Graphic symbol does not animate when added from library.

[toymaker1]

Hello.

When I add an animated graphic symbol from the Library onto the stage, it does not animate. I have inserted blank frames (F5) into the timeline, but nothing happens - the symbol just shows as a static image. Grateful for any advice.

[JoãoCésar]

Hi.

Select the instance you want to be animated on the stage, go to the Properties panel and make sure:

- It's really a Graphic symbol;

- It has more than one frame;

- It's set to 'Loop' or 'Play Once' on the Looping section.

Regards,

JC

[Wumi0101]

Setting to "loop" or "play ones" on the looping did it

[_keyframer · Accepted solution]

Yup, as already mentioned my guess is also that it is truly a Movie Clip (they do not "play" inside Animate) or if Graphic behavior, the instance is set to "Single Frame".

[toymaker1]

Thanks to JoaoCesar and keyframer for your responses.

I am very puzzled why, if, as seems to be the case, the symbol is acting as a movieclip,  it is described in the properties panels as 'Instance of SEA 1 GRAPHIC', and showing the icon for a Graphic Symbol. ('SEA 1 GRAPHIC' is the name of the symbol). Very odd.

[_keyframer]

Click once on the instance of the symbol on the stage. In poperties under "Looping" is it set to Single Frame?

[toymaker1]

It is set to Play Once. If  set it to Loop, it still does not animate. There is a window in the Looping section which says ' First 1'.

[_keyframer]

The fact you are seeing looping options means the symbol is indeed set to Graphic behavior. I've never heard of a Graphic symbol not playing when set to loop if indeed it has more than 1 frame of animation inside. The only thing my vast imagination can assume is possibly the following scenario:

The Graphic symbol has a Movie Clip nested inside of it and that Movie Clip contains the animation. What happens when you test/publish your document?

Is there any possible way you can upload/attach the FLA for me to look at?

[toymaker1]

I have inserted a Youtube video, showing that the Graphic Symbol (the front waves) does not animate. - I dont know if you will be able to view the video.

[_keyframer]

Cool. Doesn't help me solve the issue however. Let me ask you this, when you double-click the instance of that symbol containing the wave animation, you will be brought into that symbol's timeline. Can you tell me what you see? How many frames? I think it could be this issue...

Your symbol on the main timeline contains a symbol inside it. THAT nested symbol contains the nested animation but the parent symbol that it resides in, does not have enough frames to accommodate the nested animations length.

So double-click the symbol, what I suspect now is that you will be inside the parent symbol on root timeline. You now have one frame containing another symbol. Double click this nested symbol and I bet you will be looking at your wave animation timeline. To solve this mystery, go back to the parent of the animated timeine and insert the number of frames needed to accommodate the length of the nested animation that is now 3 levels inside the main timeline.

Hope that made sense.

[toymaker1]

When I double-click the instance of the symbol containing the wave animation, it brings me into the wave symbol's timeline, where I see one keyframe on frame one, with no other frames.

[GoryGreg]

Hi,

did you originally create it as another symbol (eg a Movie Clip) then change it to Graphics in the Properties panel? From memory I think I have done this in the past and it didn't function correctly. Or it might just have been me. 😄

[Silverfox112]

Hi, it's been a minute since this thread was active, but I'm having this issue too, but I don't even see a "loop" section under properties. I initially had a static image, which I motion tweened, then I went and added frames. Did that mess it up?

[Silverfox112]

Nevermind. It just wasn't showing up in the timeline. All looks good when I test the movie.