User Guide

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CHAPTER 4
Auto Shapes
Auto Shapes are vector objects that contain information about how the user can interact with
them on the screen. Auto Shapes appear in the Macromedia Fireworks 8 user interface as
“Auto Shapes” but are programmatically called smartShape objects in the JavaScript code that
constructs them. For example, a spiral shape consists of relationships among several smaller
objects. A spiral Auto Shape contains additional properties that enable the user to adjust the
appearance (stretch, distort, tighten the curve) of the whole spiral by clicking and dragging
control points. For more information about user interaction with Auto Shapes, see Using
Fireworks Help.
How Auto Shapes work
You can define an Auto Shape entirely in JavaScript. Auto Shapes installed with Fireworks are
located in the Configuration/Auto Shapes folder and the Configuration/Auto Shape Tools
folder of the installation directory. The JSF files in this directory contain the JavaScript for
each Auto Shape. You can open the files in an editor to see the script for each shape. The Auto
Shape file contains a collection of functions that handle the communication between
Fireworks and the Auto Shape object (for more information, see “Handling the user
interaction” on page 126), define the properties of the Auto Shape, and provide supporting
functionality (such as adding other shape objects or performing calculations) as the user
manipulates the Auto Shape. The Auto Shape file also contains control points and properties
(stroke, fill, color, and so on) that define the shape’s behaviors, appearance, and effects. The
points and functions defined in an Auto Shape file use the SmartShape Class and its
properties and methods (for more information, see “SmartShape object” on page 75).
Auto Shapes comprise any number of vector objects including open and closed paths and text
(currently, nested Auto Shapes are not supported). An Auto Shape can control a bitmap that
has been imported into the document; however, Fireworks cannot save a bitmap graphic as an
Auto Shape on the user’s drive.