As editor and maybe also as viewer I want to be able to see where specific components are used. So I’m basically talking about way to find instances of a component across files.
There’s a plugin called “Instance Finder” but unfortunately it’s just working within one file not across.
For huge design systems with multiple files and different designers working on it this is far from ideal.
This idea is not new but since the other topics are closed I guess I need to open a new thread.
This was easy to do in Sketch 3 years ago. Robust component handling is something I really miss from Sketch. Things like notifications when a component you’re deleting still has instances and where they are, easy copy/pasting master components between files without detaching instances. I’ve used Gleb’s Master plug-in, which is helpful, but Figma should really support these things in product by now.
Silly workaround, but it helped me! I just edit the background of the component to be an obnoxious color that’s not used in my file. Then I go through the pages zoomed out looking for that color. Another option, which would let you find it in the layers, is to add text to the component that says something unique like “Find me – I wish Figma could do this!” and then do a find on that text. Yes-- I’d rather right-click on the component and choose “Find instances”… but until then, this trick will work for me.
We’ve moved your reply to a more relevant feature request thread. Be sure to also vote, so we have a more accurate gauge of interest from the community! ☝️
I would like to know if there is a quick way to see if the component on library is still used, if so how many times, in which project files it is located, if there are duplicates etc.?
The analytics page is not really helpful (too global, we need to search the component we have in mind).
I would like to see all the data of component directly on the artboard (right click menu?). Also see if the component is a ghost (not used ever so we can kill him for good).
An analytics page of the component in popin or slide page with quick access to manage it.
It would be amazing if it were possible to click on an instance and see a list of all the elements in which that instance is being used (in the same page, in all pages and in all files).
Scenario:
If I’m a new designer at a company with a giant design system and organization issues, and the only tool I have is the search field, which requires me to copy and paste the name of each of the hundreds or thousands of instances to know if my change will destroy some element… this is crazy!
Solution:
• In the right menu, add an area that would show:
This selected instance is being used:
• 59 times (In 3 files / 14 pages) :
