Importing and exporting symbols

The Library panel stores animation, graphic, and button symbols that you create in the
current
document. It also stores symbols that you import into the current document. The Library
panel is
document-specific, but you can use the symbols from one library in more than one Fireworks
document by importing and exporting, cutting and pasting, or dragging and dropping.
You can import symbols from other libraries, including libraries containing symbols prepared
in
Macromedia Fireworks and libraries containing symbols that you or someone else previously
exported. Conversely, if you have created symbols that you would like to reuse or share, you
can
export your own symbol libraries. When you export a symbol library, it is exported as a PNG
file.
Importing symbols
Fireworks MX has symbol libraries in the Edit > Libraries submenu from which you can
import
prepared animation symbols, graphic symbols, and button symbols, as well as navigation
bars and
multi-symbol themes. Using these symbols, you can quickly create a sophisticated web page
containing advanced navigation elements without having to spend time creating original
symbols.
To import one or more prepared symbols from a Fireworks symbol library:

Open a Fireworks document.

Choose Edit > Libraries and choose a library:
Animations opens a collection of animated symbols.
Bullets opens a collection of graphic symbols resembling various bullets.
Buttons opens a collection of 2-, 3-, and 4-state Fireworks button symbols.
Themes opens a list of animation, graphic, and button symbols; each theme consists of a
similarly
designed and similarly named trio of symbols that are color-coordinated to be used together.
Other opens an Open dialog box, from which you can navigate to previously exported symbol
library PNG files. For more information, see the next procedure.
In addition, you can import symbols from previously exported library PNG files located on
your
hard disk, on a CD, or on a network. For more information about exporting symbols, see
Exporting symbols on page 259.
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To import symbols from another file into the current document:

Do one of the following:

Choose Import Symbols from the Library panel Options menu.

Choose Edit > Libraries > Other.
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Navigate to the folder containing the file, choose the file, and click Open.

Using Styles, Symbols, and URLs 259

Select the symbols to import and click Import.

The imported symbols appear in the Library panel.
You can also import and export individual symbols into and out of the Library panels of
multiple
documents by dragging and dropping or copying and pasting instances.
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To import a symbol by dragging and dropping or copying and pasting, do one of the following:

Drag a symbol instance from the document containing the symbol into the destination
document.
Copy a symbol instance in the document containing the symbol, then paste it into the
destination document.
The symbol is imported into the Library panel of the destination document and retains a
relationship to the symbol in the original document. For more information, see Updating

exported symbols and instances in multiple documents on page 260.

Exporting symbols
If you have created or imported symbols in a Fireworks document that you want to save to
reuse
in other documents or share with others, you can use the Library panel Options menu to
export
them in a PNG file. You can then import the symbols by navigating to the PNG file that
contains
the symbols using the Edit > Libraries submenu. For more information, see Importing
symbols
on page 258.
To export symbols:

Choose Export Symbols from the Library panel Options menu.

Select the symbols to export, and click Export.
Navigate to a folder, type a name for the symbol file, and click Save.
Fireworks saves the symbols in a single PNG file.
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260 Chapter 11

Updating exported symbols and instances in multiple documents

The original symbol maintains its link to all exported symbols in other documents, so that
you can change symbol and instance properties in all documents if you edit the symbol in
the
original document.
To update all exported symbols and instances:

In the original document, double-click an instance to open the appropriate symbol editor,
modify the symbol, and close the editor.
2 Save the file.
3 In the document to which the symbol was exported, select the symbol in the Library panel.
4 Choose Update from the Library panel Options menu.
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Note: To update all exported symbols, select all the symbols in the Library panel and choose Update.

You can automatically break the link between the exported symbol and the original
document by
editing the symbol in the current document. Breaking the link lets you edit the exported
symbol
independently from the original symbol.
To break the link between an exported symbol and the original symbol:

In the document into which the symbol was exported, double-click an instance of the symbol
to
open the appropriate symbol editor, modify the symbol, and close the symbol editor.
The link between the symbol in the current document and the original symbol is broken.
Note: Fireworks does not warn you that a break from the original symbol is about to occur, so be sure you are aware
of which symbol is in the original document before editing a symbol that appears in more than one document.

Working with URLs

Assigning a URL to a web object creates a link to a file such as a web page. You can assign
URLs
to hotspots, buttons, and slice objects. When you intend to use the same URLs several
times, you
can create a URL library in the URL panel and store the URLs in the library. You use the URL
panel to add, edit, and organize your URLs.
For example, if your website contains several navigation buttons to return to your home
page, you
can add the URL for your home page to the URL panel. Then you assign this URL to each
navigation button by selecting it in the URL library. You can use the Find and Replace feature
to
change a URL across multiple documents (see Finding and replacing on page 400).
Using Styles, Symbols, and URLs 261

URL libraries are available for all Fireworks documents and are saved between sessions.
URL panel

Creating a URL library

You can group URLs together in libraries. This keeps related URLs together, making them
easier
to access. You can save URLs in the default URL library, URLs.htm, or in new URL libraries
that
you create.
URLs.htm and any new libraries you create are stored in the URL Libraries folder on your
hard
disk. The exact location of this folder varies depending on your operating system. For more
information, see Working with configuration files on page 423.
To create a new URL library:

Choose New URL Library from the URL panel Options menu.
Enter the library name in the text box and click OK.
The new library name appears in the Library pop-up menu in the URL panel.
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To add a new URL to a URL library:

Choose a library from the Library pop-up menu.

Enter a URL in the Link text box.
Click the Plus (+) button.
The Plus (+) button adds the current URL to the library.
You can further organize your URLs by adding only those that are in use in your document.
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