flash (macromedia): http://www.davisadvertisinginc.com/

I created the Studio button first and the effect looks as it should. I then
did the exact same thing to the Products button but, as you can see, I'm
getting very different results. Any insight would be much appreciated.

The construction of the Studio button and the Planning button is nothing
alike. In frame 1, the studio_btn is a single entity. In frame 11 that
graphic (no longer a button) is made up of multiple movie clips that move in
different directions to achieve the explosion effect. The Planning button in
frame 1 is a single element. It's explosion effect, which begins at frame
158, would require a similar set of individual piece to create the effect;
however, there are no individual pieces as there are for the Studio button.

Not exactly. All the buttons consist (originally) of two simple
components...the circle and the bitmap inside. Then the label. The explosion
effect was created using the built-in timeline effect in Flash 8 Professional.
The same effect was applied to each button after being grouped together. I used
the same procedure for both buttons afain.

I am now working on doing the other two buttons and I'll see how they turn
out. Nevertheless, the different results from applying the same explosion
effect is baffling.

I think you made a procedural mistake when applying the effect to the
planning button. The effect is not applied in your FLA file. No "pieces" are
made. I was able to add the effect to the P=planning button and it worked.

No offense but I re-created the FLA from the link you provided in your first
post using the SoThink decompiler.

I'm not sure how it would be possible to make a "procedural mistake" when
applying the effect. How do you know what I did when you do not have the FLA
file to begin with?

I know that no "pieces" are made... that is precisely the point of my post.

I appreciate your efforts, but you still haven't specifically said how you
believe I made a mistake in applying the effect. I did the same thing for the
Studio button that I have done to the other buttons which do not work
correctly. This thread is going around in circles. ;)

Since I don't like going around in circles, I'll get off the merry-go-round
with this last post.

You seem to take offense to my comment that you may have made a procedural
error.

Simply put, I added the explode effect to your planning button and it
worked. You added the effect and it didn't work. Obviously I did something
wrong.

You appear to be attempting to make an offense by making a statement that is
very obscure and general. There is very little involved in the "procedure" of
applying the explode effect. If you had been a bit more specific instead of
making a vague and general comment it might have been useful to me. As it
stands, you haven't shed any light on my issue at all. Although I do appreciate
your attempt, however vague, to help.

Greg Ambrose might just be too polite.

Whether you think you've done the same thing to each button or not, it is
obvious that you haven't. If they were truly identical then you would get the
identical effect.

Without standing over you and watching your every move and key stroke it is
hard to tell what the difference is. It could also be something that you have
left undone.

The best solution is to start with a clean fresh file, bring in your button
graphics again, and try it again without the distraction of all the other parts
of your project.