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Modifying and redefining symbols and symbol instances


    You can move, scale, rotate, shear (or skew), or reflect a symbol instance using commands in the Object menu or in the Transform or Align palettes. You can also perform any operation from the Transparency, Appearance, and Styles palettes and apply any effect from the Effect menu.

    After you modify an instance, you can redefine the original symbol in the Symbols palette using the modified artwork. When you redefine a symbol, all existing symbol instances take on the new definition. If you don't want a symbol instance to take on the new definition, break the link between the symbol and that particular symbol instance.

To modify and redefine a symbol:

  1. Select an instance of the symbol on the artboard.
  2. Click the Break Link button  the Break Link button in the Symbols palette.
  3. Edit the artwork.
  4. Do one of the following:
    • Make sure the symbol you want to redefine is selected in the Symbols palette, and choose Redefine from the Symbols palette menu.
    • Alt-drag (Windows) or Option-drag (Mac OS) the modified symbol on top of the old symbol in the Symbols palette. The symbol is replaced in the Symbols palette and is updated in the current file.

To modify one symbol instance:

    Select the symbol instance on the artboard, and edit it.

Associating a new symbol with an instance:

  1. Select the symbol instance on the artboard.
  2. Select a new symbol in the Symbols palette.
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Click the Replace Symbol button  the Replace Symbol Instance button .
    • Choose Replace Symbol from the Symbols palette menu.