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.