UI option
Last updated on
Sep 11, 2025
Learn about the options available in the Symbols panel for managing and customizing reusable artwork.
The Symbols panel, accessible from Window > Symbols, contains both preset and custom symbols and allows you to add, organize, and modify reusable artwork. You can also expand your symbol collection by importing symbol libraries.
A. Symbols List B. Symbol Libraries Menu C. Place Symbol Instance D. Break Link to Symbol E. Symbol Options F. New Symbol G. Delete Symbol H. Panel Menu
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Function |
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Symbols list |
Displays all available symbols, including default, user-defined, and library symbols. |
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Symbol Library Menu |
Allows you to access additional symbol libraries like Arrows, Nature, Maps, and more. |
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Place Symbol InstanceI |
Allows you to add an instance of a saved symbol onto your artboard. |
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Break Link to Symbol |
Detaches a placed symbol instance from its original definition in the Symbols panel, converting it to an independent object. |
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Symbol Options |
Opens options to rename the symbol, set its type (static, dynamic, movie clip), and define tool behavior. |
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New Symbol |
Adds a new symbol from selected artwork. |
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Delete Symbol |
Removes the selected symbols from the panel. |
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Panel menu |
Offers additional functions, like Redefine Symbol, Reset Transformation, and view options. |
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Redefine Symbol |
Updates the original symbol definition with new artwork, replacing it across all existing instances in the document. |
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Duplicate Symbol |
Creates an exact copy of the selected symbol in the Symbols panel, preserving its definition and allowing for independent edits. |
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Edit Symbol |
Allows you to enter symbol editing mode to modify the selected symbol’s artwork. |
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Replace Symbol |
Replaces the selected symbol with another symbol from the Symbols panel. |
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Reset Transformation |
Restores a symbol instance to its original scale, rotation, and shear based on the master symbol. |
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Select All Unused |
Highlights symbols not used in the current document. |
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Select All Instances |
Selects all instances of the selected symbol in the document. |
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Sort by Name |
Arranges symbols alphabetically. |
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Thumbnail View |
Displays symbols as thumbnails. |
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Small List View |
Shows symbols in a compact list. |
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Large List View |
Displays symbols in a detailed list. |
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Save Symbol Library |
Saves selected symbols to a custom library. |
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