Using Symbols, Instances, and Library Assets > Getting information about instances on the Stage |  |

Getting information about instances on the Stage

As you create a movie, it can be difficult to identify a particular instance of a symbol on the Stage, particularly if you are working with multiple instances of the same symbol. You can identify instances using the Property inspector, the Info panel, or the Movie Explorer.

The Property inspector and Info panel display the symbol name of the selected instance and an icon that indicate its type—graphic, button, or movie clip. In addition, you can view the following information:

| In the Property inspector, you can view the instance's behavior and settings—for all instance types, color settings, location, size, and registration point; for graphics, the loop mode and first frame that contains the graphic; for buttons, the instance name (if assigned) and tracking option; for movie clips, the instance name (if assigned).
| In the Info panel, you can view the location and size of a selected instance.
| In the Movie Explorer, you can view the contents of the current movie, including instances and symbols. See Using the Movie Explorer.

In addition, in the Actions panel, you can view any actions assigned to a button or movie clip.

To get information about an instance on the Stage:

1 | Select the instance on the Stage.
2 | Display the Property inspector or panel you want to use:
| To display the Property inspector, choose Window > Properties.
| To display the Info panel, choose Window > Info.
| To display the Movie Explorer, choose Window > Movie Explorer.
| To display the Actions panel, choose Window > Actions.For more information on the Movie Explorer, see Using the Movie Explorer.
| Information for a selected button instance displayed in the Property inspector, Info panel, and Movie Explorer.

To view the symbol definition for the selected symbol in the Movie Explorer:

1 | Click the Show Buttons, Movie Clips, and Graphics button at the top of the Movie Explorer.
2 | Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Macintosh) and choose Show Symbol Instances and Go to Symbol Definition from the context menu; or choose these options from the pop-up menu in the upper right corner of the Movie Explorer.

To jump to the scene containing instances of a selected symbol:

1 | Display the symbol definitions as described in the previous procedure.
2 | Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Macintosh) and choose Show Movie Elements and Go to Symbol Definition from the context menu; or choose these options from the pop-up menu in the upper right corner of the Movie Explorer.