Illustrator freezes selecting objects

I am running Illustrator CS5 on a brand new quad-core MacBook Pro. When I'm working in an Illustrator file, every time I click on a different object the program freezes for a good 5 seconds (which adds up really quickly and is really annoying.) I first noticed this in a large illustrator file with a lot of different elements, but I was testing it out and it still happens when I have a new document with only two circles in it. One of the circles is selected and I click on the other circle and the program freezes.
Anyone else have this problem/know how to fix it? Thanks!

OK I found the problem for mine... I should have guessed this actually, as it was causing some problems in Photoshop for me as well, until I disabled it for Photoshop, then those problems were solved.
Do you by any chance use the application RightZoom? It seems to cause bugs in a few of the the CreativeSuite apps... I disabled RightZoom (cmd+click on the app to see preferences and disable it) and now the pausing on selecting an element in Illustrator is fixed for me.
Hope that helps!
Nick

Similar Messages

Selecting Objects in Illustrator - selecting objects only completely contained within your selection box

Hi
Macbook Pro, Illustrator CC 2014.1.0
When selecting objects in Illustrator using a selection box created by dragging a selection tool, everything that the box touches gets selected. On programs like AutoCad, there are options to select only what is completely contained within the selection box. This can be very helpful. Can one do this in Illustrator?
Thanks in advance

I use Illustrator pretty often but I'm not at a level that I understand scripting. Maybe I'm out of luck then.

Error on selecting object in ILLUSTRATOR CC

Hi everyone, i have problem with selecting object in illustrator CC, when i select the current object it will also select the other object, i cannot select the object i want, not on the group or clipping mask.. always highlight it both. it often times happen when i doing so much vector object. any help from you guys is so much appreciated..
thanks
Creig

This has been happening through so many versions that I no longer remember when I first encountered it.
One trick that occasionally works when you get such a 'ghost' selection;
Create another object (a small square or whatever).
Select it. Your new object and the ghost will be selected at this point.
Align them using any one of the alignment buttons, it doesn't matter which one.
Immediately undo the move (Cmnd/Ctrl + z) and deselect your new object. About nine times out of ten the ghost selection will be gone as well. If so, you can delete your extraneous object and continue working (until next time).
It doesn't always work. But it is quicker than a restart when it does.
--OB

Illustrator freezes temporarily when selecting

Every time I select something, Illustrator freezes for about 5 seconds. Pretty much the same thing happens in Photoshop when I click and hold on one of the tools to get it's submenu; this makes it almost impossible to get to a submenu tool.
It's been doing this for the whole 2 weeks I've had it installed. I've set the scratch disks to my startup SSD, my large HDD, and both; which doesn't fix the problem.
I reinstalled Mac OS X 10.6 when I got my SSD; before this it was working perfectly.

When trashing your preferences
1. Did you first quit Illustrator?
2. Did you trash the whole Adobe Settings folder or just the preference file?
3. Did you run the color sync utility to see if you have corrupt color profiles.
4. Did you repair the Permission with the disk utility
5. Did you check to see if you have corrupt fonts?

Very slow when selecting objects

I have a problem with illustrator CS5. Whenever I select an object on the canvas by clicking on said object Illustrator freezes for a few seconds (showing me the spinner). This happens whether there is 1 object or 50 on the canvas so it certainly has nothing to do with the number of objects. Oddly, if I click on the canvas and drag-and-select objects this does not happen; they are selected immediately. Of course most of the times I forget this and have to wait constantly because I accidently selected an object directly, which is extremely annoying and almost to the point of unworkable.
Anybody got any ideas about how to solve this?
Sys specs:
MacBook Pro
Mac OS X 10.6.7
2.66Ghz Intel Core i7
8GB 1067 MHz DDR3

Many reasons, to help narrow it down create a new document draw one lement and let us know if you have a slowdown.
Reset your preferences.
Cmd-Opt-Ctrl-Shift when restarting AI on a Mac or Alt-Crtl-Shift on a PC to reset to the defaults.
Flush Cache (Good for slowdown)
delete users\(username)\library\preferences\com.adobe.mediabrowser.plist
FONTS
Fo you have alot of fonts loaded. You may have a corrupt font. Close any you do nto use often
Permissions
Run applications >> utilities >> disk utility and repair permissions.
Ram
Run applications >> utilities >> system profiler and check the status of your ram and hard drive
HUH Error
If the test you did in the beginining returned your computer to a speedy apce, search the forums for HUH error.
OnyX
Download onyx from apples site for your OS version and do the cleaning tab.

Script to apply a random CMYK swatches from a group of swatches to selected objects.

I would like to write some scripts for randomising the allocation of swatches to adjacent object.
Example:
Imagine a map of Europe and all her nation states/territories. I have a User Defined Swatch Library. I can open the AI document it was made from as I understand from this thread that having the swatches as objects on the page makes them easier to be referenced in a script.
I want to iterate through the selected objects and randomly assign one of the colours in the swatch document as a fill to each object. It would be great if hidden swatches (they are all small rectangular 'colour chip' filled paths) on page were not included in the reference swatches randomly choosen from.
Iterating the selected objects I can do, but not sure what references I need to use to create an array of swatches to randomly choose from.
I see I can make an array of swatches using the general swatch group from Adobe's CreateSwatchGroup scripts:
JS
var docRef = app.documents.add(DocumentColorSpace.CMYK)
// Create a new SwatchGroup
var swatchGroup = docRef.swatchGroups.add();
swatchGroup.name = "CreateSwatchGroup";
// Get list of swatches in general swatch group
var genSwatchGroup = docRef.swatchGroups[0];
// Collect 5 random swatches from general swatch group and move to new group
var i = 0;
while (i < 5) {
          var swatches = genSwatchGroup.getAllSwatches();
          swatchCount = swatches.length;
          var swatchIndex = Math.round(Math.random() * (swatchCount - 1)); // 0-based index
          // New swatch group does not allow patterns or gradients
          if (swatches[swatchIndex].color.typename != "PatternColor" && swatches[swatchIndex].color.typename != "GradientColor") {
                    swatchGroup.addSwatch(swatches[swatchIndex]);
                    i++;
// Updates swatch list with swatches moved to new swatch group
swatches = swatchGroup.getAllSwatches();
// [… etc etc]
AS
tell application "Adobe Illustrator"
activate
          set docRef to make new document with properties {color space:CMYK}
-- Create a new SwatchGroup
          set swatchGroupRef to make new swatchgroup in current document with properties {name:"CreateSwatchGroup"}
-- Get list of swatches in general swatch group
          set genSwatchGroup to swatchgroup 1 of docRef
-- Collect 5 random swatches from the general swatch group and move to new group
          set i to 0
          repeat until i is 5
                    set swatchesRef to get all swatches genSwatchGroup
                    set swatchCount to count every item in swatchesRef
                    set swatchIndex to random number from 1 to swatchCount
                    set currentSwatch to item swatchIndex of swatchesRef
-- New swatch group does not allow patterns or gradients
                    if class of color of currentSwatch is not pattern color info and class of color of currentSwatch is not gradient color info then
add swatch swatchGroupRef swatch currentSwatch
                              set i to i + 1
                    end if
          end repeat
-- [… etc etc]
If someone can help me to create the Swatch Array object of swatches loaded from a seperate document (or unique layer) then I think I can work my way to changing the fill on the existing paths (the nations in my map of Europe example).
Would be very cool if I could detect neighbooring paths (nieghbooring nations in my map of Europe example) make sure the colour being assigned is not within a certain hue/CMYK range of the random colour and if it is rechoose random colour. I have no idea how to perform the logic of determining neighbooring paths in an Illustartor script. Anybody?!
I'd prefer Applescript for sake of readiblity and also I'm learning AS ATM. Plus I'm using Script Debugger.app (which is excellent) to work with AS and I can't seem to run JSX scripts from within Extend Script Toolkit 2 (perhaps I need to make my scripts point to Illustrator?)
But Javascript is okay if someone has this covered already :-)

I would like to write some scripts for randomising the allocation of swatches to adjacent object.
Example:
Imagine a map of Europe and all her nation states/territories. I have a User Defined Swatch Library. I can open the AI document it was made from as I understand from this thread that having the swatches as objects on the page makes them easier to be referenced in a script.
I want to iterate through the selected objects and randomly assign one of the colours in the swatch document as a fill to each object. It would be great if hidden swatches (they are all small rectangular 'colour chip' filled paths) on page were not included in the reference swatches randomly choosen from.
Iterating the selected objects I can do, but not sure what references I need to use to create an array of swatches to randomly choose from.
I see I can make an array of swatches using the general swatch group from Adobe's CreateSwatchGroup scripts:
JS
var docRef = app.documents.add(DocumentColorSpace.CMYK)
// Create a new SwatchGroup
var swatchGroup = docRef.swatchGroups.add();
swatchGroup.name = "CreateSwatchGroup";
// Get list of swatches in general swatch group
var genSwatchGroup = docRef.swatchGroups[0];
// Collect 5 random swatches from general swatch group and move to new group
var i = 0;
while (i < 5) {
          var swatches = genSwatchGroup.getAllSwatches();
          swatchCount = swatches.length;
          var swatchIndex = Math.round(Math.random() * (swatchCount - 1)); // 0-based index
          // New swatch group does not allow patterns or gradients
          if (swatches[swatchIndex].color.typename != "PatternColor" && swatches[swatchIndex].color.typename != "GradientColor") {
                    swatchGroup.addSwatch(swatches[swatchIndex]);
                    i++;
// Updates swatch list with swatches moved to new swatch group
swatches = swatchGroup.getAllSwatches();
// [… etc etc]
AS
tell application "Adobe Illustrator"
activate
          set docRef to make new document with properties {color space:CMYK}
-- Create a new SwatchGroup
          set swatchGroupRef to make new swatchgroup in current document with properties {name:"CreateSwatchGroup"}
-- Get list of swatches in general swatch group
          set genSwatchGroup to swatchgroup 1 of docRef
-- Collect 5 random swatches from the general swatch group and move to new group
          set i to 0
          repeat until i is 5
                    set swatchesRef to get all swatches genSwatchGroup
                    set swatchCount to count every item in swatchesRef
                    set swatchIndex to random number from 1 to swatchCount
                    set currentSwatch to item swatchIndex of swatchesRef
-- New swatch group does not allow patterns or gradients
                    if class of color of currentSwatch is not pattern color info and class of color of currentSwatch is not gradient color info then
add swatch swatchGroupRef swatch currentSwatch
                              set i to i + 1
                    end if
          end repeat
-- [… etc etc]
If someone can help me to create the Swatch Array object of swatches loaded from a seperate document (or unique layer) then I think I can work my way to changing the fill on the existing paths (the nations in my map of Europe example).
Would be very cool if I could detect neighbooring paths (nieghbooring nations in my map of Europe example) make sure the colour being assigned is not within a certain hue/CMYK range of the random colour and if it is rechoose random colour. I have no idea how to perform the logic of determining neighbooring paths in an Illustartor script. Anybody?!
I'd prefer Applescript for sake of readiblity and also I'm learning AS ATM. Plus I'm using Script Debugger.app (which is excellent) to work with AS and I can't seem to run JSX scripts from within Extend Script Toolkit 2 (perhaps I need to make my scripts point to Illustrator?)
But Javascript is okay if someone has this covered already :-)

Create a new object that surrounds the selected objects

Is there anyway in illustrator to create a new vector object from selected objects?
IE if i have three rectangles selected, can I make a new vector path that surrounds them all.
I dont mean welding a group of vectors together or offsetting a path...which isnt exactly what i need.
What Im needing to do is create cut lines around complex vector art quickly.
Thanks in advance.

Mike i need to make an outline around a logo but if the logo has many elements that make up the edge of the logo does that method work?
As the cut line needs to be a closed path
Ideally i want to avoid tracing around the logo with the pen tool or add to shape area in pathfinder tab.
I sure theres a really easy way to do this.
Kurt its an interesting discussion however in need a closed path to surrond artwork and live paint does just the opposite :)

Select objects inside a shape

Hello!
Im looking for a way to export a pattern made in Illustrator to auto cad.
I would like to select objects inside a shape based on the shape.
As you can see here i would like to select all the objects inside the blue circle, and delete everything outside of it. I dont want to use a cliping mask as it does not really destory the objects outside the
circle. Any help would be much appreciated.
/Jakob

Jakob,
You may use careful manual cutting (using Smart Guides) along the circle and grumble over the lack of easy ways to do it properly on open paths.
Or you may do the destructive deed, with the Clipping Mask selected:
1) In the Transparency palette/panel dropdown list select anything but Normal (Multiply is fine),
2) Object>Flatten Transparency, just keep the defaults including 100% Vector,
3) Shudder.
This should reduce the size to the Bounding Box of the Clipping Path.
It makes a bit of a mess out of the mesh (strokes are outlined to become filled paths); it has the (dis)advantage of cutting each path end at the actual angle of the Clipping Path (the circle).

Problems selecting object to align to

I'd love to understand how Illustrator decides which object is the key object when using the "Align to Key Object" function. For me, it decides on the wrong object an uncanny percentage of the time. You'd think it would do as well as random chance, but no.
I understand that when it chooses the wrong object to align to, I have to then select the object I want but sometimes it just won't highlight the preferred object. Why? Ideas for how to control the process?
(FreeHand had the common sense to have an easily understandable sequence when centering; it aligned on the object that was larger in the alignment axis. Easy.)
Thanks,
Dave

fhdave wrote:
... it decides on the wrong object...
... but the question is why am I sometimes not able to select the object I want to align to ...
dave, your input is confusing, first you said that Illustrator aligns to a wrong (not the key) object, then you said that you are not able to select a key object. Please, clarify

Selected objects and markers?

Hello!
Not sure what just happened, but I suspect I may have hit a hotkey shortcut for hiding the visual aid for selected objects.
How do I change it back? I cannot see anymore which element (object, anchor, path, etc.) that I have selected on my artboard.
This has happened to me before and I cannot remember how I fixed it, although I know it's a simple fix.
Googling didn't help me, I'm afraid.

View >> Smart Guides (Enableel with checkmark)
Illustrator >> Preferences >> Smart Guides (Check more items to show more)
Adobe decided about a decade ago to change the keyboard shortcut of CMD U from Ungroup to smart guides, I still make this mistake occasionally.

Hide bounding box of a selected object

I tried using the feature request page but got an error after typing all this and thankfully I copied all of the text I entered just before hitting submit just in case the website decided to act stupid like it did (would have to retype all of the following and many sites fail at keeping that info or even bringing back the page you were on.. Very bad for users)
*******Enhancement / FMR*********
Hide Bounding Box of selected objects
An option to turn this on/off under the view menu > Extras
Standardizing features like this across your Adobe apps (photoshop, illustrator) would make it more consistent since I was really looking hard to find a way to do this similar to the other apps I mentioned but InDesign failed to do this. It's very distracting trying to apply effects such as a drop shadow and not being able to see the result properly because of the bounding box. I hope this gets implemented ASAP.

After trying this again, it seemed to go through this time. Hopefully they get this implemented soon.

Creating a rectangular marquee to select objects

I am trying to use the selection tool or the direct selection tool to create a rectangular marquee somewhere within the boundaries of an illustration.
I want to select only those objects that are fully or partially within that marquee.
I can use the lasso to select objects in this way.
But if I try to use the selection or direct selection tool, it selects and moves the first object I touch.
I can use the selection tools and begin from outside the image area and create a rectangular marquee of selected objects.
But I can't do this if I begin within the image.

Illustrator is mostly alone in its selection options. Some other vector drawing applications have an option as to the marquee selection behavior.
I wouldn't hold your breath for a change.
Mike

Auto-zoom to selected object?

I have a mystery ghost path that I can't find. It shows up in the layer palette. But I can't see it on my artboard. I have Show Bounding Box and Show Edges turned on. I alt/option click the layer to select everything. But there's nothing selected on my artboard. (And my artboard is sized to fit artwork bounds).
Are there any scripts to auto-zoom/scroll the canvas to a selected object? Most 3D apps have a "Frame Object" command that moves and zooms the camera to make the selected object centered on the screen. Is there something like that for Illustrator?

I don't think so. Just lock down anything you want to keep, Select All, and hit delete. The phantom guide should go away.

Noob Question 1: Selecting Objects On Layer Like CorelDraw?

Hi,
I'm moving from CorelDraw. (I know this makes a lot of people laugh, but it's a great program. I'm moving to Adobe just because the pre-press house we're using demands it.
Anyhoo... In CorelDraw, there is a button one use to see in a sort of 'tree view' all the objects on a given layer. When you click on the layer, it opens the tree so you see the objects that belong there. This makes it -super- easy to select objects that are deep down/partially hidden.
Is there anything like this in InDesign? Sometimes it's kinda hard to grab a particular object, especially when there are lots of things on top of one another.
Ideas?
TIA,
---JC

No, nothing like that yet. You'll find that in Illustrator and it a requested feature for InDesign so you might just want to chime in here:
https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=wishform
That said, you can simply ctrl/cmd click to click down through a stack of objects.
Bob

InDesign user studying Illustrator! (selection question)

Hi,
I'm trying to learn Illustrator (taking an online class in it). I've used it a bit for editing, but I've never worked primarily in it. I'm mostly an InDesign user, but I want to know Illustrator a lot better too.
I've got a question about selecting items on the artboard, and I'm struggling with how to word it, but here goes:
When selecting objects on the artboard, is there a method of selection equivalent to what happens when you repeatedly click in InDesign while holding down the Ctrl key? Repeatedly clicking in InDesign allows you to select the object below where you've clicked (if you have several overlapping objects) but is NOT the same as using the menu option for "Next Oject Below." I've always been confused by this difference, but I'll see if I can explain it: "Next Object Below" selects the next object in the stacking order regardless of where it is on the page. Whereas holding the Ctrl key and clicking repeatedly selects the next object directly below the point where you've clicked (and nowhere else on the page). Is there an equivalent to that type of selection in Illustrator?
Thanks, Phyllis

No, it's not your machine; I get the same behavior as you, Phyllis.
The thing is: The desired behavior is dependent upon the location of a
mouse click, not the position of a selected object.
An Action can reference the current selection. But I doubt very seriously that the Action feature goes and gets the
most recent mouse click coordinates (even if Illustrator stores them somewhere) in order to know
where to select something if and when an Action that invokes the select next above/below command is run.
Personally, I suspect it's just another sloppy bug that the cursor menu items in question can be recorded at all. It was probably overlooked that the
names of the two
different functions are identical. When you record the one from the cursor submenu, it tries to run the function that resides in the Select menu.
At any rate, the behavior is as I stated: useless. Even if recording it as an Action worked, it would be nowhere near the clearly better funtionality of other programs (one of which Adobe owns). The difference is that cycling through the stack
under the cursor should not be invoked by a
keyboard shortcut per se, but by a keyboard
modifier that alters the behavior of a click that occurs while the key is held down.
See Freehand for an example of this simple feature done right.
JET

Illustrator freezes selecting objects

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