Once you purchase the component, the link to the download file will be sent to you by e-mail. This will be a zip archive with the component files and the documentation. Download this archive to your computer, unzip it and run the ChameleonMenu.mxp file. This will install* the component on your computer. If you are not currently running the FLASH, close and restart it. The next time the environment is started the component will appear in the components panel and be ready to work.

* To install a mxp file you need macromedia extension manager, it can be downloaded for free from http://www.adobe.com/exchange/em_download/, it usually comes with flash or other macromedia products. After you have downloaded the mxp file open extension manager, select the product in which you want to install the extension (Flash MX, Flash MX 2004, Flash 8) from the drop down menu then click "install new extension", browse to the mxp file and click "install", now just fallow the instructions ("next", "accept"). Now the extension should be installed and displayed in extension manager list, you can click on the installed extension to see details about it.

To start working with the component simply drag its copy onto the Stage and specify menu properties. For high quality motion our menu usually requires high fps values. In our component we used fps = 21

Menu properties

Menu type
This parameter determines the type of the menu. If set to "vertical", the menu will be vertical. If set to "horizontal", the menu will be horizontal.

Sub menu vertical align
This parameter determines the vertical align of the sub menu. If set to "top", the sub menu will be drop down. If set to "bottom", the menu will be popup.

Sub menu horizontal align
This parameter determines the horizontal align of the sub menu. If set to "left", the sub menu will appear on the right. If set to "right", the sub menu will appear on the left.

Button width
This parameter sets the width of the main and sub buttons.

External menu theme
This parameter is the path to the menu buttons theme file. Its value may be either an external swf (themename.swf) file path. If no name is specified, the included basic theme will be used. If the name is incorrect, the component will not work.

Menu background
This parameter is the path to the menu background file. Its value may be either an external jpeg or swf (+ gif & png, if you work in the Flash 8) file path. If no name is specified, the background will not be used. If the name is incorrect, the background will not be used.

Menu rollover sound
This parameter is the path to the menu buttons rollover sound file. Its value may be either an external mp3 file path. If no name is specified, the rollover sound will not be used. If the name is incorrect, the rollover sound will not be used.


Menu style (Independent color settings for main and sub menus)

Button background color
This parameter determines the button background color. The color should be set in RGB in the following format: NNNNNN, where N is a hexadecimal number (0-F).

Button rollover bar color
This parameter determines the button rollover bar color. The bar color will be displayed when the user will rollover the cursor on the button. The color should be set in RGB in the following format: NNNNNN, where N is a hexadecimal number (0-F).

Button text color
This parameter determines the button label color. The color should be set in RGB in the following format: NNNNNN, where N is a hexadecimal number (0-F).

Button rollover text color
This parameter determines the button rollover label color. The bar color will be displayed when the user will rollover the cursor on the button. The color should be set in RGB in the following format: NNNNNN, where N is a hexadecimal number (0-F).

Button text size
This parameter determines the text size of the button. The text size should be set in the following format: N, where N is a number.

Button text font
This parameter determines the button label font.

Button text bold status
This parameter determines the bold status of a button label. If set to "0", the bold status will be disabled. If set to "1", the bold status will be enabled.


Menu tree

Menu tree editor
Here you can add, remove and change main and sub buttons.

Button actions
If you want that the button was visible without execute any action then set it's ACTION to "".

"GetUrl" opens url in target window.
"loadMovie" load your file (jpeg, swf + gif & png, if you work in the Flash 8) in target movie clip.
"gotoAndStop" go and stop to frame or label in target movie clip.
"gotoAndPlay" go and play to frame or label in target movie clip.
"nameofyourfunction" execute your function in target movie clip and transfer parameter in it (if it is necessary).

To prepare your object for work you need setup configuration xml file. The component settings XML file is a usual text file of the following format:

<menu>

<properties>

<menu_type type="vertical"/>
<menu_vertical_align align="top"/>
<menu_horizontal_align align="left"/>
<menu_theme theme_file_path=""/>
<menu_buttons_width width="160"/>
<menu_background bg_file_path=""/>
<menu_rollover_sound mp3source="" mp3volume="10"/>

</properties>

<style>

<main_button_background Color="BFAA8C"/>
<main_button_rollover_bar_light Color="52402E"/>
<main_button_text Color="52402E" rolloverColor="FFFFFF"/>
<main_button_text_font name="Tahoma"/>
<main_button_text_bold state="1"/>
<main_button_text_size size="11"/>
<sub_button_background Color="ABBF8C"/>
<sub_button_rollover_bar_light Color="526237"/>
<sub_button_text Color="52402E" rolloverColor="FFFFFF"/>
<sub_button_text_font name="Tahoma"/>
<sub_button_text_bold state="1"/>
<sub_button_text_size size="11"/>

</style>

<buttons>

<button text="Button actions" url="" target="" action="">
<button text="getUrl action" url="your.html" target="_blank" action="getUrl"/>
<button text="loadMovie" url="tst.swf" target="_parent.test_mc.swfloader" action="loadMovie"/>
<button text="gotoAndStop action" url="30" target="_parent.test_mc" action="gotoAndStop"/>
<button text="gotoAndPlay action" url="playframe" target="_parent.test_mc" action="gotoAndPlay"/>
<button text="myFunction action" url="1000" target="_parent.test_mc" action="myFunction"/>
</button>
<button text="Products" url="your.html" target="_blank" action="getUrl"/>
<button text="Services" url="your.html" target="_blank" action="getUrl"/>
<button text="Contact Us" url="your.html" target="_blank" action="getUrl"/>
<button text="Company" url="your.html" target="_blank" action="getUrl"/>

</buttons>

</menu>