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savagequest
savagequest
Inspiring
June 16, 2020
Answered

Align to Key Object not working in Illustrator 2020 (24.2)

  • June 16, 2020
  • 49 replies
  • 42959 views

Why change what has always worked so well?

Trying to vertically/horizontally align objects to separate them equally no longer works the way it has for the last 20 years, so, now what?  When I try to align object it is requiring a "key object", this is not helpful at all and please tell me there's a way to re-set this back to a legacy setting? 

 

{Renamed by MOD}

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Srishti Bali

    Hi there,

     

    Sorry about this trouble. We've fixed the bug with Align tool in the latest release. Please update Illustrator to v24.2.1 to get this fixed.

    Here's a link with more details: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447-illustrator-bugs/suggestions/40681714-align-to-key-o...

     

    Regards,

    Srishti

    49 replies

    Show previous replies
    R
    rod55
    Participant
    June 22, 2020

    The align and distribute feature is totally screwed up. When tryong to distribute any number of items either vertically or horizontally, they all get centered on top of each other. When aligning objects to the top, bottom, left, or right, they get alignined to the opposite. Never the way previous alignment worked. PLEASE FIX THIS! IT SUCKS NOW1

     

     

    {Renamed by MOD}

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 22, 2020

    The engineers are already working on it.

      A
      AD design
      Participant
      June 22, 2020

      Issue in the most recent update. The "align to:" setting in the align dialogue box, after selecting "show options", keeps defaulting back to "align to artboard". "Align to selection" would be my default preference but it won't stick. It keeps defaulting back to "align to artboard".

       

      Anything I can do in my preferences that I'm missing or do we need a patch?

      Monika Gause
      Community Expert
      Monika GauseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      June 22, 2020

      We need a patch. The good thing is that the engineers re already working on it.

      D
      DH Burch
      Participant
      June 22, 2020

      Latest adobe update: Illustrator appears to be malfunctioning. The align DISTRIBUTE tool causes objects to align CENTER.

       

       

      {Renamed by MOD}

      Monika Gause
      Community Expert
      Monika GauseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      June 22, 2020

      There's an issue with Align. You have to adjust the settings and then it should stick for the session. But the team is working on it already.

      D
      dakotag64205570
      Participant
      June 22, 2020

      Whenever I drag select all the objects on my piece, a certain object always has a special thicker blue outline for some reason, and I'm not even using the Direct Selection tool. It's kind of annoying since I'm pretty obsessive when it comes to stuff like this. Is there any way I could possibly minimize this or something? Thanks.

      Monika Gause
      Community Expert
      Monika GauseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      June 22, 2020

      That's a bug with the Align function. You need to set the Alignment to "Selection". It should then stick for the rest of the session. But also the developers are working on it.

        D
        dakotag64205570
        Participant
        June 26, 2020

        Thank you so much! 🙂

        X
        xmgincca
        Known Participant
        June 19, 2020

        With Illustrator 24.2 update, it appears "key select" is automatically selected when aligning multiple items (intermittently) and selecting more than 1 object again automatically selects the last item as a "key" object (intermittently)

         

        Before 24.2, key selecting an object required a 2nd tap on an already selected item which is logical and preferred.

         

        How do we turn off this automated key selection?

          I
          i-b-tex
          Inspiring
          June 19, 2020

          Completely agree that this is a problem. It's really been annoying me all day. I don't see a setting for this and feel like it's likely a bug but am not really sure what's going on here. In my case, it seems like it's retaining the key object selection mode after I've clicked twice to select something when multiple objects are selected, and then once I switch it back to the normal selection mode it works until I click twice on something else to select a key object...then it once again defaults to key object mode for every future selection until I turn it off.

          dave1994
          dave1994
          Participant
          June 19, 2020

          Hi! Since the update 24.2, I have this "problem" when I selected two objects. One of these object going on "key object" automatically. I would like to know how I deactivate this function please.

           

          Thank you! 

          Monika Gause
          Community Expert
          Monika GauseCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          June 19, 2020

          It's a bug and they are working on it.

          You can try and in the Align panel set it to "Align to Selection". This should stick for the session.

          F
          Fearless_Wonder1549
          Known Participant
          June 19, 2020

          I am getting this message when trying to select points on a mesh object. not trying to align just select a group using select arrow so i can move them. Bug?

           

          Monika Gause
          Community Expert
          Monika GauseCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          June 19, 2020

          Version 24.2? Yes, there's a bug with ALign. Can you try and in the Align panel set the option to "Align to selection" instead of "Align to key object" before making the selection. Does that work?

          F
          Fearless_Wonder1549
          Known Participant
          June 19, 2020

          yes that allows me to select...odd though since i wasnt trying to align anything

          M
          MrsShannon17485804
          Participant
          June 19, 2020

          Does anyone know why/how to stop this happening...

          Every time I select more than 1 object, one of the objects path turns solid and the anchor points disappear.

          Show anchor points is on, show edges is on.

          Monika Gause
          Community Expert
          Monika GauseCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          June 19, 2020

          That is an issue with the align feature. The team is working on it. In the Align panel turn off the "Align to Key object" option and set it to "Selection". Should be sticky for the rest of your session.

            M
            MrsShannon17485804
            Participant
            June 19, 2020

            Thank you!

            Comelit Nederland
            Comelit Nederland
            Participant
            June 19, 2020

            Hello.

            After updating to the last version of illustrator (nice icon change btw) I have been having issues with alligning objects. When selecting multiple objects and trying to distribute them vertically (Vertical Distribute Center), the button alligns them to the bottom object instead (Vertical Allign Bottom). 

            Does anyone know if it is a bug or does anyone know a fix?

             

            Thank you in advance

            Doug A Roberts
            Community Expert
            Doug A RobertsCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            June 19, 2020

            It is a bug introduced in the last update, and the staff have been compiling topics on it into one megatopic, found here:

             

            https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator/align-to-key-object-not-working-in-illustrator-2020-24-2/m-p/11222020

            atran-1digital
            atran-1digital
            Known Participant
            June 18, 2020

            .

            ugh. see video attached.

              savagequest
              savagequestAuthor
              Inspiring
              June 18, 2020

              Hello - 

              Unfortunately, the only workaround having to uncheck 'Align to Key Object' every time.  I've heard Adobe is working on this bug, for some reason the Key Object option keeps sticking once selected the first time. 

               

              If you could please upvote this issue and try the workaround shared here... (https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447-illustrator-bugs/suggestions/40681714-align-to-key-o...). 

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