this only a user-to-user support area or does anyone
from Adobe
> monitor/contribute?
>
>
This is primarily a user to user forum. If you want Adobe
support,
you're better off using the support options on the adobe web
site.
If you're only planning to make buttons in FW, then I agree,
don't spend
the money. There's probably some freeware or shareware app
out there
that can do that at a much more affordable price.
If you're planning to use it as a design tool for mocking up
web pages
and making design prototypes quickly and easily, export
editable files
to Flash, work more easily with both vectors and bitmaps,
spend the
money. Fireworks integrates well with DW, FL, PS and Bridge
and handles
incoming files from AI CS3 in a pretty decent manner. It can
become a
very useful part of your workflow and creative process.
As for your problem, any style you apply to an object is made
up of
multiple Live filters. Chances are you are choosing a style
that makes
use of (in however a subtle fashion) drop shadows, glows or
Photoshop
Layer Styles. This forces the active area (slice)to extend
beyond the
size/shape of the button, in order to avoid clipping a style
effect on
export.
Apply the style and then experiment with the Live filters
used to create
the style to see if you can reduce the size of the slice.
For additional support and tutorials, you can check out the
Adobe web
site, fireworkszone.com, communitymx.com, projectseven.com
and
fireworksguru.com.
Further, in the user forums, be as specific as possible.
Regardless of
whether you see this problem in multiple styles or not, GIVE
us more
detail to work with. What style are you using that gives you
this
problem? Each style is different, so the solution may also be
different.
If you are a PS/IR user, understand that the FW workflow is
different
and be prepared to change some of your old workflow habits.
Chances are
good things will speed up when you get past the basic
learning curve.
HTH
Jim Babbage - .:Community MX:. & .:Adobe Community
Expert:.
http://www.communityMX.com/
CommunityMX - Free Resources:
http://www.communitymx.com/free.cfm
.:Adobe Community Expert for Fireworks:.
Adobe Community Expert
http://tinyurl.com/2a7dyp
See my work on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jim_babbage/