An example of using symbols and instances in animation

Symbols are objects that you store in the Library and can easily reuse as copies, called instances. When you edit a symbol object (the original), the instances (copies) update automatically to reflect the changes to the symbol. For more information on creating and using symbols, see Modifying a symbol.

A symbol in the Library
 

In the steps below, the word "Cow" has been converted to a Symbol.

For example, to animate the word "Cow" across multiple frames:

1	Create a document with three frames.
2	Choose Insert > New Symbol.
	The Symbol Properties dialog box opens.
3	Name the symbol "Cow," choose Graphic, and click OK.
	The Symbol Editor opens.
4	Using the Text tool, enter the word "Cow" and format it using a thick font and large letters.
5	Click OK to close the Text Editor.
6	Close the Symbol Editor.
	An instance of "Cow" appears in Frame 1 and the symbol is added to the Library panel.
7	Place instances of "Cow" in the other frames:
	Choose Copy to Frames from the Options pop-up to open the Copy to Frames dialog box. Choose All frames and click OK.
	Select each frame one by one in the Frames panel and drag an instance from the Library panel onto the canvas.
8	Move, transform, or apply Live Effects to the instance on each frame as you want it to appear within the animation.

The steps below show how the placement, transformation, and effect characteristics of instances are retained across frames when you change the symbol.

To change the word to "Llama" across all frames:

1	Select "Cow" to open the Symbol Editor:
	Double-click any instance of "Cow" in the document.
	Double-click the instance of "Cow" in the symbol library.
2	Double-click the text block within the symbol to open the Text Editor.
3	Using the Text Editor, change the text from "Cow" to "Llama" and click OK.
	The symbol and every instance of that symbol updates to "Llama," but each instance retains its placement, transformation, and effect characteristics—only the text changes.