Using Symbols and Instances > Creating symbols

Creating symbols

You can create a symbol from selected objects on the Stage, or you can create an empty symbol and make or import the content in symbol-editing mode. Symbols can have all the functionality that you can create with Flash, including animation.

By using symbols that contain animation, you can create movies with a lot of movement while minimizing file size. Consider creating animation in a symbol when there is a repetitive or cyclic action—the up-and-down motion of a bird's wings, for example.

To create a new symbol with selected elements:

1 Select an element or several elements on the Stage and choose Insert > Convert to Symbol.
2 In the Symbol Properties dialog box, type the name of the symbol and choose the behavior—Graphic, Button, or Movie Clip. See Types of symbol behavior.
3 Click OK.
Flash adds the symbol to the library. The selection on the Stage becomes an instance of the symbol. You can no longer edit the object directly on the Stage—you must open it in symbol-editing mode; see Editing symbols.

To create a new empty symbol:

1 Make sure that nothing is selected on the Stage and do one of the following:
Choose Insert > New Symbol.
Click the New Symbol button at the bottom left of the Library window.
Choose New Symbol from the Library Options menu in the upper right corner of the Library window.
2 In the Symbol Properties dialog box, type the name of the symbol and choose the behavior—Graphic, Button, or Movie Clip. See Types of symbol behavior.
3 Click OK.
Flash adds the symbol to the library and switches to symbol-editing mode. In symbol-editing mode, the name of the symbol appears above the top left corner of the window, above the Timeline, and a cross hair indicates the symbol's registration point.
4 To create the symbol content, use the Timeline, draw with the drawing tools, import media, or create instances of other symbols.
5 When you have finished creating the symbol content, do one of the following to return to movie-editing mode:
Choose Edit > Edit Movie.
Click the Scene button in the upper left corner of the document window.
Click the Edit Scene button in the upper right corner of the document window and choose a scene from the menu.