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Creating Multiple Symbols

Community Beginner ,
Jul 03, 2019 Jul 03, 2019

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I'm working on a file that has a large number of icons on it but would like to convert those icons into symbols to create a symbol library. However, when selecting multiple icons to create new symbols, it just creates one grouped symbol.

Is there a way to select multiple objects and have them convert into individual symbols?

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Community Expert ,
Jul 03, 2019 Jul 03, 2019

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check the script on this thread, hope it helps

Re: How to make Static Symbols as your default in Illustrator.

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Community Expert ,
Jul 03, 2019 Jul 03, 2019

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Hi Carlos,

I just looked at your script, and it’s amazing — but appears to change the default from Dynamic to Static, while Dany’s issue seems to be that she/he wants to select multiple icons and make them into individual symbols.

I am going to assume each icon is a group of objects, although we didn’t hear that. We also don’t know if they are on one artboard or individual artboards.

~ Jane

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Community Beginner ,
Jul 03, 2019 Jul 03, 2019

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Hi Jane,

Yes, each icon is a group of objects and, they are all currently set in one artboard.

Thanks

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Adobe Employee ,
Jul 04, 2019 Jul 04, 2019

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Moving the discussion to Illustrator Scripting​ community.

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Community Expert ,
Jul 03, 2019 Jul 03, 2019

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Hi Jane, the script just creates symbols out of whatever is selected. It just happens to make them static by default when they're created via scripting as opposed to making them dynamic when we create them by hand.

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Community Expert ,
Jul 03, 2019 Jul 03, 2019

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CarlosCanto  wrote

Thank you for the full explanation, Carlos — as well as for all of the scripts that you have written!

Jane

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Community Expert ,
Jul 03, 2019 Jul 03, 2019

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my pleasure Jane

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Community Expert ,
Jul 03, 2019 Jul 03, 2019

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I must have been in my hibernation phase when you posted this script, Carlos. This'll be very useful. Thank you!

Peter

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Community Expert ,
Jul 03, 2019 Jul 03, 2019

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enjoy, thanks Peter!

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New Here ,
Nov 05, 2019 Nov 05, 2019

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Hello Carlos!

I was searching  for such a decision for a long time and finally found this thread. Unfortunately the link that you gave is inactive now... Is it possible to reload the link to the script? 

Thanks in advance

Anastasia

 

 

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Community Expert ,
Nov 08, 2019 Nov 08, 2019

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Hi Anastasia, yeah old threads didn't make it into the new forum format. But I have the original script. I'll post it in a separate replay (using the Blue "Reply" button at top of this page) to prevent my reply getting buried in this thread.

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New Here ,
Nov 11, 2019 Nov 11, 2019

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That's exactly what I was looking for! 😉 

Thanks a lot, Carlos!!!

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Community Expert ,
Jul 03, 2019 Jul 03, 2019

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Hi Dany. Just drag the icons to the Assets export panel, define the export settings and click the Export button.

Marlon Ceballos.

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Community Beginner ,
Jul 03, 2019 Jul 03, 2019

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Hi Marliton,

That would just create individual files. I'm trying to convert the icons into symbols within the symbols panel without having to do it 1-by-1

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Community Expert ,
Jul 03, 2019 Jul 03, 2019

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Hi Dany, did you try using the script?

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LEGEND ,
Jul 03, 2019 Jul 03, 2019

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Select all identical icons, run Carlos' excellent script then "replace" all selected symbol instances with ONE of the identical Symbols. The last step is to "Delete unused Symbols".

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Community Expert ,
Jul 03, 2019 Jul 03, 2019

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My bad. Sorry. I read wrong.

Marlon Ceballos.

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Community Expert ,
Nov 08, 2019 Nov 08, 2019

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Here's the origial script posted in the missing link above. I hope this is the one.

 

// script.name = addStaticSymbols.jsx;
// script description = create Static Symbols out of selected Objects, Version 2 replaces selection with newly created symbol
// script.requirements = open document with one or more selected objects
// script.parent = CarlosCanto // 11/24/2017; v2 05/10/2018

function main() {
    try {var idoc = app.activeDocument;}
    catch (e) {alert ('Open a document and try again'); return };

    var sel = idoc.selection, a, newSymbol, instance;
    
    for (a=sel.length-1; a>=0; a--) {
        newSymbol = idoc.symbols.add(sel[a], SymbolRegistrationPoint.SYMBOLCENTERPOINT);
        try {
            newSymbol.name = sel[a].name;
        }
        catch (e) {}
        instance = idoc.symbolItems.add(newSymbol);
        instance.position = sel[a].position;
        sel[a].remove();
    }
}

main();

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New Here ,
Aug 31, 2020 Aug 31, 2020

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Hi Carlos.

I realize it has been a while since this thread has been active, but I hope I can catch your support.

When I try to run your script, I get an "Expected Statement" error. I tried looking it up, and it says it most likely is the file I am working from causing it. But I get this error on anything I try to run it on. 

Granted, I am not an expert at scripting, but I do believe I managed to copy paste your file, save it as .vbs, and I can click it in Ai, but it won't work.

Can you help, and apologies if this is something basic I am missing...

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Guide ,
Aug 31, 2020 Aug 31, 2020

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It's Javascript.  Save it as .jsx

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New Here ,
Sep 19, 2021 Sep 19, 2021

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Hi Carlos,

 

Thanks so much for creating this. I'm working on a Mac and when I place this in script editor I get an error: Error -2700: Script error.

 

Hope you can help me out, I'm trying to create a symbol libaray for multiple items without dragging them in the libaray one by one. 

Thanks in advance!!

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New Here ,
Sep 19, 2021 Sep 19, 2021

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Hi Carlos,

 

Thanks so much for creating this. I'm working on a Mac and when I place this in script editor I get an error: Error -2700: Script error.

 

Hope you can help me out, I'm trying to create a symbol libaray for multiple items without dragging them in the libaray one by one. 

Thanks in advance!

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Community Expert ,
Sep 19, 2021 Sep 19, 2021

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Hello Gaia, paste the text in a text editor (not script editor), then save it as Plain Text (not Rich Text). When saving give it a *.jsx extension

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Community Beginner ,
Jan 09, 2023 Jan 09, 2023

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Works like charm!!!

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