Repeater is not always linking symbols
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When using a repeater with symbols, I noticed that, depending on how symbols are added to the repeater, it might or not respect the linkage to original shape.
Here is a video to explain : https://somup.com/cTXfjK9wMB
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@EricP Adding an object to the Symbols panel will create a copy of the object as a symbol, and the original object will not be linked as a symbol.
To edit the symbol, either use Object Roles to define the symbol (and then no need to add to the symbols panel), or drag a symbol instance from the panel into the canvas, and edit that.
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@VectorStyler ok, that makes sense. Thanks for the clarification.
I guess what is puzzling, especially for beginners, is how to modify the repeated shape.
If you create a repeater from a non-symbol shape, the shape "disappears" when the repeater is generated. You can see the shape object in the layer panel and select it. Its bounding box appears "under" the repeater. You can change scale, rotation, corners, fill color etc ... but you can't drag it outside of the repeater to see the changes you are doing (eg editing a path).
Using symbols gives more flexibility in that matter but is less intuitive to discover for new users.
Maybe a solution for non-symbol shapes would be to leave the original shape in-place (instead of moving it under the repeater) and maybe disable its visibility in the layer panel, so it could be un-hidden and edited if needed. Another option would be to create a symbol automatically so the shape could be dragged on canva from symbol pane and edited.
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@EricP The shape can still be selected: in the Layers panel, open the repeater, and select the object inside.
But it will show it at the center of the repeater.
