Using Shared Library Assets - Adobe 38039481 - Flash CS3 Professional User Manual

Using shared library assets

About shared library assets
Shared library assets let you use assets from a source document in multiple destination documents:
• For runtime shared assets, assets from a source document are linked as external files in a destination document.
Runtime assets are loaded into the destination document during document playback—that is, at runtime. The
source document containing the shared asset does not need to be available on your local network when you author
the destination document. The source document must be posted to a URL for the shared asset to be available to
the destination document at runtime.
• For shared assets during authoring, update or replace any symbol in a document you are authoring with any other
symbol available on your local network. Update the symbol in the destination document as you author the
document. The symbol in the destination document retains its original name and properties, but its contents are
updated or replaced with those of the symbol you select.
Using shared library assets can optimize workflow and document asset management.
Working with runtime shared assets
Using runtime shared library assets involves two procedures. First, the author of the source document defines a
shared asset in the source document and enters an identifier string for the asset and a URL (HTTP or HTTPS only)
where the source document will be posted.
Second, the author of the destination document defines a shared asset in the destination document and enters an
identifier string and URL identical to those used for the shared asset in the source document. Alternatively, the desti-
nation document author can drag the shared assets from the posted source document into the destination document
library. The ActionScript version set in the Publish settings must match that of the source document.
In either scenario, the source document must be posted to the specified URL for the shared assets to be available for
the destination document.
Define runtime shared assets in a source document
To define sharing properties for an asset in a source document, and make the asset accessible for linking to desti-
nation documents, use the Symbol Properties dialog box or the Linkage Properties dialog box.
With the source document open, select Window > Library:
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• Select a movie clip, button, or graphic symbol in the Library panel, and select Properties from the Library Panel
menu. Click Advanced.
• Select a font symbol, sound, or bitmap, and select Linkage from the Library Panel menu.
For Linkage, select Export For Runtime Sharing to make the asset available for linking to the destination
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document.
Enter an identifier for the symbol. Do not include spaces. This is the name Flash uses to identify the asset when
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linking to the destination document.
Note: Flash also uses the linkage identifier to identify a movie clip or button that is used as an object in ActionScript.
See Working with movie clips in Learning ActionScript 2.0 in Adobe Flash or Working with movie clips in Programming
ActionScript 3.0.
Enter the URL where the SWF file containing the shared asset will be posted, and click OK.
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