Symbols and instances
Symbols are reusable graphics that you create with the drawing
tools. When you place a symbol on the Stage or inside another
symbol, you create an instance of that
symbol. Symbols reduce file size because, regardless of how many
instances you've created, Flash stores only one copy of it in the
file. Use symbols, animated or otherwise, for every element that
appears more than once in a movie. You can modify the properties
of an instance without affecting the master symbol, and edit the
master symbol to change all instances.
When editing a symbol, both the Stage and the Timeline change
to display the content of the symbol. You can change the Stage to
display the symbol in isolation or in its current context by
graying other items on the Stage. You can also edit the symbol in
a separate window. The Timeline displays only the timeline of the
symbol you are editing. For more information on symbols and
instances, see Using
symbols and instances overview.
Editing a symbol in isolation (left) and
editing a symbol in its context in the movie.
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