Expand: selected symbol instances become their art, as Break Link places it

Object > Expand with Object on now turns each symbol instance in the
selection, including one in a selected group or in a placed document's
art, into its art, as Break Link to Symbol places it. It goes one level
deep: the instances in that art stay instances. The art keeps the
instance's id and place in the stacking order, and Expand stays one
undo step.

- Instances with effects stay instances, and Expand Appearance bakes
  them as before. Instances with an effect on a fill or stroke,
  instances in perspective, and those in blends, repeats and Intertwine
  groups stay instances.
- The art keeps the instance's opacity mask, as Break Link gives it.
- A hidden or locked instance's art stays hidden or locked.
- A placed document in an instance's art is expanded too.
- When the instances' art would make more than 1,000,000 objects, they
  stay instances, the limit Break Link uses.
- The Fill and Stroke options (object.expand.info, and the Expand
  dialog) count the fills, strokes and gradients in the art of those
  instances, with a dynamic instance's own changes applied. The info
  reports under symbolArt which of them only that art holds, and the
  dialog enables those options only while Object is on.

docs/control-protocol.md

@@ -455,7 +455,9 @@ changed since); its preview greys the art and paints the highlighted objects or
 
 Expand: Object → Expand… (`ui.expandDialog`, or `object.expand` without params from the menus, palette and shortcuts)
 opens the `expand` dialog for the selection. Fields: `object`, `fill`, `stroke` (all on; `__object`, `__fill`,
-`__stroke` say which the selection has something for, as `object.expand.info` does, and the others are disabled),
+`__stroke` say which the selection has something for, as `object.expand.info` does, and the others are disabled;
+`__fill_symbol`, `__stroke_symbol` and `__gradient_symbol` say that only the art of symbol instances holds it, and
+those options are enabled only while `object` is on),
 `gradient` (`objects` or `mesh`) and `steps` (1–1000, default 255), which are enabled when `fill` is on and
 `__gradient` says the selection has a gradient fill (`object.expand.info`'s `gradient`). `ui.dialog.confirm` runs `object.expand` with them as
 one undo step. While the selection has an appearance Expand Appearance expands (effects, several fills or strokes, a

docs/mcp.md

@@ -2803,7 +2803,9 @@ an instance when the effects in the symbol's art, or the instance's own, paint o
 ## Expand
 
 `object.expand {object?, fill?, stroke?, gradient?, steps?}` (Object → Expand…) turns the selection into plain art in
-one undo step. `object` (on by default) outlines type, turns live shapes into paths and bakes effects; `stroke` (on)
+one undo step. `object` (on by default) turns the symbol instances in the selection without effects (on the instance
+or on its fills and strokes) and not in perspective, those in a placed document's art included, into their art as `symbol.breakLink` places it (the instances
+that art holds stay instances; a hidden or locked instance's art stays hidden or locked), outlines type, turns live shapes into paths and bakes effects; `stroke` (on)
 outlines strokes into filled paths, the stroked paths that baking effects leaves included (a group's own stroke among
 them, #3089); `fill` (on) expands gradient fills: with `gradient: "objects"` (the default) into
 `steps` (1–1000, default 255) solid objects (rectangles across a linear gradient, each from its band to the far end so
@@ -2831,9 +2833,11 @@ or a geometry effect on a group or type, which the canvas draws turned or scaled
 and those of the object shape the outline of the clip group, the gradient fits that outline and the tiles reach its
 box, as the canvas paints the fill; the expanded art does not keep them. With `fill: false` gradient and pattern fills
 stay live. `object.expand.info` answers which options have something to expand in the selection
-(`{object, fill, stroke, gradient, appearance}`; `gradient` says whether Fill has a gradient fill, which Expand
+(`{object, fill, stroke, gradient, appearance, symbolArt?}`; `gradient` says whether Fill has a gradient fill, which Expand
 Gradient To applies to; `appearance` whether the selection has appearance attributes Expand Appearance expands first,
-for which Object → Expand… is dimmed in the menus), and `object.mesh.create` on a gradient-filled object colours the
+for which Object → Expand… is dimmed in the menus; `symbolArt: {fill, stroke, gradient}`, present when the selection
+holds symbol instances that `object` expands, whether only their art holds it, which Fill and Stroke reach only with
+`object` on), and `object.mesh.create` on a gradient-filled object colours the
 mesh points as the gradient paints them, with the colors Object › Expand gives them.
 
 ```json

docs/target-app-parity.md

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Parity with Adobe Illustrator
 
-> **Last reviewed:** 2026-10-10 · **Last updated:** 2026-11-03 · **Change:** minor (OpenType Stylistic Sets menu added; scores and estimates unchanged) · **Target:** Adobe Illustrator 2026 (30.x; public release notes through 30.7, August 2026)
+> **Last reviewed:** 2026-10-10 · **Last updated:** 2026-11-03 · **Change:** minor (Object › Expand turns symbol instances into their art; scores and estimates unchanged) · **Target:** Adobe Illustrator 2026 (30.x; public release notes through 30.7, August 2026)
 
 ## Feature submission evidence
 
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ Artboard Options forwards the active Artboard tool's Scale Artwork with Artboard
 
 | Date | Change | Summary |
 |---|---|---|
+| 2026-11-04 | minor | Object › Expand turns selected symbol instances into their art as Break Link places it, one level deep, with the Expand dialog's Fill and Stroke reaching that art. Scores and estimates unchanged. |
 | 2026-11-03 | minor | The OpenType panel offers the selected font's stylistic sets by custom or numbered name, and allows several to be active. Scores and estimates unchanged. |
 | 2026-11-03 | minor | Actions panel: an expanded action's steps can be excluded from playback and Batch… by clearing their checkmarks; action and set checkmarks include or exclude all their steps, and exclusions survive restart, duplication and `.vcactions` save/load. Scores and estimates unchanged. |
 | 2026-11-03 | minor | Correct the Type core missing list and remove duplicate target and Type core entries: Hyphenation and Justification options are complete; the remaining Every-line Composer fidelity limits stay listed. Record the Kashidas paragraph lengths and per-character switch in the feature history (#5404). Scores and estimates unchanged. |
@@ -648,6 +649,7 @@ Moved from the ROADMAP's "Shipped so far" on 2026-10-10. Update it when a featur
   - **9-slice guides on the canvas** ([public source](https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/desktop/manage-objects/traces-mockups-symbols/maintain-proportions-while-scaling-symbols.html)): while a symbol with Enable Guides for 9-Slice Scaling on is edited in symbol editing mode, the canvas draws its two horizontal and two vertical guides as dotted lines across its art, with any tool and with ruler guides hidden. With the Selection tool the pointer near a guide shows the Move cursor, and dragging the guide moves it (`symbol.options`'s `nineSliceGuides`) as one undo step; Escape during the drag puts it back. VectorCraft's own rules: a guide within 4 screen pixels takes the press before the art and the bounding box; it stays within the art's box (guides outside the art are not supported yet) and stops short of the opposite guide; the drag does not snap. Tests: `nineslice::tests`, `symbol_nine_slice::tests::the_edited_symbols_guides_cross_its_art_where_the_editing_layer_shows_it`, `a_moved_guide_stays_in_the_art_and_short_of_the_opposite_guide`, `canvas::tests::the_edited_symbols_nine_slice_guides_are_drawn_and_dragged_on_the_canvas`.
   - **Delete Symbol asks first** ([Symbols panel](https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/desktop/manage-objects/traces-mockups-symbols/symbols-panel-options.html), [symbol libraries](https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/desktop/manage-objects/traces-mockups-symbols/create-or-import-symbol-libraries.html), [Alt-click Delete](https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/default-keyboard-shortcuts.html)): the Symbols panel's Delete Symbol button and menu item ask "Delete the selected symbol?" with Yes and No for a symbol no instance uses. For a symbol with placed instances they ask with Expand Instances (the instances become ordinary art), Delete Instances and Cancel; either Instances button deletes the symbol in one undo step. Alt-click on the button deletes an unused symbol without asking and still asks about one with instances. A question left open while another document became active deletes nothing. `symbol.delete` itself does not ask. Tests: `panels::symbols::tests::delete_symbol_asks_first_and_alt_click_deletes_an_unused_symbol_at_once`, `the_in_use_question_expands_or_deletes_the_instances`, `a_stale_delete_symbol_question_deletes_nothing`, `the_delete_symbol_questions_show_their_buttons`.
   - **Symbols › Select All Unused** ([Symbols panel](https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/desktop/manage-objects/traces-mockups-symbols/symbols-panel-options.html), #4918): the Symbols panel menu's Select All Unused shows the symbols nothing places selected (`symbol.unused`): instances in the art (opacity masks included), graph designs, pattern tiles and brush art count, and so do instances in a used symbol's art. Delete Symbol, the button or the menu item, then asks "Delete the selected symbols?" once and deletes those still unused in one undo step (`symbol.delete {names}`); Alt-click on the button deletes them without asking, and a click on a symbol picks just it again. Tests: `tests::brushsym::symbol_unused_lists_the_symbols_nothing_places_and_delete_takes_several`, `panels::symbols::tests::select_all_unused_picks_the_unused_symbols_and_delete_deletes_them`, `dialogs::symbol_delete::tests::several_symbols_get_the_plural_question`.
+  - **Expand of symbol instances:** Object › Expand turns selected symbol instances (without effects, not in perspective, in groups or placed documents too) into their art as Break Link to Symbol places it, one level deep, as one undo step; the Expand dialog's Fill and Stroke reach that art (`object.expand`, `crates/engine/src/tests/expand_symbols.rs`; estimated, score unchanged).
   - **Brush libraries** ([public source](https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/desktop/paint-and-fill/apply-and-edit-strokes/create-new-brush-libraries.html), [import](https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/desktop/paint-and-fill/apply-and-edit-strokes/import-brushes-from-brush-libraries-or-other-files.html), [Brushes panel](https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/desktop/paint-and-fill/apply-and-edit-strokes/brushes-panel-overview.html)): Window › Brush Libraries, the Brushes panel's Brush Libraries Menu and its menu's Open Brush Library open each library in a library panel of its own, as swatch, graphic style and symbol libraries do. The built-in libraries (Art Ribbons, Calligraphic Nibs, Pattern Borders, Scatter Shapes) are original brushes generated in code (`crates/engine/src/cmd/brushlib.rs`); Striped Ribbon's art is filled with the library's own pattern and Sparkles scatters the library's own symbol. A click on a brush adds it to the document's Brushes as one undo step with every resource its art uses (patterns, symbols, swatches, graphic styles, images), makes it the current brush and, with paths selected, applies it to them in the same step; a brush the document already has is not added again and a different brush of the same name comes in numbered ("Wave 2"). Shift/Cmd-clicks select brushes for Add to Brushes; a brush dragged onto a path is added and applied to it, and one dragged onto the Brushes panel is added. Save Brushes… / the Brushes panel's Save Brush Library… write the document's brushes (or the selected ones) as a `.vectorcraft` library into the `Brushes` folder next to the preferences, listed under User Defined, or to a file; Other Library… reads the brushes of any document VectorCraft opens. Thumbnails, in the library panels, the Brushes panel and Brush Options, render brush art with the patterns and symbols it uses. Copying brushed art now carries the patterns and symbols its brush's art uses too. Tests: `crates/engine/src/tests/brushlib.rs`, `crates/ui-egui/src/panels/tests_brush_libraries.rs`, `panels::brushes::tests::library_brush_previews_show_the_patterns_their_art_uses`, `canvas::tests::a_library_brush_dropped_on_a_path_is_added_and_applied_in_one_step`.
   - A canvas context menu: right-click selects the object under the pointer and lists what applies to the selection (Undo/Redo, clipboard, group, isolation, join, Remove Anchor Points when anchors are selected, masks, compound paths, guides, Transform, Arrange, Select, Export Selection), or the view commands on empty canvas.
   - A right-click over locked objects adds an Unlock submenu to the canvas context menu. The submenu lists up to 20 locked objects under the pointer, topmost first, by the name the Layers panel shows, and choosing one unlocks it (`layer.setProps`). A locked group is listed as one item. Objects on hidden, locked or template layers are not listed.