Add a Library

A library is a type of Sketch file with symbols, text styles, and layer styles that can be shared. You can share a library across an organization’s projects by linking it or you can use a library to keep a single project consistent.

Create a new Sketch library

To create a Sketch library:

1. Open the Abstract desktop app.
2. Select the project where you’d like to create a library.

• If you plan to use this library across projects, create a dedicated project for the library and link your project to it. If you won’t use the library across multiple projects, you can create the library right inside the project.

3. Select Main from the left side pane.

• It’s also possible to create a library directly in one of your branches. You can't link to or from branch libraries until they are merged to the main branch.

4. Select the Files tab at the top.
5. Click Add file.
6. Click Create Sketch File as library…
7. Name and create your new library file.

The Sketch icon for the new library turns from white to yellow.

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Abstract also records the change as a commit.

If your library file doesn't contain any symbols, it won’t appear in Sketch.

Add an existing Sketch library

Before you import a Sketch library, consider consolidating and categorizing your team’s symbols. We've seen teams successfully separate library symbols into platform-specific assets, branding, and UI assets files.

To import a Sketch library:

1. Open the Abstract desktop app.
2. Select the project where you’d like to import the library.

• If you plan to use this library across projects, create a dedicated project for the library and link your project to it. If you won’t be using the library across multiple projects, you can import the library right inside the project.

3. Select Main from the left side pane.
4. Select the Files tab at the top.
5. Click Add File > Import Sketch File as Library or Import Sketch File (if new project).
6. Select the library file you'd like to import.
7. If this is a new project, right-click the file you added and select Use as library...

Convert an existing Sketch file to a library

If you already added a Sketch file to your project that you’d like to use as a library, you can convert it.

To use an existing Sketch file as a library:

1. Open the Abstract desktop app.
2. Select the project where you’d like to create a library.
3. Select Branches from the left side pane.
4. Select the branch with the Sketch file you’d like to convert.
5. Right-click the file name.
6. Select Use as library...

The Sketch icon for the new library turns from white to yellow. Abstract also records the change as a commit.

Stop using a Sketch file as a library

If you ever want to stop using a file as a library file, follow the steps to convert a Sketch file to a library and uncheck Use as library….

Advanced library setup

See our library best practices.