i'm trying to work with symbols in illustrator

is there a way to edit an existing symbol after it was created? so when you edit it all the instances will change as well...

i remember this option in freehand, is it even possible in illustrator? cause it's really useful....

In Illustrator CS3 use the selection tool and double-click on the symbol. Alternatively, after selecting the symbol, the menu bar changes to the include symbol-related operations (Edit Symbol, Replace Symbol, etc.)

Select symbol then go Object ~ expand. - To edit a stroke go Object then outline stroke. ~ to lock a layer Ctrl 2 ~

sorry, forgot to mention i'm working on CS2...

so i understand it works on CS3... tried the double clicking and it doesn't work on CS2... i see the replace symbol option in the symbol menu but not the edit symbol...

This is from the CS2 help menu:

Modifying symbol instances

You can move, scale, rotate, shear (or skew), or reflect symbol instances as you do other objects. You can also perform any operation from the Transparency, Appearance, and Graphic Styles palettes and apply any effect from the Effect menu. However, if you want to modify the individual components of a symbol instance, you must first expand it. This breaks the link between the symbol and the symbol instance.
After you modify a symbol instance, you can redefine the original symbol in the Symbols palette. When you redefine a symbol, all existing symbol instances take on the new definition.

To modify and redefine a symbol

1. Select an instance of the symbol.
2. Click the Break Link To Symbol button in the Symbols palette.
3. Edit and select the artwork.
4. Do one of the following:
- Make sure the symbol you want to redefine is selected in the Symbols palette, and choose Redefine from the Symbols palette menu.
- Alt-drag (Windows) or Option-drag (Mac OS) the modified symbol on top of the old symbol in the Symbols palette. The symbol is replaced in the Symbols palette and is updated in the current file.

cool, that works

thanks voks