Create, edit, and delete symbols

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Symbols are created from objects. When you convert an object or multiple objects to a symbol, the new symbol is added to the Symbols docker, and the selected object becomes an instance. Most objects in Corel DESIGNER can be converted to symbols, with some exceptions. For more information, see Unsupported object types.

The symbols that you create in a drawing are saved with the Corel DESIGNER (DES) file. In addition, you can create symbol libraries, which contain symbols that can be shared between drawings. For more information, see Symbol collections and libraries.

You can access a new symbol by selecting the active document (Untitled-1) in the Symbols docker.

You can edit a local symbol; any changes you make affect all symbol instances in the drawing. The selection handles for symbol instances differ from those for objects. Selection handles for symbols are blue; selection handles for objects are black.

When you insert a symbol from an external library, a copy of the symbol is added to the active drawing, but it remains linked to the source symbol. You can edit a linked symbol or you can decide to break the link to the external library and make the symbol internal. When the link is broken, the local copy of the symbol remains in the drawing as an internal symbol, and it can be edited independently from the symbol in the external library.

If a nested symbol contains a local definition, you can edit the local symbol within the drawing. External symbols in nested symbols can also be edited, but you must first convert the external symbols to local. For information about converting symbols from external to local, see To edit a local symbol.

You can delete a symbol. When you delete a symbol that is used in a document, all instances of the symbol are removed from the document. You can also delete all symbols that are stored in the document library but are not used in the document

To create a symbol from an object

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 Layers.

You can also convert an existing object or objects to a symbol by dragging the object or objects to the Symbols docker. The symbol name is automatically added.

To edit a local symbol

 

You can also
Rename a local symbol	Click twice the symbol’s name box, and type a name.
Add a description	Click twice the symbol’s Description box, and type a description.

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.

Symbols in master symbol edit mode cannot be brought into Focus mode, but symbols not already in edit mode can be brought into focus. For more information about Focus mode, see Edit objects in Focus mode.

To edit a linked symbol, click File Open. Choose the drive and folder of the library that contains the symbol that you want to modify. Click a library (.csl) filename, and click Open. The symbol appears in the Symbols docker, and it can be selected and edited like any other symbol. You may need permission to change files on the network. Also, you cannot edit the symbols that are installed with the application.

To make a linked symbol local

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 make a linked symbol local by right-clicking the symbol and choosing Break link.

In the Symbols list, local symbols appear with open-lock icons that show they can be edited and renamed within the drawing.

To delete a symbol from a document

When you delete a symbol, it is removed from the active drawing, and all instances of the symbol are removed from the drawing.

If the symbol is linked, its symbol definition is removed from the active document but remains in the library file.

To delete all unused symbols from a document