FLASH CS3
User Guide
209
See also
“About changing instance properties” on page 213
“Using shared library assets” on page 218
“Embed and share fonts” on page 268
Convert selected elements to a symbol
1
Select an element or several elements on the Stage. Do one of the following:
•
Select Modify > Convert To Symbol.
•
Drag the selection to the Library panel.
•
Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Macintosh) and select Convert To Symbol from the context menu.
2
In the Convert To Symbol dialog box, type the name of the symbol and select the behavior.
3
Click in the registration grid to position the registration point for the symbol.
4
Click OK.
Flash adds the symbol to the library. The selection on the Stage becomes an instance of the symbol. Once you have
created a symbol, you can edit it in symbol edit mode by choosing Edit > Edit Symbols, or you can edit it in the
context of the Stage by choosing Edit > Edit In Place. You can also change the registration point of a symbol.
Create an empty symbol
1
Do one of the following:
•
Select Insert > New Symbol.
•
Click the New Symbol button at the lower left of the Library panel.
•
Select New Symbol from the Library Panel menu in the upper-right corner of the Library panel.
2
In the Create New Symbol dialog box, type the name of the symbol and select the behavior.
3
Click OK.
Flash adds the symbol to the library and switches to symbol-editing mode. In symbol-editing mode, the name of the
symbol appears above the upper left corner of the Stage, and a cross hair indicates the symbol’s registration point.
4
To create the symbol content, use the Timeline, draw with the drawing tools, import media, or create instances of
other symbols.
5
To return to document-editing mode, do one of the following:
•
Click the Back button.
•
Select Edit > Edit Document.
•
Click the scene name in the Edit bar.
When you create a symbol, the registration point is placed at the center of the window in symbol-editing mode. You
can place the symbol contents in the window in relation to the registration point. To change the registration point,
when you edit a symbol, move the symbol contents in relation to the registration point.
