Working with symbols

The CorelDRAW application lets you create objects and save them as symbols. Symbols are defined once and can be referenced many times in a drawing. Each time you insert a symbol into a drawing, you create an instance of the symbol. Symbol definitions, as well as information about instances, are stored in a symbol manager, which is part of the CorelDRAW (CDR) file. Using symbols for objects that appear many times in a drawing helps to reduce file size.

In this section, you’ll learn about

•creating, editing, and deleting symbols

•using symbols in drawings

•managing collections and libraries

•sharing symbols between drawings

For information about modifying symbol instances and about unsupported object types, see “Reference: Working with symbols” in the Help.

The term “symbol,” as it was used in earlier versions of CorelDRAW, has been replaced by “special character” in CorelDRAW 12. For more information about working with special characters, see “Embedding graphics and adding special characters” on

page 232.

Creating, editing, and deleting symbols

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

CorelDRAW: Working with symbols

133

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

1Select an object or multiple objects.

2Click 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” on page 205.

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

1Select a symbol.

2Click Edit ` Symbol ` Break link.

If other instances of the symbol are 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.

134	CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 12 User Guide

You can also make a linked symbol internal by right-clicking a symbol and choosing Break link.

To edit a symbol

1In 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.

2Click the Edit symbol button .

3Modify the objects on the drawing page.

4Click 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

1Click File ` Open.

2Choose the drive and folder where the library is stored.

3Click a library filename.

Library files have a .csl filename extension.

4Click Open.

5In 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.

CorelDRAW: Working with symbols

135