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 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 also delete a symbol instance.

To search for symbols

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1 Open the Symbols inspector by clicking Object Symbol Symbols.
2 In the Symbols inspector, 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, click the Close button.

To insert a symbol instance

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1 Open the Symbols inspector 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 Control-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 inspector 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 inspector.

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

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 inspector.

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