User Guide

Using Layers, Symbols, and Styles 249

To release an instance:

1 Select the instance.

2 Choose Modify > Symbol > Release Instance.

3 If the graphic is grouped, choose Modify > Ungroup to ungroup the graphic.

To update all instances of a symbol:

1 Select an instance in the document and release it.

2 Modify the graphic.

3 Drag the graphic over the symbol in the Library panel.

4 In the alert dialog box that appears, click Replace to replace the existing symbol

and all of its instances with the modiﬁed graphic.

Editing symbols

Changing a symbol (the parent) automatically changes all associated instances

(children).

To edit a symbol:

1 Double-click the symbol in the Library panel.

The symbol opens in a separate editing window.

2 Click Auto-update in the upper left corner of the window to update all

instances when you edit your symbol.

3 Edit the symbol as desired.

4 Close the editing window to apply your edits.

Note: The Auto-update option is selected by default. Although Auto-update allows

for live display of changes made in the editing window, changes are not actually

applied to the original document until you close the editing window or switch to

another FreeHand document.

To replace a symbol with another object:

1 Drag the new object onto the name of the symbol you wish to replace in the

Library panel.

2 At the prompt, click Replace.

All instances associated with the original symbol update automatically.