Using Symbols and Instances > Getting information about instances on the Stage

Getting information about instances on the Stage

As you create a movie, it can be difficult to identify a particular instance of a symbol on the Stage, particularly if you are working with multiple instances of the same symbol. You can identify instances using the Instance panel, Info panel, or Movie Explorer.

All panels display the selected instance's name and icons that indicate its type—graphic, button, or movie clip. In addition, you can view the following information:

In the Instance panel, you can view the instance's behavior and settings—for graphics, the loop mode and the length of the symbol in frames; for buttons, the tracking option; and for movie clips, the length of the movie clip.
In the Info panel, you can view the location and size of a selected instance.
In the Movie Explorer, you can view the contents of the current movie, including instances and symbols. See Using the Movie Explorer.

In addition, in the Actions panel, you can view any actions assigned to a graphic, button, or movie clip.

To get information about an instance on the Stage:

1 Select the instance on the Stage.
2 Display the panel you want to use:
To display the Instance panel, choose Window > Panels > Instance or Alt-double-click (Windows) or Option-double-click (Macintosh) the selected instance.
To display the Info panel, choose Window > Panels > Info.
To display the Actions panel, choose Window > Actions.
To display the Movie Explorer, choose Window > Movie Explorer.
For more information on the Movie Explorer, see Using the Movie Explorer.
A selected button instance and information displayed in the Instance panel, Info panel, Movie Explorer, and Actions panel
 

To view the symbol definition for the selected symbol in the Movie Explorer:

1 Click the Show Buttons, Movie Clips, and Graphics button at the top of the Movie Explorer.
2 Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Macintosh) and choose Show Symbol Instances and Go to Symbol Definition from the context menu; or choose these options from the pop-up menu in the upper right corner of the Movie Explorer.

To jump to the scene containing instances of a selected symbol:

1 Display the symbol definitions as described in the previous procedure.
2 Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Macintosh) and choose Show Movie Elements and Select Symbol Instances from the context menu; or choose these options from the pop-up menu in the upper right corner of the Movie Explorer.