Use symbols in drawings

To search for symbols
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

You can find symbols by searching or by browsing the list of available symbols. After finding the symbol you need, you can insert it into the 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 Modify 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 Copy, duplicate, and delete objects.

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

You can also delete a symbol instance.

To search for symbols

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1 Open the Symbols docker by clicking Object Symbol Symbols.
2 In the Symbols docker, click the drawing or the folder you want to search.
3 Type a keyword in the Search box.
You can search by symbol name or description.

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To clear the Search box, delete the words you typed.

You can find all symbols used in the active document by typing symbols in the Search box of the Objects docker.

To insert a symbol instance

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1 Open the Symbols docker by clicking Object Symbol Symbols.
If you want the symbol scaled automatically to match the current drawing scale, click the Options button , and ensure that Scale to world units is enabled.
2 Right-click a symbol from the list, and click Insert symbol button.

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For information about working with special characters in text, see Embed graphics.

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You can also insert a symbol instance by dragging a symbol from the Symbols docker to the drawing window.

To modify a symbol instance

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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 Modify symbol instances. To modify other properties, you can revert the symbol instance to an object, or modify the symbol itself.

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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.

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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

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1 Select a symbol instance.
2 Click Object Symbol Revert to objects.

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The symbol remains in the Symbols docker.

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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

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To
Do the following
Copy symbols to the Clipboard
Open the source document. In the Symbols 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 Symbols docker, right-click, and click Paste.

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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

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1 Select a symbol instance.
2 Press Delete.

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The symbol remains in the Symbols docker.

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The features documented in the Help are available in the full version of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2021. Some features may not be available in this version of the product.