ptg 142 Chapter 4 An instance is a copy of a symbol. When you use a symbol in your Timeline you are using an instance of it. You can animate an instance of a symbol and apply a variety of effects to it without affecting the origi- nal symbol in the Library. You can also use multiple instances of the same symbol. When you change the properties of an instance in the Timeline, you are only applying these changes to that copy, or instance, of the symbol. In this way, you keep the file size down because Flash only keeps track of the changes you've made while preserving the sym- bol in the form you created. If you have several instances of a symbol in your movie and you want to edit the artwork, you can make changes to the master symbol. When you do this, all of the instances of that symbol will be updated with these changes. Creating Instances Place Instances on the Stage Open or expand the Library panel. TIMESAVER Press F11 or A +L (Mac) or Ctrl+L (Win) to quickly open and close the Library panel. Select the symbol from the list of assets and drag it to the Stage to create an instance of that symbol. TIMESAVER Drag the preview image of a symbol selected in the Library item list to create an instance of that symbol on the Stage. 2 1 2 Filled keyframe indicates instance is placed on the Stage. 1 Instance of the symbol on the Stage From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg Chapter 4 Working with Groups, Symbols, and Instances 143 Edit Master Symbols Double-click any instance of a symbol you want to edit. Make changes to the symbol artwork or animation. Click the Back button or Scene name on the Edit bar to return to the main Timeline. All of the instances reflect these changes. 3 2 1 All other instances update with new changes. 3 2 From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg 144 Chapter 4 Symbols have three specific types that are set when you first create the symbol: graphic, movie clip, and button. You can change these types for a symbol's instance by selecting it and then selecting a new type option in the Property Inspector. Do this when you need the instance to display a behavior different than its parent symbol. Alternately, you can change the behavior of the parent symbol itself in the Library. All subsequent instances that you create from this symbol will exhibit the new behavior. Changing Symbol and Instance Type Change a Symbol's Behavior Open or expand the Library panel. Select the symbol from the list. Click the Properties button at the bottom of the Library window to open the Symbol Properties dialog box. Select a different symbol type option. Click OK. The symbol displays a new behavior. All subsequent instances will default to this behavior. 5 4 3 2 1 4 2 Symbol begins as a movie clip. 3 Symbol is converted into a graphic symbol. 1 5 See Also See “ Breaking Symbols Apart ” on page 155 for information on taking apart elements. Did You Know? If you are already using instances of a symbol in your movie, they will not be affected by a change in behavior. Flash allows you to change the types of instances separately from your sym- bol's default behavior. To update the instance to a new symbol, select it on the Stage, and then change the type in the Property Inspector. From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg Chapter 4 Working with Groups, Symbols, and Instances 145 Change the Symbol Behavior of an Instance If necessary, open the Property Inspector. Select the instance on the Stage. Click the Symbol list arrow in the Property Inspector, and then select another behavior: Movie Clip, Button, or Graphic. 3 2 1 3 Symbol options for instances 2 Did You Know? You can use a method to change the symbol behavior of any instance. Select from any of the three options: graphic symbol, button, or movie clip. In this way, you can get graphic sym- bols to behave as movie clips, movie clips to behave like buttons, etc. From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg 146 Chapter 4 Symbols are used in the Timeline as instances. If you apply motion or color effects to an instance, you only affect that instance, not its parent symbol. If you would like to swap the parent symbol for another symbol, while retaining any effects and/or animation that have been applied to the instance, you can use the Swap Symbol feature. All of the effects are preserved but are instead applied to and referencing the new cho- sen symbol. Alternately, if you are using several instances of a symbol and want to change the content (the master symbol itself) of one of these instances without affecting the other instances, you can dupli- cate and swap that symbol in the Swap dialog box. Essentially you cre- ate a new master symbol linked to your instance that is no longer related to the original master symbol and all its instances. Swapping Symbol Instances Swap Instances If necessary, open the Property Inspector. Select the instance on the Stage. Click Swap in the Property Inspector to open the Swap Symbol dialog box. TIMESAVER Control+click (Mac) or right-click (Win) the instance on the Stage, and then click Swap Symbol. Click a symbol from the list. Click OK. The instance is now linked to a new symbol. 5 4 3 2 1 4 5 3 From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg Chapter 4 Working with Groups, Symbols, and Instances 147 Duplicate Symbols During Swap Select the instance on the Stage. Click Swap in the Property Inspector. Click the Duplicate Symbol icon in the bottom left-hand corner of the dialog box. Enter a new name. Click OK. The instance is now linked to a new symbol, copied from the original master symbol. Click OK. 6 5 4 3 2 1 New master symbol created 6 4 5 See Also See “Breaking Symbols Apart” on page 155 for information on breaking symbols apart in symbol editing mode. 2 3 From the Library of Wow! eBook . begins as a movie clip. 3 Symbol is converted into a graphic symbol. 1 5 See Also See “ Breaking Symbols Apart ” on page 155 for information on taking apart elements. Did You Know? If you are. OK. 6 5 4 3 2 1 New master symbol created 6 4 5 See Also See “Breaking Symbols Apart” on page 155 for information on breaking symbols apart in symbol editing mode. 2 3 From the Library of Wow! eBook . a symbol you want to edit. Make changes to the symbol artwork or animation. Click the Back button or Scene name on the Edit bar to return to the main Timeline. All of the instances reflect