Flash glossary: External library
In addition to the Library panel in Adobe Flash Professional, you can access the common libraries (for buttons, classes, and sounds) as well as external libraries to share project assets. You can use shared library assets to optimize your workflow and manage document assets.
Shared library assets enable you to use assets from a source document in multiple destination documents using one of two methods:
- Runtime shared assets from a source document are linked as external files in a destination document. Runtime assets are loaded into the destination document during document playback—at runtime. The source document containing the shared asset does not need to be on your local network when you author the destination document; however, it must be uploaded and you must specify its URL for the shared asset to be available to the destination document at runtime.
- You can share assets by selecting the symbol in the destination document as you author the document. The symbol in the destination document retains its original name and properties, but its contents are updated or replaced with those of the symbol you select.
To open an external library, choose File > Import > Open External Library. Select the source document and click Open. Drag the shared asset from the source document Library panel into the Library panel or onto the Stage in the destination document, to copy it into the current FLA file.
To learn more about working with external libraries, see Link a shared asset to a destination document by dragging in the Flash documentation.
Tools used
Related concepts
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License
More Like This
- Flash glossary: FXG
- Flash glossary: Publish profile
- Flash glossary: XMP metadata
- Flash glossary: XFL
- Flash glossary: Flex component
- Five demos of Flash CS4 Professional
- Working with the Project panel in Flash Professional CS5.5
- Automating tasks in Flash Professional CS5
- Automating tasks in Flash Professional CS6
- Creating mobile projects with the shared assets feature and the Project panel in Flash
