Recipe 7.5. Changing the Width of Static Text Fields (Without Stretching the Text)

Problem

You want to resize the width of an existing static text field without stretching the text.

Solution

Use the Text tool to select the text field so that the resizing square appears in the upper-right corner of it. Then, drag the resizing square so that the text field is the width that you want. Optionally, use the Selection tool, and drag any of the resizing squares.

Discussion

You can change the width of static text fields (the bounding box) using Text tool and the resizing square that appears in the upper-right corner or the Selection tool and any of the resizing squares. The height of a static text field is, however, determined solely by the font's height. In order to access the resizing square using the Text tool, you must select the text field such that the input cursor appears in the text. (It will also work if you use the Selection tool and double-click on a text field.) When the resizing square appears, you should click it and drag it to adjust the width of the text field. Optionally, you can use the Selection tool to change the dimensions of the text field from any of the four resizing squares that appear on the four corners.

Do not use the Free Transform tool or the Property inspector to change the dimensions of a static text field unless you want to stretch the text. The only exception to that rule is when the text field uses device fontsfonts that are found on the client computer. However, as long as the font is embedded, Flash will scale the fonts along with the text field when using either of those techniques, as discussed in the next recipe.