Direct Selection Tools Randomly Stops Functioning

Hello, I'm having some issues with Adobe Illustrator. For some reason, the direct selection tool will randomly stop allowing me to edit my anchor points. Instead of directly selecting a specific point on a path and giving me the option to move it/ adjust the curve, it just selects the entire path and simply moves it. This is very frustrating, because it forces my to make my paths perfect the first time I make them with the pen tool and doesn't allow me to edit them later. Before you ask, I am indeed using the plain white arrow (not the black one or the white arrow w/ the + sign) and I do not have any conflicting layers above the path or any strange groups that would cause this weird effect. The white arrow also makes the white box when I hover over an anchor point, but clicking doesn't do anything but select the entire path. Please help!

Christopher,
>This is very frustrating, because it forces my to make my paths perfect the first time I make them with the pen tool and doesn't allow me to edit them later.
Obviously, Illy is trying to help you get perfect.
If you want to cheat, you could try following the instructions in FAQ #2.

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Direct Selection Tool - Shape Layers in Photoshop CC Issue

I just upgraded to CC and the first major road block is the new way the direct selection tool works. In my CS6 work flow I would use the direct selection tool to jump between shape layers within the document layer. Then once the correct shape was selected I would click drag select the anchor points I want to adjust. This seems to be impossible now in CC. You can still jump between shape layers but you have to be in "All-Layers" which really hurts when I want to click drag to select specific anchor points because it selects all shapes below it. And with Active-layer selected you can't jump between shape layers with the tool but you can click drag select anchors with out selecting and shapes below the layer. The basically cut functionality right down the middle…
Below I made a very simple video showing the issue (CS6 = first PSD and CC = 2nd PSD)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/pjlvwzmli9ihczd/CCProblemBroadband.m4v
As you can see in CS6 I could fly between layers and adjust everything with out ever changing to another tool or jumping to the layers window… I can no longer do that in CC with out having the dumb issue of also selecting the layers below it, which I don't find useful 99% of the time. Is there a setting to make this work like it did in CS4-CS6???? In my line of work, we work a lot with shape layers and this is causing more time to my work day.
Thanks

1000x this. My designs are 100% vector shapes, so if Adobe have changed this core behavior intentionally, they’ve just made my life a lot more difficult.
We should be able to use the Direct Selection Tool to select a shape layer (similar to how the Move Tool has done) by clicking on any visible pixel. But then we should be able to freely drag-select points on that shape (starting from any neutral area) without selecting other shape layers. This is how it’s worked since before I can remember.
Here’s why the two new selection modes don’t work:
Active Layers - I can no longer freely select any visible shape. Instead I’m forced to make a time-consuming roundabout to the layer palette, where I have to squint to find my shape layer, and activate it manually before continuing. (Hitting “V” to select a layer, then “A” to get back to the D.S. Tool is nearly as cumbersome. Plus, I leave off the Move Tool's auto-select mode.)
All Layers - Treats all my shapes as if they’re on one layer. Overlapping shapes are therefore impossible to work with -- mainly drag-selecting and deselecting points -- in situ.
We either need a “legacy” setting, or some way to constrain selection on drag, via a key modifier or something. This “all or nothing" thing doesn’t work for me... and apparently for others. Why would they change such a thing?
Or maybe there’s something I’m missing. Please let that be the case!

Please fix the direct selection tool that you broke

When you create a curved path with at least four anchor points that is not a complete circuit, clicking on that path with the direct selection tool only selects a portion of the path, whereas before, it would select the entire path. This odd new behavior, whether intentional or not, is a result of the new Path Segment Reshaping functionality.
The problem is, it is very annoying to have only a portion of the path selected because it makes it look like the path is non-contiguous. (Selecting with the regular selection tool isn’t necessarily a solution if your paths are grouped, since it will always select the entire group, and not just the one path you’re interested in.)
This does not happen with closed paths, and it does not impede the Path Segment Reshaping functionality at all. Therefore, there is no reason why open paths shouldn’t/couldn’t behave the same way — the way they previously did before this update.

Thanks for thoroughly explaining the problem. I can reproduce the issue. I blamed it on improper screen redraw. I've noticed other screen redraw issues in 17.1.

CS2 - Can't select points with direct selection tool

Noramlly in CS5 and any other version of Photoshop or Illustrator that I know of, if you click a point in an object, it will show the handles for transforming the line. As I'm creating something today, it works for a while and then stops. Yesterday I had the same problem. I drew a few things and then suddenly, the Direct Select Tool is not showing any transform handles.
I can get them to show if I can click and drag a box over the point, but this is slow and doesn't work well for layered art. I already tried resetting my illustrator preferences. Any other ideas?
EDIT: Also, in CS5 there's a simple icon that you can click to convert the currently selected point from a curved point to an angled point. Is there not such a thing in CS2?
I ask because at work I only have access to CS2.

Gregor,
Sometimes Illy gets distracted an confused when others start intruding. The usual suspects are listen in Item 7 in Other options .
You did get rid of the preferences while Illy was alseep, no?

Problems with Direct Select tool

Maybe I'm just dumb or something but the Direct Select tool is just broken.
1. When trying to move points ( remember this is the direct select tool - it's only function!) It moves the entire object unless you perfectly hover and wait over the point.
2. When trying to select a point you grab the placed image inside the frame.
Shouldn't it work EXACTLY like it does in Illustrator? If I click on an object the entire thing selects then I can move it if I wish. But the cursor seems to snap to the point so much better in illustrator!
If I want to move the image inside the frame I wouldn't be using the Direct Select Tool. I'd by using the select tool. Moving the image shouldn't even be an option when using this tool.
This is probably the most frustrating part of Indesign. Please fix this.

Your frustration is understandable. Anchor point selection is unforgiving in InDesign, especially when compared to Illustrator with Smart Guides, although I wouldn't call it "broken."
I suspect most InDesign users don't do enough "path editing" on their InDesign pages for there to be an outcry over this.
Pablo28282 wrote:
It shouldn't be able to select and move an image. That is not the point of the tool.
That's always been a function of the Direct Select tool. Simply, if you're aiming for an anchor point and select the frame's content instead, you've missed the point. <rimshot>
There's nothing broken, and no advice to offer, other than zoom in further, slow down, and keep an eye on the pointer cues which change when the pointer is over an anchor point. I suppose it's also possible you could make adjustments to your mouse/input device settings that might help you move and click more precisely.

Arrow keys with direct select tool problem

Hi list,
I hope somebody can help me. I just switched from MX to CS3.
Now selecting an anchor with the direct select tool and
moving it with
the arrow keys moves it 30 Steps at once (Using normal select
tool works
as usual). Strangely enough I have to undo 30 Times for one
time hitting
the arrow key.
Does anyone know this problem or have a hint where to switch
this?
thanks in advance
oe

Your frustration is understandable. Anchor point selection is unforgiving in InDesign, especially when compared to Illustrator with Smart Guides, although I wouldn't call it "broken."
I suspect most InDesign users don't do enough "path editing" on their InDesign pages for there to be an outcry over this.
Pablo28282 wrote:
It shouldn't be able to select and move an image. That is not the point of the tool.
That's always been a function of the Direct Select tool. Simply, if you're aiming for an anchor point and select the frame's content instead, you've missed the point. <rimshot>
There's nothing broken, and no advice to offer, other than zoom in further, slow down, and keep an eye on the pointer cues which change when the pointer is over an anchor point. I suppose it's also possible you could make adjustments to your mouse/input device settings that might help you move and click more precisely.

How do I constrain anchor angle when I tug on a path with the direct select tool?

How do I constrain anchor angle when I tug on a path with the direct select tool like it did in every version of Illustrator since 1988? New behavior is costing me time.

That solves it!
I was not able to find this in the online materials about the pen tool. In fact, Illustrator Help | Adjust path segments does not show the new functionality at all. They need to update that article.
Better way to implement the new functionality
It would have been nice if Adobe added to the chording controls for the direct select tool the ability to toggle this setting temporarily by holding down the space bar after mouse down to drag a segment.
Before mouse down this would give the user the hand tool.
If, after mouse down, I could hold space bar and have the behavior switch from the historical capability where dragging a segment cannot change adjacent segments to the new behavior where dragging the segment cannot move anchors but can rotate them, I am sure I would find times when the tool saved time. If, before mouse up, I release spacebar, turn the constraint back on with anchors pointing in their new directions and allow me to stretch the curve protecting the new shapes of adjacent curves.
Using space bar for this would be intuitive to me because holding down the space bar is something I already do to organically drag the page around with the hand tool. The new tool allows me to more organically stretch artwork around, something that is distantly analogous, but close enough to remember.
For long time Illustrator users, the chording features holding Ctrl/Alt/Shift/Space or Ctrl/Command/Shift/Space in different combinations while using the direct select tool and pen tool is the killer app part of Illustrator that keeps us using it. This what we did on Illustrator 88 on a Mac Plus in 1988 and is still the most productive way to produce vector art when precision is required.

Selection vs. direct selection tool

I am working on a somewhat complicated design in InDesign with lots of grouped objects. I select the SELECTION TOOL and start selecting groups or single objects. About my 2nd or third click, InDesign switches to the DIRECT SELECTION TOOL. I don't want the DIRECT SELECTION TOOL, I want the SELECTION TOOL which is why I chose it. I go back and rechoose the SELECTION TOOL. ONce again, after a few clicks InDesign changes me to the DIRECT SELECTION TOOL. The nerve!This is happening constantly and driving me mad.
Anyone know why this is happening and how to stop it???
Thanks
Debbie

Debbie, Judy & everybody else:
have you find some way to solve this? It's driving us all crazy at work...
We hace ID cs, CS2 & CS3, G4 & intel, slow & fast double clicking in the system preferences... No way to solve this like Nini said???
(Nini: are you 100% sure about your "no"?)
thanks
/javier

How do I turn off preview of hidden areas when dragging an image in frame with Direct Select Tool?

CS5, Not sure how to word this...
In previous version of ID, if I had a graphic in a frame, I could drag the image around inside that frame with the Direct Selection Tool. I can still do this with CS5 but it seems to want to show the entire image in a ghosting way that is outside of the frame. Is there a way to turn this preview type look off like it was in previous versions? I feel like its slowing my computer down bigtime because I am dealing with a large image. Everytime I click to drag it, everything slows to a crawl and unusable.

Go to the Prefernces and set Live Screen Drawing to Delayed.

Direct selection tool not working

Im trying to use the direct selection tool, but instead of moving objects its only moving anchor points.. how can i fix this? it doesn't usually happen!! Im using illustrator CS6
THANKS!!!

godcoma,
I believe the (normal black arrow) Selection Tool is what you are after here.
If you ClickDrag an Anchor Point of an unselected object with the Direct Selection Tool, only that Anchor Point will be dragged along. If the whole object is selected, the whole object will be dragged along. You may select the whole object in the Layers palette if that is what you wish.

Selecting multiple objects with Direct Select tool

I'm working in InDesign CS4 on a pc and am having trouble with the Direct select tool. I go through my document selecting multiple objects, change the color of the selected boxes only to find that about half of my objects have "deselected" themselves. Has anyone else had this problem? Or does anyone have a fix I could try? Thanks!

I know, I was pretty vague.
Are you continuing to hold the shift key with each addition? Yes
Are you trying to selct things on more than one spread? No
Are you being careful to click inside each object other than an image and on the frame for an image? Yes

Selection Tool suddenly acting like Direct Selection Tool during click-and-drag

Hello!
This morning, my Selection Tool (the filled-in arrow) is acting like a Direct Selection Tool (the hollow arrow), but only when I click and drag on a group. It ends up select the anchors within the group rather than the whole group itself.
I've checked my preferences, quit and relaunched Illustrator a few times, and nothing seems to fix it. The problem briefly went away a few minutes ago, but came back when I quit and relaunched for good measure.
It's happening in Illustrator CS 5.1. I have CS6, and that version works fine, but I'm waiting on some plugins to be updated for it, so I'd like to use CS 5.1. I'm also running the latest Suitcase Fusion 4.
Any input on this would be appreciated. Thanks!

Does the cursor appear correct, do you have any other keys depresessed?
The CMD key will make selection tool into direct slection. What OS are you running, update as there was a modifier key problem through 10.6.5 - 10.6.7

Direct selection tool won't show the handles when clicking the path.

When I draw a line, no matter if it's done with pen, pencil or brush tool, and try to select a point with the direct selection tool, it won't make a selection, I can't get the handles activated. They don't show at all. It only shows the line transform handle. This happens only in one certain file. When I open a different file or create a new one, the problem doesn't exist.

Acca,
Ctrl/Cmd+H.
It toggles View>Show/Hide Edges.
The key combination Ctrl/Cmd+H is the most vulnerable one, completely surrounded by other key combinations all only waiting to wreck things when you look the other way. Or you may have tried to use one of them, then just (thought you) repeated it when it (seemingly) failed to work the first time.

Direct Selection Tool will not choose individual "path" anchor points

Photohsop CS4, 11.0.1
Mac OSX 10.4.11, MacPro, Dual-Core Intel Xeon, 2.66 GHz, 9GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT-256 MB VRAM, 500GB Startup HD, 500GB HD (wlhere file resides and scratch disk), OpenGL enabled
I am unable to select individual anchor points and line segments of a path, although the anchor points appear to be individually highlighted, copying them copies the entire path, not just the selected points, and deleting them deletes the entire path, not just the selected points. In effect the "hollow arrow" direct selection tool is working like the "solid arrow path selection" tool.
I ran Disk Warrior, repaired disk permissions. I deleted old preferences by renaming file with Photoshop closed, and then restarted photoshop.
After calling Adobe Tech Support, they are recommending I reinstall the entire CS4 suite, which I am hesitant to do. At the least I will lose all of my menu preferences in all programs. Should I just follow their advice and reinstall CS4?
Thanks.

When you click on it with path selection tool (black arrow) which option is enabled in options bar at top - add, subtract, intersect, or exclude?
Can you combine paths?
Have you tried drawing a new path and selecting points on it?
Can you still add and subtract points?
Edit: Can you pull on the bezier handles?
Edit: is it a vector mask or a standalone path?
I'm trying to simulate your problem – in the meantime I'm brainstorming, not sure how else to help. It seems like something restarting the program would fix.
What about quitting the app. Then going to User: Library: Prefs: Adobe Photoshop CS4 paths, trash it then restart?
Message was edited by: Printer_Rick: Added Edit: Can you pull on the bezier handles?

Difficulty using Direct Selection tool to select a single vertex

I'm using Illustrator (CS2) and am having some trouble with the Direct Section tool.
Is there a way to select a single vertex of an object, if all the vertices of that object are selected?
For example, let's say I want to distort a rectangle by stretching one corner. if I select a rectangle by clicking on it, all four corners are selected. If I move the cursor (the Direct Selection white arrow) over one vertex, a small square appears immediately below the white arrow, suggesting that only the one corner will be selected. However, when I click, nothing happens - all four corners remain selected, and if I drag, the rectangle moves rather than distorts.
I can select a single corner if I click onto blank space on my drawing (thereby deselecting the rectangle) and then use the Direct Selection tool to click directly on the one corner in question. Alternatively, I can coose Object>Selection Handles from the Select Menu, or use Shift+Click to deselect the other three corners (leaving only the corner I want to move selected). However, those are awkward solutions.
Is there any better way to select a single vertex of an object that is already selected?

Joe & Jacob,
Thanks for your responses.
I thought, based on what I read in the Illustrator help files, that the technique Joe describes would work. However, it doesn't seem to. If I have the object selected and then use the Direct Selection Tool (either by holding down CTRL or by selecting the white pointer tool from the palette) to click on a single vertex, all the vertices remain selected. I tried both click-and-release and click-and-hold but the behavior is the same either way.
But clicking on the path with the Direct Selection tool does seem to work (provided that the object hasn't already been selected). In this case all the vertices appear but are hollow (unselected) and I can then select one of them.
Thanks again for the information, and if you or anyone else has any additional hints about the first technique, I would be interested to learn them!
- Eric

Direct Selection Tools Randomly Stops Functioning

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