How do I change an action button's screen tips?

G

Guest

In powerpoint 2003 I'm using an action button to link to another
presentation. When I mouse over the button, it shows the screen tip screen
with the destination routing information. I cannot find a way to change the
screen tip. I want to change it to something more usefull.
 
S

Sonia

Select the button, but this time go to Insert > Hyperlink. Don't touch the link
you see, but click on the Screen Tip and type what you want to appear instead of
the path to the file.
 
G

Guest

When I do this I get the "Action Settings" window which is different from the
normal hyperlink window. There is no place to edit the screen tips on the
Action settings tab that comes up. (It's the screen that allows you to set
hyperlinks with either a mouse click or mouse over, also run a macro or play
sound, thats all. I understand how to edit the screen tips when setting a
regular hyperlink. This problem is exclusive to the Action Button. I'm using
the blank button and linking to another presentation. If you do a little test
experiment (open up a blank presentation and use a blank action button to
link to another separate presentation, then try to edit the screen tip that
shows when you mouse over) I've been researching this problem for more hours
than I want to admit, I hope I'm not missing something simple.
 
S

Sonia

I think you are over-analyzing it. What I'm suggesting is that you go ahead and
set your link via Action Settings, but then go to Insert > Hyperlink to modify
the Screen Tip. It will appear to be blank, but that's because it defaults to
the link path. If you enter your simplified tip, it will be displayed. If you
just try it I think that you will see that it works. <G>

To create a screen tip on an object that isn't linked, see #16 at
http://www.soniacoleman.com/Tutorials/PowerPoint/quicktricks.htm. It works too.
 
G

Guest

BTW thanks for your responses. When I do exactly as you say, the window that
pops up is labeled "Action Settings" there is absolutely no place on there to
modify the screen tips. I've actually been to your site and have investigated
page # 16 earlier. I applied it and found I still get the destination
information for the action button in the screen tip around the perimetter of
the text link. Also I can't control the color of the text and I don't
necessarily want the text underlined. This is for a somewhat sophisticated
program for the fire department that links many multiple small presentations
that contain various information such as street names, routing, preplan
drawings, hazmat info etc... Many hours have gone into this program and I
have a fairly good understanding on how to use powerpoint. I say the
hyperlink screen/window/tab that comes up for the action buttons is different
than the one that comes up for hyperlinking text or other items. There is no
place on the action settings hyperlink window/window/tab to do anything with
screen tips not even a blank section... nothing. Thanks in advance, Mike.
 
S

Sonia

I'll try again because you aren't doing what I described. You are looking on
the Slide Show > Action Settings dialog. That is not where I want you to look.
You have the link created. That's fine. Close that dialog.

NOW, to modify the screen tip, go to the toolbar at the top or the PowerPoint
window. Select Insert. From the drop down menu select Hyperlink. On the
dialog that appears there is a button labeled Screen Tip. Click on it and enter
your modified screen tip. OK your way out. Now test it by going to View >
Slide Show. Does your modified tip show when you hover your mouse over the
linked object?
 
G

Guest

Hi i'm back, I've done what you said right from the beginning. Tool bar on
top > insert > hyperlink. When I do this, the dialog box that appears is the
same one as the slide show > action settings.
 
S

Sonia

I don't know why that would be. Let's start with basics.

The dialog for Slide Show > Action Settings has a title at the top that says
Action Settings and it offers two tabs (Mouse Click and Mouse Over), both of
which have a list of Actions to choose from - - None, Hyperlink to, Run Program,
Play sound, Highlight.

The Insert > Hyperlink is titled "Insert Hyperlink" and at the top it says "Link
to:" and "Text to display" and to the right of that is a button labeled Screen
Tip.

To me these dialog boxes are VERY different. How do yours differ from what I
see in PowerPoint 2003?
 
G

Guest

Hi Mike,

You'll only get the hyperlink dialog box if you select the TEXT inside the
action button and apply the hyperlink to it. Actions can be applied to text
and objects, but screen tips with the hyperlinks can only be applied to TEXT.
I have a tutorial that might help show the difference.

Glenna
 
G

Guest

Good evening, exactly, very different. I even tried it on my laptop (also
powerpoint 2003) same thing. I can get the Insert Hyperlink dialog box to
open with any other link I create (text box, auto shapes, etc...) but not so
with the dedicated ACTION BUTTONS i.e backward arrow, foreward arrow, home
button; the buttons that depress down when you click on them. These are the
only buttons that I have issues with. When I create one of these and go to
Insert > Hyperlink > I get the same dialog box as the Slide Show > Action
settings.
 
S

Sonia

Glenna, you triggered something. I kept thinking "button", but Mike said Action
Button and that's the cause of the communication problem on my end. Mike, if
you just draw a rectangle as your button, you can use the steps I gave you. You
can use Action Settings to create the link and then use Insert > Hyperlink to
create/modify the screen tip. But it doesn't have to be a text object or a
button with text on it.
 
G

Guest

Hi PPTMagician, thanks for your input. Although i just created an empty
square box with no text and linked it to a random ppt file as a test. I had
no problem setting the screen tips even though there was no text in the box.
BUT it wasn't an ACTION SETTINGS box (the ones that depress down when you
click on them) That's where the issue lies.
 
G

Guest

Maybe we're getting closer, I really like the way the "Action Buttons" work.
They Look good on the screen and I like the way they depress down when you
activate them. If you understand which "buttons" I'm talking about. Is there
any way to edit the annoying routing/ destination info that pops up in the
screen tips when you mouse over them??? You've been very kind and
understanding thank you!
 
S

Steve Rindsberg

Mike's right. This IS weird.

If you add the link to other presentation on a normal shape, it behaves as you
describe it, Sonia.

If you add the link to other presentation on an action button (which is what Mike
did) then Insert Hyperlink (or rightclick, Edit Hyperlink) brings up the action
settings dialog box.

Weirder yet:

Add the link to a rectangle via Action Settings.
Verify that you can get the Hyperlink dialog by Rightclick/Edit Hyperlink.
Now go back to the action settings dialog and put a check next to "Highlight Click"
and OK.

Now try getting to the Hyperlink dialog box you just visited.

For extra bonus points, tell me what they were smoking.

But at least that's a partial answer for Mike, if a weird one.

Use a rectangle instead of an action button.
Apply the desired action setting but DON'T choose Highlight Click.
Then rightclick and choose Edit Hyperlink, change the screen tip.
Finally, if you want some user feedback when the "button" is clicked, go back to
Action Settings and put a check next to Highlight Click. The screen tip will still
work.

I say Mike gets the Electric Beanie for uncovering the weirdo bug of the week.
 
G

Guest

I see what you say. Unfortunately you cannot uncheck the "highlight click"
button in the action setting dialog box for the "Action Buttons", it is
grayed out as it is tied to the depression motion look of the button.
 
G

Guest

And the Ah ha's keep coming. Need to modify my tutorial. I guess since I
almost always use action buttons with action settings I missed the working
with regular autoshapes thingy. I'll fix it right up. Even more
versatility, cool.

Glenna
 
G

Guest

Great. And wouldn't you know I just wrote that interactivity tutorial. Now
I'll have to test all these weird scenarios to get it right. Big Sigh.

G
 
S

Steve Rindsberg

I see what you say. Unfortunately you cannot uncheck the "highlight click"
button in the action setting dialog box for the "Action Buttons", it is
grayed out as it is tied to the depression motion look of the button.
Click to expand...

Yep.

But if you use a plain old rectangle or some other shape, you can turn highlight click
on and off. If you like the look of the action buttons, create one, choose Edit, Copy
then Edit, Paste Special, as Enhanced Metafile and assign the action to that. It
doesn't give you the "button depress" effect when clicked but at least there's some
feedback.
 

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