How to Replace a Symbol in Several Keyframes at Once
Okay, let’s say you’ve chosen a graphic symbol from the Library. You’ve painstakingly motion tweened it over a series of at least 20 keyframes, then decided — afterwards, of course — that you’d like to use a different symbol instead. Show of hands, anyone? Before I knew the right approach, I would grumble at a scenario like this, sometimes loudly. I’d seriously consider just leaving it, or possibly re-doing the mass of keyframes from scratch — or I’d grin and bear it, clicking the symbol at each keyframe in turn and using the Swap button in the Property inspector as often as needed. If you’ve done this even once, don’t despair: there is a much easier way.
An answer, short and sweet
Click the layer that contains all your keyframes. You’ll want to click its name, or anywhere on the left side of the divider between layer names and layer content. Doing so will select all frames in that layer, including all keyframes. With all these frames highlighted, click the Sync checkbox in the Property inspector to select it. Now every keyframe has the “synchronize symbols” feature enabled. That’s the important part.
Click on your symbol in frame 1 (or the first keyframe of its span) and use the Swap button to change the symbol to a different one. Thanks to the Sync check mark, all the other keyframes will also point to the new symbol.
How it works
It’s the Sync feature that does it. Keep in mind, the Sync feature isn’t always selected by default. As described in an earlier article, Sync is activated by default if you use Create Motion Tween from the file menu or context menu, but not if you choose Motion from the Tween listbox in the Property inspector. But hey, who cares how it gets there? Now you know what the feature does, and how to quickly toggle it on or off for a span of keyframes.
Note: This tip applies to graphic symbols only (not movie clips or buttons).
December 23rd, 2006 at 3:39 pm
I feel stupid, but ummm… I see no sync checkbox.
December 23rd, 2006 at 3:44 pm
var,
Ah, don’t feel stupid! I probably wasn’t clear enough in my explanation. The Sync option is a tween option, so you’ll only see it if a motion tween has been applied to the selected keyframes.
December 24th, 2006 at 6:13 pm
AHHhhhhhhhh, that makes sense… so I will have to make a faux-tween to utilize it for frame only effects… thanks for clarifying though, that should help quite a bit, I always end up using that swap dialogue, which by the way, could use some improvements.
December 28th, 2006 at 10:17 pm
var,
I agree with you on the usability of the Swap feature! I’ve often considered writing some sort of JSFL tool to make things easier. I have no idea when I’ll get around to it.
October 10th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Hey David,
I saw on another one of your posts about this topic that this only works with graphic symbols and not movie clips. You didn’t happen to find a workaround for mc’s did you? This is one of those functionality things that seemingly would be an obvious thing for MM/Adobe to have added by now (maybe in CS3, which I haven’t gotten a hold of yet).
Thanks,
October 10th, 2007 at 5:56 pm
Ryan,
Flash CS3 behaves the same way. I wish this was something that could be applied to movie clips and button symbols — but it just ain’t so.
October 15th, 2007 at 11:33 am
Hi David,
I managed to figure it out.
1) Extensions are needed, I used this one:
http://www.5etdemi.com/blog/archives/2005/07/symbol-swapper-extension/
2) Click the “Edit Multiple Frames” button under the timeline
3) Drag the Onion Skin brackets to the beginning and ending of your animation.
4) On the stage, Shift-Click all of the instances you want to swap (Onion Skin shows the instances of an animation at each keyframe, for those that don’t know about the Onion Skin).
5) In the Library, select the symbol you would like to swap too.
6) From the Menu, select “Commands” then “[ced] Swap Symbols” (the extension that was installed).
And it swaps out all the movie clip instances that were selected.
I hope this is useful for everyone.
October 15th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
Ryan,
Thanks for sharing that. I’ve used quite a few of Patrick’s extensions myself — his Pixel Tools are incredible! — and he’s a terrific guy, to boot.