Quick links to procedures on this page:

•
 
To insert a symbol instance
•
 
To modify a symbol instance
•
 
To convert a symbol instance to an object or objects
•
 
To share symbols between drawings
•
 
To delete a symbol instance

Using symbols in drawings

You can insert a symbol into a drawing, which creates a symbol instance. You can modify certain properties of a symbol instance, such as size and position, without affecting the symbol definition stored in the library. For a full list of the properties that you can modify, see Modifying symbol instances. You can convert a symbol instance back to an object while preserving its properties.

You can share symbols between drawings. Copying symbols to the Clipboard leaves the originals in the library. You can also copy and paste instances of a symbol to and from the Clipboard. Pasting a symbol instance places the symbol in the library and also places an instance of the symbol in the drawing. Subsequent pasting will place another instance of the symbol in the drawing without adding it to the library. If a modified symbol instance is pasted into a drawing, the new instance maintains the properties of the original instance, and the new symbol definition in the library maintains the properties of the original symbol. Symbol instances are copied and pasted in the same way other objects are. For more information, see Copying, duplicating, and deleting objects.

You can also export symbols to an external library that can be shared between drawings. For more information, see Managing collections and libraries.

You can also delete a symbol instance.

To insert a symbol instance Back to Top
1.
 
Open the Symbol manager docker by clicking Edit Symbol Symbol manager.
If you want the symbol scaled automatically to match the current drawing scale, ensure that the Scale to world units button is enabled.
2.
 
Choose a symbol from the list.
3.
 
Click the Insert symbol button .
For information about working with special characters in text, see Embedding graphics and adding special characters.
You can also insert a symbol instance by dragging a symbol from the Symbol manager docker to the drawing window.
To modify a symbol instance Back to Top
1.
 
Select a symbol instance.
2.
 
Make any changes.
Not all properties of a symbol instance can be modified. For a list of properties that can be modified, see Modifying symbol instances. To modify other properties, you can revert the symbol instance to an object, or modify the symbol itself.
If a symbol contains multiple objects, all objects in the symbol instance are treated as if they were a group. You cannot modify individual objects in a symbol instance.
When a symbol instance is selected, you can modify many object properties on the property bar.
To convert a symbol instance to an object or objects Back to Top
1.
 
Select a symbol instance.
2.
 
Click Edit Symbol Revert to objects.
The symbol remains in the Symbol manager docker.
You can also revert a symbol instance to an object by right-clicking the symbol instance and clicking Revert to objects.
To share symbols between drawings Back to Top

To
Do the following
Copy symbols to the Clipboard
Open the source document. In the Symbol manager docker, choose the symbol or symbols from the list, right-click, and click Copy.
Paste symbols from the Clipboard
Open the target document. In the Symbol manager docker, right-click, and click Paste.

The first pasted symbol is named “Symbol1,” and an increment number is appended to the names of subsequent copies: “Symbol2,” “Symbol3,” and so on.
To delete a symbol instance Back to Top
1.
 
Select a symbol instance.
2.
 
Press Delete.
The symbol remains in the Symbol manager docker.
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