Create Symbols - MACROMEDIA FLASH 8-GETTING STARTED WITH FLASH Getting Started

About Symbols and the Library panel Symbols are reusable assets that allow you to use a single asset
more than once in your Flash document without duplicating the asset in the file. By keeping only one copy
of the symbol in the Flash document, you keep the document file size low.
A symbol can be as simple as a button or a graphic, or as complex as a movie clip. After you create a
symbol, you store it in the Library panel. The Library panel stores and organizes all the symbols in your
document. To reuse a symbol, you drag it from the Library panel to the Stage. When you do this, Flash
creates a new instance of the symbol on the Stage. An instance is really just a reference to the original
symbol; it tells Flash to "Draw a copy of the specified symbol here".
By using symbols and instances, you can keep your assets well-organized and your Flash file size low. In
addition, you can update the appearance or behavior of all the instances of a specific symbol by editing
the symbol. These changes are then reflected in all the instances of the symbol throughout your
document.
102 Tutorial: Building Your First Flash Application

Create symbols

Next, you will create some symbols or reusable assets. Symbols allow you to
use the same asset more than once without storing multiple copies of it in
your FLA file. You store the symbol in the Library panel, and drag instances
of the symbol to the Stage when you need them.
To create the symbol:
1. Select Insert > New Symbol.
2. In the Create New Symbol dialog box, type imageHolder in the Name
text box.
The default value for Behavior is Movie Clip. Leave this unchanged.
3.
Click OK.
The new symbol is added to the Library panel (Window > Library) and
Flash enters symbol-editing mode.
In symbol-editing mode, the Stage disappears and the main portion of the
Flash application window becomes a drawing area where you can draw
and edit the symbol.
4. In symbol-editing mode, Select the Rectangle tool from the Tools panel
(Window > Tools).
5. Select white (#FFFFFF) from the Stroke Color Picker on the
Tools panel.
6. Select light gray (#CCCCCC) from the Fill Color Picker in the
Tools panel.