Using Symbols, Instances, and Library Assets > Using shared library assets > Working with runtime shared assets |  |

Working with runtime shared assets

Using runtime shared library assets involves two procedures: First, the author of the source movie defines a shared asset in the source movie, and enters an identifier string for the asset and a URL where the source movie will be posted.

Second, the author of the destination movie defines a shared asset in the destination movie and enters an identifier string and URL identical to those used for the shared asset in the source movie. Alternatively, the destination movie author can drag the shared assets from the posted source movie into the destination movie library.

In either scenario, the source movie must be posted to the specified URL in order for the shared assets to be available for the destination movie.

Defining runtime shared assets in a source movie

You use the Symbol Properties dialog box or the Linkage Properties dialog box to define sharing properties for an asset in a source movie, to make the asset accessible for linking to destination movies.

To define a runtime shared asset in a source movie:

1 | With the source movie open, choose Window > Library to display the Library panel.
2 | Do one of the following:
| Select a movie clip, button, or graphic symbol in the Library panel and choose Properties from the Library options menu. Click the Advanced button to expand the Properties dialog box.
| Select a font symbol, sound, or bitmap and choose Linkage from the Library options menu.
3 | For Linkage, select Export for Runtime Sharing to make the asset available for linking to the destination movie.
4 | Enter an identifier for the symbol in the Identifier text field. Do not include spaces. This is the name Flash will use in identifying the asset when linking to the destination movie.
| Note: The Linkage Identifier is also used by Flash to identify a movie clip or button that is used as an object in ActionScript. See Working with Movie Clips and Buttons.
5 | Enter the URL where the SWF file containing the shared asset will be posted.
6 | Click OK.
| When you publish the movie, you must post the SWF file to the URL specified in step 5, so that the shared assets will be available to destination movies.

Linking to runtime shared assets from a destination movie

You use the Symbol Properties dialog box or the Linkage Properties dialog box to define sharing properties for an asset in a destination movie, to link the asset to a shared asset in a source movie. If the source movie is posted to a URL, you can also link a shared asset to a destination movie by dragging the asset from the source movie to the destination movie.

You can turn off sharing for a shared asset in the destination movie, to embed the symbol in the destination movie.

To link a shared asset to a destination movie by entering the identifier and URL:

1 | In the destination movie, choose Window > Library to display the Library panel.
2 | Do one of the following:
| Select a movie clip, button, or graphic symbol in the Library panel and choose Properties from the Library options menu. Click the Advanced button to expand the Properties dialog box.
| Select a font symbol and choose Linkage from the Library options menu.
3 | For Linkage, select Import for Runtime Sharing to link to the asset in the source movie.
4 | Enter an identifier for the symbol in the Identifier text field that is identical to the identifier used for the symbol in the source movie. Do not include spaces.
5 | Enter the URL where the SWF source file containing the shared asset is posted.
6 | Click OK.

To link a shared asset to a destination movie by dragging:

1 | In the destination movie, choose File > Open or Open as Library.
2 | In the Open or Open as Library dialog box, select the source movie and click Open.
3 | Drag the shared asset from the source movie Library panel into the Library panel or onto the Stage in the destination movie.

To turn off linkage for a symbol in a destination movie:

1 | In the destination movie, select the linked symbol in the Library panel and do one of the following:
| If the asset is a movie clip, button, or graphic symbol, choose Properties from the Library options menu.
| If the asset is a font symbol, choose Linkage from the Library options menu.
2 | In the Symbol Properties dialog box or the Linkage Properties dialog box, deselect Import for Runtime Sharing.
3 | Click OK.