Selecting objects below

I am a Freehand fan who has now had to use Illustrator almost exclusively. The whole access to vector points in illustrator bugs me but most of all access to objects below. In Freehand and Indesign and even Photoshop it is possible to hold either the control or command key and click thru the layers. Adobe now own Freehand why cant they make this available in illustrator. It would save me a lot of time. I know placing objects on separate layers is sort of a solution but I have to usually work on other people's work or do something in a hurry.

Back when I worked in Illustrator 8, I had a boss who was a complete Freehand nut. So, seeing I was weak in Freehand, my boss pushed every Freehand job in the shop he could find onto my desk. This made me a lot quicker and better at Freehand. However my skill set had to drop Freehand years ago to survive in the industry. There are many great ways of selecting objects below others, as in the previous example in this thread. There is also clicking the circle on the right side of each layer and sublayer. Clicking the circle in the layer will select everything on the layer. Clicking on the circle on each sublayer selects the individual item. This is not the method I use when picking through a file. I have gotten real good at keyboard shortcuts, which can be easily customized in Illustrator. To select items below others I select the top item and use the Command+3 which is the shortcut to Object>Hide Selection. The other shortcut I use all the time is Command+Option+3 which is Object>Show All. This is just my personal preference of how to get through a lot of objects in a file. If you try this you can get very fast and fluid at these two shortcuts. The best thing about keyboard shortcuts is people who don't use them look at you like you are doing some magic trick.

Similar Messages

Resizing selected objects

Ok, so I am trying to write a script that resizes an object that is selected. I have two objects selected, the one on top is a group item, the one below it is a rectangle. I am trying to resize the rectangle to the size of the group item on top of it with a little margin around it. Here is what I have so far.
var design = app.activeDocument.selection[0];
     var top=design.visibleBounds[1]+5*2;
     var left=design.visibleBounds[0]-5*2;
     var width=design.visibleBounds[2]-design.visibleBounds[0]+10*2;
     var height=design.visibleBounds[1]-design.visibleBounds[3]+10*2;
var background = app.activeDocument.selection[1];
background.position = (top, left, width, height);
The problem is the last line there. I'm not sure how to manipulate the position/size of the selected object or if it is even possible I have searched for it and haven not found an answer. Thanks in advance!

position property expects an Array, with x and y values, in that order. As for the width and height properties, use them in separate statements
background.position = [left, top];
background.width = width;
background.height = height;

[Agentry] Identifying the selected object in multi-tab lists on iPad

hi all,
On iPad, we can create a multi-tab lists to group objects based on different criteria as shown below.
In my implementation, I created a Tile Display which holds a screen set called “Lists” with multiple list screens.
Once we select an object in one of the lists, we need to either display details of the it or execute some transactions on that object. Then I had difficulty to find a way to identify the selected object. Since this is a screen set inside a tile display. I first tried to see if I can drill down on the tile display.
As shown above, I cannot go further on the tile display.
Then I tried to see if I can find the object on the “Lists” screen set. There are four screens each of which has “selected object” option. During the application’s execution, the user may switch between lists/tabs. Is there any method we can figure out which tab/screen the user is currently on? With that piece of information, I can identify the screen and then the object accordingly.
My development environment is 6.0.42 and iOS 7.1.
If this is not correct way to accomplish such function, is there any work around available to present a workable multi-lists tile on iPad?
Thanks a lot.
-Yang

Jason,
My following question might be a bit off the original topic. Please let me know if you want me to open a new post.
I actually tried the navigation as well as the list selection. The navigation did happen. However, instead of presenting the Lists screen in the original tile display, a new full screen is created after the navigation which covers the original screen on iPad.
This leads to a general question regarding the navigation on screen with tile display. For pocket PC, the navigation is straight forward as a new screen is going to be created to cover the original screen. On tablet, if tile display is used, is it possible to navigate to, i.e., activate the focus on, a particular screen inside a tile display?
Please let me know if I make my question clear.
Thanks a lot.
-Yang

Zero Selected Objects Replicated

HI ,
I am trying to replicate manually after selecting the data object from the search results.
This is a custom object. Replication Model is activated without errors.
Once I come to "replication By Selection" screen, I am able to see the "Object ID" that I had initially selected.
I have also selcted the Target System for Replication.
However when I click on replicate button, I get the following informational message and none of the objects are selected.
I dont have any filters set for this object.
"0 selected objects replicated"
Can any one provide me some inputs on this issue ...

Hi Samuel
Please refer below
How to Configure Data Replication for MDG Custom Objects

"You are not authorized to download selected object" when trying to download SAP Kernel 7.21 EXT PL 500 with DL

Hello everyone,
Yesterday (April 30, 2015) SAP released the new patch 500 for SAP KERNEL 7.21 EXT 64-bit.
I am using Download Manager and I was able to download the Kernel Part II (DB-Dependent) .SAR file and other files as you can see in the screenshot, but for the Kernel Part I and disp+work files I get the error: "You are not authorized to download selected object".
On the other hand, I am able to download older versions of the Kernel Part I (SAPEXE_XXX.SAR).
Is this a technical problem on SAP side (SMP)? Did anyone encounter the same issue and found a solution?
Thanks.
BR,
Michel

Hello Michel,
Kernel Patch 500 is yet to release, to the customer.
Have a look at the below blog.
Surprise for Kernel version 7.21 patch level 500 !
Hope the above one helps.
regards,
pavan

Object selection wont stay on selected object

Does anyone know of a setting or fix for this. Everytime I select an object or group above any other object, M3 grabs the the next object below. I find myself avoiding alot of elements that would look better just to avoid this bug. Any suggestions?
This is stopping what little creativity I do have dead in its tracks.
Nava

Any luck on this? I use a wacom myself and didn't see this, but maybe my projects aren't complex enough...
Patrick

Selecting objects like Freehand.

Hi,
I am having a little difficulty in selecting objects that were cloned and sent to the back of the original with a heavier weight. In Freehand (I know, everyone is sick of hearing it), I just clicked on the heavier weight and it selected. In Illustrator, I would have to send the front of the clone to a different layer and then would be able to select the back.
Regards,
David

Or lock the topmost object. Or use layers. Or use the Layers panel to select individual items. Or right-click and Select Next Object Below. Or just use one item and use multiple strokes/fills in the Appearance panel. Or RTFM.

Selecting objects in group

Hi,
I am new on scripts, so could someone help me..
I try to access grouped object in page (type of contents - textFrames, rectangles etc.)
How make array of selected object/group in document?
Regards
xe

Hi xe,
Please try the below JS code.
var myDoc = app.activeDocument;
var myPage = myDoc.pages[0];
the below line selected the first page of the first groupd object.
//myPage.groups[0].select();
the below line is selected the first page of first group object of 1st textframe.
myPage.groups[0].textFrames[0].select();
thx
csm_phil

Service template problem - Unable to perform the job because one or more of the selected objects are locked by another job - ID 2606

Hello,
I’ve finally managed to deploy my first guest cluster with a shared VHDX using a service template.
So, I now want to try and update my service template. However, whenever I try to do anything with it, in the services section, I receive the error:
Unable to perform the job because one or more of the selected objects are locked by another job. To find out which job is locking the object, in the jobs view, group by status, and find the running or cancelling job for the object. ID 2606
Well I tried that and there doesn’t seem to be a job locking the object. Both the cluster nodes appear to be up and running, and I can’t see a problem with it at all. I tried running the following query in SQL:
SELECT * FROM [VirtualManagerDB].[dbo].[tbl_VMM_Lock] where TaskID='Task_GUID'
but all this gives me is an error that says - conversion failed when converting from a character string to uniqueidentifier msg 8169, level 16, State 2, Line 1
I'm no SQL expert as you can probably tell, but I'd prefer not to deploy another service template in case this issue occurs again.
Can anyone help?

No one else had this?

Unable to remove a host from VMM - Error (2606) Unable to perform the job because one or more of the selected objects are locked by another job.

I am unable to remove a host from my Virtual Machine Manager 2012 R2. I receive the following error:
Error (2606)
Unable to perform the job because one or more of the selected objects are locked by another job.
Recommended Action
To find out which job is locking the object, in the Jobs view, group by Status, and find the running or canceling job for the object. When the job is complete, try again.
I have already tried running the following command in SQL Server Management Studio
SELECT * FROM [VirtualManagerDB].[dbo].[tbl_VMM_Lock] where TaskID='Task_GUID'
I received this error back:
Msg 8169, Level 16, State 2, Line 1
Conversion failed when converting from a character string to uniqueidentifier.
I have also tried rebooting both the host and the Virtual Machine Manager Server. After rebooting them both, I still receive the same error when trying to remove the host.
Here are my server details
VMM Server OS = Windows 2012 Standard
VMM Version = 2012 R2 3.2.7510.0
Host OS = Windows 2012 R2 Datacenter
Host Agent Version = 3.2.75.10.0
SQL Server OS = Windows 2012 Datacenter
SQL Version = 2012 SP 1 (11.0.3000.0)

Hi there,
How many hosts are you managing with your VMM server?
The locking job might be the background host refresher job. Did you see any jobs in the jobs view, when the host removal job failed?
If there is no active jobs in the jobs view when this host removal job fails, can you please turn on the VMM tracing, retry the host removal, and paste back the traces for the failed job (search for exception and paste the whole stack)?
Thanks!
Cheng

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 :-)

Indesign CS3: How to get the UID of the selected object?

Hello,
How can I get the UID of the selected object in an document?
Thanks,
Alois Blaimer

Hello!
I do not get it. Please give me some more hints.
I only want to know if the selected object is a square and then the UID of the selected square.
Thanks,
Alois Blaimer

Querying for a script insert multiple selected objects...

Is there a script or plugin which insert multiple selected objects in one new text frame with one click?
And is there a script or plugin which extract the content of anchored text frame out it's frame and replace it with it's frame. and extract selected text and insert it inside a new anchored text frame in it's place? (like convert text to table - convert table to text, but instead table we use text frame)

Hi,
Using OMB scripting to set attribute properties in a data mapping sort of defeats the purpose of utilizing a graphical user interface to define and set properties for a data mapping? Surely the GUI data mapping tool was created to get away from writing scripts and scripting would also require that you know the name of the data mapping, table operator and the set of attribute names for which you have to write one line of script to set each property value, i.e. 90 lines to set 90 attribute values.
Cheers,
Phil

Select Object Tool Adobe Pro 9.0

Can someone please help me. My "Select Object Tool" under Tools, Advance Editing is greyed out. Does any one know how to activate it?
Thank you in advance
[email protected]

Are there any security settings on the document?

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 :)

Selecting objects below

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