Change/add button label

[beccamac]

This seems like an incredibly stupid question- but I've pored over the forums with no luck. How do I change/add the label of a button. I created several layouts containing buttons that, when viewed over IWP, are only clickable in the blank space - not the area of the text box. I figured out that creating a button with the button tool fixes this problem- but I don't want to recreate 20 buttons.

[Ted S]

To edit the text on a button click on the "A" (text editing) tool and then go directly to the text on the button.

I remember spending a lot of time many years ago on the same problem.

[beccamac]

Thanks for the tip. That does allow me to edit text on the button (which I was having trouble with -so thanks again!) but it does not allow me to add text. If I click the text icon in the toolbar, it adds a text box which brings me back to my original dilemma. Any other thoughts?

[AudioFreak]

You could just add the text to the layout, put it where you want over the button. Then select the button and the text and group them.

HTH

[Ted S]

To add text to a button you would edit as described, push the RETURN key to add a new line, and then type the additional text.

You should also be aware that nearly anything can be turned into a button. You don't have to use the button tool. You can just type some regular text using the text tool (the "A") and after you are finished you can right click on the text and choose "Button Setup". From there you choose what you want to do with the button.

I don't use the button tool anymore myself. I just use regular text formatted to look like a button.

[beccamac]

My buttons are all currently two objects - a rounded rectangle and a text box - the problem is that this creates a button that is unclickable when you mouse over the text portion of the button in IWP. This is why I'm trying to change the label on the buttons.

[Ted S]

I think what you need to do is group the rectangle and the text into one object and then bind the new group to a button action.

To group the objects:

First select both objects.

Then pull down ARRANGE > GROUP.

To bind to a button:

Select the new group. (now a single object)

Pull down FORMAT > BUTTON SETUP

Does this help or did I miss again?

[beccamac]

This kind of helps, in that grouping the objects and then defining them as a button does fix the IWP problem. Unfortunately, I'd still have to redo 20 some odd buttons because I defined the button before grouping the text - so I have to remove the text, change the button to "do nothing," regroup the text, and redefine the button (otherwise I get the error "The selected group of objects contains one previously defined button and therefore cannot be defined as a new button).

Please tell me there is a simple way to add a label to a button without going through this hassle. I know how to do this for future layouts, but I have 20 buttons on about 12 layouts to do this with- so the less work the better. If I have to script it, I can, but that almost seems more time consuming than manually changing all of them.

Edited June 5, 2007 by Guest