Copying any text in symbol copies ALL...

Running Illustrator CS4, Mac 10.5.4, Quad Intel

Selecting any text within a symbol--even one word of a paragraph for instance--copies *all* of the text in the symbol (including text in any nested symbols). (This has been convenient when stripping text into a Word file, but not convenient when trying to do other text tasks.) Happens no matter where in the symbol hierarchy I am.

Has anyone encountered this? Have searched the forum, and the web--can't find any mention anywhere. Have replicated the error on several machines with unique installs of Illustrator.

Any advice or explanation will be appreciated.

Copying any text in symbol copies ALL...

Copy the symbol, if you wish paste in front or paste on the canvas outside the artboard.

Break the link.

If you update the symbol delete delinked copy and make a new one. You can hide the copy as well.

Or you might try using variables.