PDF (adobe.com)

Create a component symbol

  1. Create an object with attributes that you want to customize.

    This symbol could have the bullet color and the bullet number as customizable options.

  2. When creating the object, customize the names of the features that you want to be editable by typing a name into the Layers panel. For example, an editable text field could be named “label.” This name is used in the JavaScript file.

    Note: To avoid JavaScript errors, do not include any spaces in feature names. For example, use “number_label,” but not “number label”.

  3. Select the object, and then select Modify > Symbol > Convert to Symbol.

  4. Type a name for the symbol in the Name box.

  5. Select Graphic as the symbol type, select Save to Common Library, and then click OK.

  6. At the prompt, save new symbol to the default Custom Symbols folder, or create another folder at the same level as the default folder.

    Note: Component symbols must be saved in a folder within the Common Library.

    After being saved, the symbol is removed from the canvas and appears in the Common Library.

  7. From the Commands menu, select Create Symbol Script.

  8. Click the browse button in the upper right corner of the panel and browse to the symbol PNG file. The default location is as follows:

    • For Microsoft® Windows® XP: <user settings>\Application Data\Adobe\Fireworks CS4\Common Library\Custom Symbols

    • For Windows Vista®: \Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Fireworks CS4\Common Library\Custom Symbols

    • For Mac® OS: <user name>/Application Support/Adobe/Fireworks CS4/Common Library/Custom Symbols

  9. Click the plus button to add an element name.

  10. In the Element Name box, type the name of the element to customize. For example, to customize the text field named “label,” type “label”.

  11. In the Attribute box, select the name of the attribute you want to customize. For example, to customize the text in the label, select textChars.

    Note: For more information about these attribute options see Extending Fireworks.

  12. In the Property Name field, type the name of the customizable property, for example, “Label” or “Number.” This property name appears in the Symbol Properties panel.

  13. In the Value field, type a default value for the property used when an instance of the symbol is first placed into a document.

  14. Add additional elements as needed.

  15. Click Save to save the selected options and create a JavaScript file.

  16. Select Reload from the Common Library panel Options menu to reload the new symbol.

    After creating the JavaScript file, you can create an instance by dragging the symbol to the canvas. Then you can change its attributes in the Symbol Properties panel.

    Note: If you remove or rename an object that is referenced by the script, The Symbol Properties panel reports errors.