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:
- Open the Abstract desktop app.
- 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.
- 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 / from branch libraries until they are merged to the main branch.
- Select the Files tab at the top.
- Click Add file.
- Click Create Sketch File as library….
- Name and create your new library file.
The Sketch icon for the new library turns from white to yellow. 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:
- Open the Abstract desktop app.
- 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.
- Select Main from the left side pane.
- Select the Files tab at the top.
- Click Add File > Import Sketch File as Library or Import Sketch File (if new project).
- Select the library file you'd like to import.
- 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:
- Open the Abstract desktop app.
- Select the project where you’d like to create a library.
- Select Branches from the left side pane.
- Select the branch with the Sketch file you’d like to convert.
- Right-click the file name.
- 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.