Using symbols in drawings

You can insert a symbol into a drawing, which creates a symbol instance. A symbol instance can be modified in ways which do not affect the symbol definition in the library. For example, you can modify the size and position of a symbol instance, without affecting the symbol definition. You can also have the symbol instance scaled automatically to match the current drawing scale.

For a list of object properties that can be modified in a symbol instance, see Modifying symbol instances.

If a symbol stored in a library is changed, you can update the link to refresh the symbol instances.

You can revert a symbol instance to an object or objects while preserving its properties. You can also delete a symbol instance, and purge unused symbol definitions. Purging removes all symbol definitions that are not instanced in a drawing.

You use the Symbol manager docker to work with symbols.

Symbol manager docker

The preview area shows a symbol and information about it, including

Just below the preview area, a tree view lets you see all linked and local symbol definitions in the active document, including symbols that are not instanced. You can also navigate to symbol libraries.

Examples of symbols

To locate a symbol

1 .	Click Object Symbol Symbol manager.

Click a folder to choose a collection, and click a symbol library to see symbols in a file.

To insert a symbol instance

1 .	Click Object Symbol Symbol manager.

2 .	Choose a symbol library in the tree view.

If you want the symbol scaled automatically to match the current drawing scale, ensure that the Scale to world units button is enabled.

4 .	Click the Insert symbol button .

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

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.

Not all properties of a symbol instance can be modified. For a list of properties that can be modified, see Modifying symbol instances.

To update a link

2 .	Click Object Symbol Update from link.

You can also click Window Link and bookmarks and use the Links and bookmarks docker to update links to symbols. An exclamation mark appears next to objects that need to be updated.

To revert a symbol instance to an object or objects

2 .	Click Object Symbol Revert to objects.

The symbol definition remains in the active document.

If the external definition of the symbol instance contains styles, those styles are added to the document. If the styles in the symbol instance differ from those in its external definition, you are prompted to rename the style or merge the two styles. You can check for conflicting styles in the Links and bookmarks docker. An exclamation mark appears next to objects that need to be updated.

You can also revert a symbol instance to an object by right-clicking the symbol instance and clicking Revert to objects.

To delete a symbol instance

The symbol definition remains in the active document.

To purge unused symbol definitions

2 .	Click the Purge unused definitions button .

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