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Mayur Mundada

Mayur Mundada

Adobe

Created:
10 September 2007
User Level:
Beginner
Products:
Fireworks

Exporting legacy Fireworks libraries to the Common Library

In Macromedia Fireworks 8 and earlier, you could use the Library panel's Options menu to export symbols to a PNG file. Then using Edit > Libraries, you could import those symbols by navigating to the PNG file that contains the symbols.

In Adobe Fireworks CS3, the Edit > Libraries workflow has been replaced by the Common Library panel. This article describes the Export to Common Library extension, which helps you migrate your legacy Fireworks libraries to the Fireworks CS3 Common Library. The Common Library panel displays the exported symbols contained in the Common Library folder.

Special thanks to Eugene M. Jude and Vishakha Vaidya for all their help and support developing this extension.

Requirements

To make use of the Export to Common Library extension, you need the following software and files:

Fireworks CS3

Export to Common Library extension

Exploring the Fireworks Common Library

Fireworks CS3 introduces new and enhanced symbol features to your workflow, such as intelligently scaling and assigning specific attributes using a JavaScript (JSF) file. Once you store these symbols in the Common Library, you can use the sample common libraries included with Fireworks to add buttons, animation, bullets, Windows and Mac OS widgets, and Flex components.

To use an item from the Common Library in a document:

  1. Select Window > Common Libraries.
  2. Drag an item from the Common Library into the current document.

To install and use the Export to Common Library extension:

  1. Download and install ExportToCommonLib.mxp.
  2. Select Commands > Export Libraries to Common Library to invoke the extension interface (see Figure 1).
  3. Click the Add/Browse button (marked as 1 in the figure) to browse and select Common Library files containing symbols. These files get added to the list (marked as 3).
  4. Click Remove (marked as 2) to remove the selected file from the list.
  5. Specify the folder name—it'll be created if it does not exist—for symbols to export in "Export to Folder" text field (marked as 5).
  6. Click Export (marked as 6) to start the operation.

Export to Common Library extension

Figure 1. Export to Common Library extension in action

Once the export is done, reload the Common Library to retrieve all the symbols that are listed under your specified folder.

About the author

Mayur Mundada works for Adobe Systems on the Fireworks team. When he's not working, Mayur loves to spend time with friends and family.