Summary

• You can organize the Library with folders and symbols, and rearrange assets without breaking their linkage to instances deployed within the project.

• The new Flash 8 Library panel streamlines the controls for working with multiple documents. Rather than having to manage a separate Library panel for each open document, you can now view different Library lists within a single panel.

• Symbols are the building blocks of Flash. They save you time, reduce your file size , and add flexibility to your movies. When you use ActionScript to control symbol behavior or display, symbols are considered as objects within an object-oriented authoring environment.

• Flash handles imported sounds, bitmaps, and video assets as symbols. They reside in the Library, and instances of these assets are deployed within a Flash project.

• In addition to imported assets, there are three other kinds of symbols that can be created within Flash: Graphic symbols, Movie Clips, and Button symbols.

• Movie Clip symbols and Button symbols have timelines that play independently from the Main Timeline. Although Graphic symbols also have their own timelines , they are still tied to the Main Timeline and require a frame for every frame of their own timeline that will be visible.

• Timeline Effects auto-create symbols as needed to render an applied effect.

• Using symbol instances within a project is as easy as dragging an asset or symbol from the Library and onto the Stage, although it's usually best to have a new layer ready and to have the appropriate keyframe selected.

• You can edit symbols a number of ways. Any edits to a symbol in Edit mode are reflected by all instances of that symbol throughout the project.

• 9-slice scaling solves the problem of distorted graphics due to inconsistent scaling on multiple symbol instances. Finally, you can reuse and resize a rounded rectangle or pill button without worrying about mismatched stroke widths and stretched corners.

• You cannot open Timeline Effect symbols in Edit mode from the Document window without disabling the option to adjust the original Effect Settings.

• The Property inspector offers a central control for modifying individual symbol instances. You can modify the color and transparency of instances of a symbol via the Color effect controls. Furthermore, you can reassign symbol types using the Behavior drop-down menu, and can even replace specific instances with other symbol instances by using the Swap symbol button.

• The Filter tab in the Flash 8 Property inspector enables some fun new transformations that you can apply to text, Movie Clips, or Button symbol instances only.

• The Movie Explorer is a powerful tool for navigating movies and finding specific items within them.

• Shared Libraries streamline your workflow if a project involves multiple files that use assets that may need to be updated. Shared libraries are also useful for keeping files current and consistent in a team production environment.