Why is a symbol a group?

[Joachim_L]

Whenever I create a symbol - no matter what kind of element - it becomes a group (instantly). First I thought there was bug with the symbol (not noticing it was a group), because rescaling a symbol had no impact on the instances of the symbol. Is this intended and why? Just another additional click when I want to modify the symbol. Something similar was reported on Mac a while ago.

 

[Sean P]

Hi Joachim_L,

Does this happen on a new document? Just been trying it myself and not getting that behaviour. Are you able to grab a quick recording showing your entire screen please?

[Joachim_L]

Happens on a new document, on an existing document with symbols. See attached video.

[MEB]

Hi Joachim_L,
If by group, you meant the symbol is created with the original object clipped inside a Symbol layer - that's expected. The issue reported in the thread you linked was that some symbols dragged from the Symbols panel are placed as regular group layers on the document (not as symbol layers). Check the label between parenthesis in the Layers panel to see whether the symbol was placed as a symbol layer or as a regular group layer.

In your video above the symbols are correctly being inserted as symbol layers in the document from the Symbols panel. Am i misunderstanding your question?

[Joachim_L]

No problem if this is expected. I was just wondering why a symbol is a group. I mean the "content" or what makes the symbol is now a level deeper "hidden" behind what it is called "Symbol" in the Layers panel. Sorry, having problems to express my thoughts in a foreign language.