Chapter 8: Create Symbols And Instances; Set Up Your Workspace - MACROMEDIA FLASH MX 2004-LEARNING FLASH Manual

A symbol is a reusable object, and an instance is an occurrence of a symbol on the Stage. Repeated
use of instances does not increase the file size and is a good part of a strategy for keeping a
document file size small. Symbols also simplify editing a document; when you edit a symbol, all
instances of the symbol update to reflect the edits. Another benefit of symbols is that they allow
you to create sophisticated interactivity.
In this lesson you'll work with symbols and instances to accomplish the following tasks:
•
Create a graphic symbol
•
Duplicate and modify an instance
•
Create a movie clip symbol
•
Edit a symbol by adding an effect

Set up your workspace

First, you'll open the start file for the lesson and set up your workspace to use an optimal layout
for taking lessons.
To open your start file, in Flash select File > Open and navigate to the file:
1.
On Windows 2000 or XP, browse to boot drive\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Application Data\Macromedia\Flash MX 2004\language\Configuration\HelpPanel\
HowDoI\BasicFlash\start_files and double-click symbols_start.fla.
Note: If the Application Data folder is hidden, you'll need to change your Windows Explorer
settings to see the folder.
On Windows 98, browse to boot drive\Windows\ Application Data\Macromedia\Flash MX
2004\language\Configuration\HelpPanel\HowDoI\BasicFlash\start_files and double-click
symbols_start.fla.
On Macintosh, browse to Macintosh HD/Users/Shared/Application Support/Macromedia/
Flash MX 2004/language/Configuration/HelpPanel/HowDoI/BasicFlash/start_files and
double-click symbols_start.fla.
Note: The BasicFlash\finished_files folder contains completed versions of lesson FLA files, for
your reference.
The document opens in the Flash authoring environment.
Create Symbols and Instances
CHAPTER 8
63