Working With The Library; Updated 5 March - Adobe 65018518 - Flash CS4 Professional Using Manual

Working with the library

Managing assets with the library
The library in a Flash document stores media assets that you create in the Flash authoring environment or import to
use in the document. You can create vector artwork or text directly in Flash; import vector artwork, bitmaps, video,
and sound; and create symbols. A symbol is a graphic, a button, a movie clip, or text that you create once and can reuse
multiple times. You can also use ActionScript to add media content to a document dynamically.
The library also contains any components that you have added to your document. Components appear in the library
as compiled clips.
You can open the library of any Flash document while you are working in Flash, to make the library items from that
file available for the current document.
You can create permanent libraries in your Flash application that are available whenever you start Flash. Flash also
includes several sample libraries containing buttons, graphics, movie clips, and sounds.
You can export library assets as a SWF file to a URL to create a runtime-shared library. This lets you link to the library
assets from Flash documents that import symbols using runtime sharing.
See also
"Text" on page 244
"Using imported artwork" on page 63
"Sound" on page 273
"Video" on page 283
"Symbols, instances, and library
Work with libraries
The Library panel (Window > Library) displays a scroll list with the names of all items in the library, which lets you
view and organize these elements as you work. An icon next to an item's name in the Library panel indicates the item's
file type.
Open a library in another Flash file
1
From the current document, select File > Import > Open External Library.
2
Navigate to the Flash file whose library you want to open and click Open.
The selected file's library opens in the current document, with the filename at the top of the Library panel. To use items
from the selected file's library in the current document, drag the items to the current document's Library panel or to
the Stage.
Resize the Library panel
❖
Do one of the following:
• Drag the lower-right corner of the panel.
•
Click the Wide State button to enlarge the Library panel so it shows all the columns.
• Click the Narrow State button to reduce the width of the Library panel.
assets" on page 147

Updated 5 March 2009

USING FLASH CS4 PROFESSIONAL
Symbols, instances, and library assets
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