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Question

Bulk Replace Master Components

  • November 18, 2022
  • 8 replies
  • 1842 views

Niki
  • New Participant
  • 16 replies

Hi, is there a way to replace a component in a team library (many instances in other files) without reconnecting the instances? I have 400 refurbished icon components, same size/names as the the original master. I know I can paste the new layers of the refurbished component to the master, but it’s tedious work. Is there some kind of hack or plugin or automation tool?

This topic has been closed for replies.

8 replies

Pavel_Kiselev
  • Power Member
  • 438 replies
  • November 18, 2022

You can move old icons to a separate file (cut/paste/publish). It would keep the connection with original icons.

Then swap old icon library with new one. Once it is done you can move new icons back to your master file.

UPD. Seems like I get it wrong. I assume your icons in a separate library file, they are not a part of bigger design library?


Niki
  • Author
  • New Participant
  • 16 replies
  • November 19, 2022

Hi, thanks for your reply. Yes, the icons part of an asset library. Those assets are connected to other libraries and files. The swap doesn’t change the fact that I have to reconnect all instances. Instances are tied to the unique ID of the component. And that’s my problem right now.


Kevin_Laughlin

Hey Niki, I’m dealing with a similar issue here. Were you able to find a solution that didn’t involve either redoing all of the work to the master components or reconnecting all instances?


Amar_Sijercic

Any updates on this?

I think that there should be an update that allows us to swap 2 icons with just renaming them. Figma should give us a warning something like: there are 2 components with the same name, mark those instances, delete the ones that you dont want and BUM, works like that.

This is a major issue for products that have a long maintenance cycle (enterprise products mostly).


Dad_Zurigo
  • New Participant
  • 16 replies
  • May 3, 2024

@Niki Did you solve your issue?
If yes, please share how 🙏 Thanks!


Frances_Szweda

Bumping this! I’m finding this a common issue with maintaining a design system. I would LOVE to be able to tell all instances to link to a certain component ID. Sometimes its just easier to rebuild the button component, replace the old button with the new button and tell Figma ‘this is the button now’ rather than having to go INTO the existing one and fiddling with it. Especially with complex components with nested instances.


Pavel_Kiselev

Okay, I think I have something for you to try.

Here is the plugin - https://www.figma.com/community/plugin/1369680060657648796/source-ds-utils

And here is how it works

If all your icons have identical layer structures you can choose the “Merge Content” option. It will attempt to replace vectors preserving your original overrides.


Niki
  • Author
  • New Participant
  • 16 replies
  • June 1, 2024

Wow, thanks! Finally there is a solution!


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