Quick links to procedures on this page:
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
Symbols are objects that are defined once and can be referenced many times in a drawing. You can have multiple instances of a symbol in a drawing with little impact on file size. Symbols make editing a drawing quicker and easier, as changes made to a symbol are automatically inherited by all instances.
Symbols are created from objects. When you convert an object to a symbol, the new symbol is added to the Symbol manager, and the selected object becomes an instance. You can also create a symbol from multiple objects. You can edit a symbol; any changes you make affect all instances in a drawing. The selection handles for symbols differ from those for objects. Selection handles for symbols are blue; selection handles for objects are black. You can also delete a symbol instance and purge unused symbol definitions. Purging removes all symbol definitions that are not instanced in a drawing.
Using symbols for objects that appear many times helps to reduce file size.
| To convert an object to a symbol |  |
1 |
Select an object or multiple objects.
|
2 |
Click Edit  Symbol New symbol.
|
 |
Symbols cannot span layers. If you convert objects on different layers to a
symbol, the objects are combined on the topmost object’s layer. For more
information about layers, see Working with layers.
|
 |
You can also convert an existing object or objects to a symbol by dragging the
object or objects to the Symbol manager docker.
|
| To make a linked symbol internal | |
1 |
Select a symbol.
|
2 |
Click Edit Symbol Break link.
|
If there are other instances of the symbol in the drawing, you are given the choice to break links to all instances. If you do, the internal symbol will then apply to all the instances. |
|
You can also make a linked symbol internal by right-clicking a symbol and
choosing Break link.
|
| To edit a symbol | |
1 |
In the Symbol manager docker, choose a symbol from the Symbols list.
|
If you want to name or rename the symbol, double-click the symbol’s name box, and type a name. |
2 |
Click the Edit symbol button  .
|
3 |
Modify the objects on the drawing page.
|
4 |
Click the Finish editing object tab in the bottom-left corner of the drawing
window.
|
|
Changes made to a symbol are automatically made to all instances in the active
drawing.
|
While working in symbol edit mode, you cannot add layers or save a drawing.
|
|
You can also edit a symbol by selecting an instance in the drawing window,
and clicking the Edit symbol button on the property bar or holding down
Ctrl and clicking a symbol.
|
While editing a symbol, you can insert an instance of another symbol, which
creates a nested symbol. You cannot, however, insert an instance of the same
symbol.
|
| To edit a linked symbol | |
1 |
Click File Open.
|
2 |
Choose the drive and folder where the library is stored.
|
3 |
Click a library filename.
|
Library files have a .csl filename extension. |
4 |
Click Open.
|
5 |
In the Symbol manager docker, click the active document, and choose a symbol
from the Symbols list.
|
If you want to rename the symbol, click the name again, and type a new name. |
6 |
Click the Edit symbol button .
|
7 |
Modify the objects on the drawing page.
|
8 |
Click the Finish editing object tab in the bottom-left corner of the drawing
window.
|
9 |
Click File Save.
|
|
You may need permission to change files on the network.
|
| To delete a symbol | |
1 |
In the Symbol manager docker, choose a symbol from the Symbols list.
|
2 |
Click the Delete symbol button  .
|
|
When you delete a symbol, it is removed from the Symbol manager, and all
instances of the symbol are removed from the drawing.
|
|
Copyright 2010 Corel Corporation. All rights reserved.