Working with Flash Assets > Using the library |  |

Using the library

The library in a Flash document stores symbols created in Flash, plus imported files such as video clips, sound clips, bitmaps, and imported vector artwork. The Library panel displays a scroll list with the names of all items in the library, allowing you to view and organize these elements as you work. An icon next to an item's name in the Library panel indicates the item's file type.

You can open the library of any Flash document while you are working in Flash, to make the library items from that file available for the current document.

You can create permanent libraries in your Flash application that will be available whenever you launch Flash. Flash also includes several sample libraries containing buttons, graphics, movie clips, and sounds that you can add to your own Flash documents. The sample Flash libraries and permanent libraries that you create are listed in the Window > Common Libraries submenu. See Working with common libraries.

You can export library assets as a SWF file to a URL to create a runtime-shared library. This allows you to link to the library assets from Flash movies that import symbols using runtime sharing. See Using shared library assets.

To display the Library panel:

Choose Window > Library.

To open the library from another Flash file:

1 | Choose File > Open as Library.
2 | Navigate to the Flash file whose library you want to open, and click Open.

The selected file's library opens in the current document, with the file's name at the top of the Library panel. To use items from the selected file's library in the current document, drag the items to the current document's Library panel or to the Stage.

To resize the Library panel, do one of the following:

| Drag the lower right corner.
| Click the Wide State button to enlarge the Library panel so that it displays all the columns.
| Click the Narrow State button to reduce the width of the Library panel.

To change the width of columns:

Position the pointer between column headers and drag to resize.

You cannot change the order of columns.

To use the Library options menu:

1 | Click the control in the Library panel's title bar to view the options menu.
2 | Click an item in the menu.