All instances of a symbol (even on locked layers) are manipulated with node tool selection

[AndreaThomas]

Issue: When the node tool is used to select the points of a symbol, moving the symbol then moves every instance of the symbol as well, even ones within locked layers.

Use case: I have a path with symbols intersecting certain points of it. I use the node tool to select the points of the path to be moved, and include the symbols I need too. Once all desired points (of paths and required symbols) are selected I try to move the section but all symbols move, instead of only the only I clicked the node points of. The symbols act as expected if I use the move tool, but this is not the case with the node tool, which is necessary when trying to move symbols at the same time as path points.

[stokerg]

Hi @AndreaThomas,

Unless I'm missing something, this is working as expected.  Unless you detach the selected Symbols, when you move one of the nodes, all the symbols will change as they are all linked together.  However, if you select the Symbols you want to move and click on Detach on the Symbols Panel, you'd then be able to alter those, without affecting the remaining symbols.

Perhaps I'm missing something and if I am, please correct me and if you can provide an example file, that will also help  

[AndreaThomas]

Thank you for your quick reply. I'll attach a screenshot and an example file.

The problem is unless I select the nodes of the symbol, I don't seem to be able to move a symbol when it needs to stay relevant to a section of a path. (i.e. a few nodes of a path are selected so I can move them, and my symbol needs to also move at the same time)

Apologies for comparing it to illustrator, but hopefully as extra insight I'll explain that I previously used symbols along my paths and could click them using the move tool along with my selected path nodes and move the whole selection as necessary. The only way to alter the symbol itself was to double click to go into symbol editing mode.

In Affinity Designer, if I try to select path nodes and then use the move tool to select the symbol for moving at the same time, my nodes (when I change back to that tool) deselect the chosen symbol.

If I have to detach the nodes they'll become completely useless as symbols to me. I have them as symbols so that if later on I need to adjust them (colour, length or stroke thickness) I don't have to change some 150 separate objects.

In the example, I've shown with green circles, the node points I selected for movement and how it moves all other pink symbols in the 'After' section.

If I'm mistaken and it isn't a bug, could you help me understand if there is a way to move the pink symbol in the "After' blue box at the same time as those top two (green circled) node points are raised up, but the remaining symbols to stay where I put them? (and the symbols not be detatched)

nodes-with-symbols.afdesign