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Robert25221699migv
Inspiring
February 10, 2025
Question

Direct select tool can't edit textboxes anymore

  • February 10, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 371 views

There is a bug that is preventing text boxes from being resizable with the direct selection tool. Mac OS 14.5, Illustrator Version 29.0.1 (I can't check if it's up to date bc Creative Cloud won't load the Apps tab lol).

 

To replicate: paste text into a textbox so that it is overset. Deselect all objects. Use the Direct Select tool to try and select two anchor points on the same side by clicking and dragging. Result: the entire text box is selected, instead of simply the 2 anchor points you tried to select.

 

You can even deselect the other 2 anchor points, and try to edit the text box, but the entire thing will be selected regardless of the visual indicator of selection.

 

I am honestly running into more and more bugs in Illlustrator over the years, and they never seem to be getting fixed. Can we expect this software to be supported in the future?

2 replies

Kurt Gold
Community Expert
Kurt GoldCommunity Expert
Community Expert
February 10, 2025

It should still be possible to resize the textbox with the Direct Selection tool when two anchor points are selected.

 

What happens if you direct select one anchor point, Shift select a second one and then drag to any direction? Or just select the segment between the anchor points and then drag?

    R
    Robert25221699migvAuthor
    Inspiring
    February 11, 2025

    The steps you described do work, however it's an unacceptable workaround as I am working with multiple grouped objects and need to extend the dimensions of all of the objects at the same time to preserve spacing. So it's a lot of extra steps for something that was working as expected a short time ago.

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 10, 2025

    They've never been resizable with the direct selection tool.

    R
    Robert25221699migvAuthor
    Inspiring
    February 11, 2025

    They certainly have. I've been using Illustrator since 2003 and it functioned as expected until this week.

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