Using Symbol Instances

A symbol instance is a pointer to the full description of the symbol. Symbols help keep file sizes small. If you converted a graphic on the Stage to a symbol, you have one symbol instance on the Stage. To use the symbol again, or if you created your symbol in symbol-editing mode, you'll need to get a copy out of the library and onto the Stage.

To place a symbol instance in your movie

1.	In the Timeline, select the layer and keyframe where you want the graphic symbol to appear. Flash can place symbols only in keyframes. If you select an in-between frame, Flash places the symbol in the preceding keyframe. (To learn more about keyframes, see Chapter 8.)
2.	Open the library containing the symbol.
3.	In the Library panel, navigate to the symbol you want; click it to select it. Flash highlights the chosen symbol and displays it in the preview window.
4.	Position your pointer over the preview window.
5.	Click and drag a copy of the symbol onto the Stage. Flash previews the symbol's location on the Stage with a rectangular outline as you drag (Figure 7.20). Figure 7.20. When you drag a symbol from the Library panel to the Stage (top), Flash places the symbol on the Stage, selects it, and updates that symbol's use count internally (bottom). When you aren't keeping use counts updated constantly, the dash in the Use Count column indicates a change. To see the actual figure, choose Update Use Counts Now from the Library panel's Options menu.
6.	Release the mouse button. Flash places the symbol on the Stage and selects it.

Tip

• To place a symbol instance quickly, drag the symbol name directly from the Library panel to the Stage without using the previewed image.