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BRODZELi
BRODZELi
Participating Frequently
September 20, 2021
Question

Isolate/Edit Symbol

  • September 20, 2021
  • 4 replies
  • 728 views

Isolate/Edit Symbol

How to Isolate/Edit Symbol via script?


I want to open and edit the symbol without double-clicking on it or clicking the "Edit Symbol" button on a properties panel.

I know that changing multiple symbols will not be possible. I just want to select one symbol and use a script to edit (because I use very small elements inside the symbol and it is difficult to double click on the element to open the symbol)

 
 
 
This topic has been closed for replies.

4 replies

pixxxelschubser
Community Expert
pixxxelschubserCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 21, 2021

Are there symbol instances in your document?

 

Then I would try with script

  • place one more symbol instance
  • break link to the symbol
  • edit the former symbol instance
  • create a new symbol from the edited former symbol instance
  • replace all instances from "old" symbol with instances from "new" symbol

 

Disposition_Dev
Disposition_Dev
Legend
September 21, 2021

As  @femkeblanco stated, we unfortunately can't reach into a symbol from a script. However, you can double click the symbol in the Symbols Panel to edit it. you don't have to isolate on the symbol instance. I know how difficult selecting tiny artwork can be, but no matter the size of your symbol, its icon in the panel will always be the same size. Then once you've isolated, i believe you can run a script while you're in symbol editing mode and it should work, though i haven't actually tried.

 

Or am I misunderstanding the issue?

m1b
Community Expert
m1bCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 21, 2021

You can double-click the symbol in the Symbols panel to edit it. Can you please explain how launching a script would be easier than this? Then we might be able to see what lateral thinking might achieve. 🙂

- Mark

Disposition_Dev
Disposition_Dev
Legend
September 21, 2021

Hey Mark.

I can't necessarily speak to @BRODZELi 's need here.. But i've always dreamt of being able to access a symbol from a script so that i can dynamically replace "placeholder" contents with actual artwork.

 

For example, if i have 10 differnt symbols (with many instances of each) in a document, i'd like to be able to write a script that loops through each symbol and conditionally replaces its artwork or deletes the symbol if not needed. 

 

You're right that it's not difficult to double click in, but it's a double click for each symbol you want to edit. 

 

Just my $.02 USD

m1b
Community Expert
m1bCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 21, 2021

Yes, totally agree. It'd be great if symbols were first-class citizens of the scripting world. 🙂

I'm genuinely curious, as it seems @BRODZELi' is okay with editing one symbol at a time, so I was just trying to understand why the double-click in the symbol panel wasn't right. - Mark

femkeblanco
femkeblanco
Legend
September 20, 2021

Unfortunately, I don't think it's possible.  At least not in one scripting process as you envisaged it. 

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