Sharing library assets across files

Shared library assets let you use assets from one FLA file in another FLA file. This can be useful in these situations:

• When more than one FLA file needs to use the same artwork or other assets.

• When a designer and a developer want to be able to edit artwork and ActionScript code in separate FLA files for a joint project.

Sharing library assets works like this:

• For runtime shared assets, assets from a source document are linked as external files in a destination document. Runtime assets are loaded into the destination document during document playback—that is, at runtime. The source document containing the shared asset does not need to be available on your local network when you author the destination document. The source document must be posted to a URL for the shared asset to be available to the destination document at runtime.

Using runtime shared library assets involves two procedures. First, the author of the source document defines a shared asset in the source document and enters an identifier string for the asset and a URL (HTTP or HTTPS only) where the source document will be posted.

Second, the author of the destination document defines a shared asset in the destination document and enters an identifier string and URL identical to those used for the shared asset in the source document. Alternatively, the destination document author can drag the shared assets from the posted source document into the destination document library. The ActionScript version set in the Publish settings must match that of the source document.

In either scenario, the source document must be posted to the specified URL for the shared assets to be available for the destination document.

To define sharing properties for an asset in a source document and make the asset accessible for linking to destination documents, use the Symbol Properties dialog box or the Linkage Properties dialog box.

You can link to a shared asset by entering its URL or by dragging the asset into the destination document.

Sharing assets at author-time has these advantages:

• Allows you to avoid the need for redundant copies of assets used in more than one FLA file. For example, if you are developing a FLA for web browsers, another for iOS and another for Android, you can share assets among the 3 files.

• When you edit a shared asset in one FLA file, the changes are reflected in other FLA files that use the asset when they are opened or brought into focus.

There are 2 ways of sharing library assets during authoring:

• Using symbols from external FLA files by linking to them from symbols in another FLA file.

• Sharing symbols among FLA files that are part of the same Animate project in the Project panel. For information about using the Project panel, see Working with Animate projects.

Sharing by linking to symbols in separate FLA files works like this:

• For shared assets during authoring, update or replace any symbol in a FLA file you are authoring with any symbol in any other FLA file available on your local network.

• Update the symbol in the destination document as you author the document.

• The symbol in the destination document retains its original name and properties, but its contents are updated or replaced with those of the symbol you select.

Sharing symbols using the Project panel works like this:

• You create a project in the Project panel and create a FLA file in the project.

• In that FLA file, you specify which symbols you want to share with other files by checking the sharing checkbox for each item in the Library panel.

• Create a second FLA file in the project.

• Copy and paste layers, frames, or items on the Stage from the first FLA file to the second.

• Animate moves the shared library items in the pasted elements to a separate file called AuthortimeSharedAssets.FLA within the project folder.

The following assets types are sharable within a project:

You can update or replace a movie clip, button, or graphic symbol in a document with any other symbol in a FLA file accessible on your local network. The original name and properties of the symbol in the destination document are preserved, but the contents of the symbol are replaced with the contents of the symbol you select. Any assets that the selected symbol uses are also copied into the destination document.

Sharing assets among FLA files in a project allows you to edit the asset in one file and see the changes reflected in the other FLA files that use the asset.

• Tutorial: Creating mobile projects with shared assets and the Project panel (Yuki Shimizu, Adobe.com)