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calebk14095891
calebk14095891
Participating Frequently
January 30, 2023
Question

Unable to Specify Spacing Distance for Align to Key Object

  • January 30, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 843 views

Hello,


For a while now, I've had many UI issues with Adobe products, but this is by far the most pervasive. Occasionally, as I am trying to align objects with a Key Object, my ability to specify the distance that I want space things out it un-editable. Normally, I would select my objects, identify one as the Key Object, and then type in my desired distance for spacing. But now, if I try to click in the window to specify the distance, it doesn't recognize my cursor, and I am unable to type anything. Additionally, it hides the default spacing as well. By default you can space things out by 1/8" and increase from there, but the distance never shows up, so I can't tell how far apart it is spacing things out.

Perhaps there is some strange UI trick? This happens about half the time I'm in Ai and once it starts, no amount of closing or restaring my computer fixes the issue. It always just goes away on its own.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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2 replies

Kurt Gold
Community Expert
Kurt GoldCommunity Expert
Community Expert
January 30, 2023

Caleb, I don't have a solution, but just want to confirm that I've seen this issue pretty often as well (with current Illustrator and Mac OS version).

 

Specifically, if the Align panel is part of a tabbed panel group and if it is temporarily out of focus when choosing the key object, the Distribute Spacing Input field may be just greyed out and sometimes it may take one or several attempts to awake it again.

 

Possibly it's some kind of bug that prevents appropriate refreshment.

 

    Anubhav M
    Community Manager
    Anubhav MCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    January 30, 2023

    Hello @calebk14095891,

     

    Sorry to hear about this experience. Would you mind checking if Illustrator also behaves this way with other files? If yes, kindly try resetting Illustrator's preferences by following the steps shared in this article (https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/kb/troubleshoot-preference-issues.html) and sharing your observations.
    Disclaimer: Please note that resetting preferences will remove all custom settings, and Illustrator will launch with the defaults. You may save a backup of these settings from the location mentioned in the article.

    Looking forward to hearing from you.

     

    Thanks,
    Anubhav

    calebk14095891
    calebk14095891Author
    Participating Frequently
    January 30, 2023

    Hey Anubhav,

    Thank you for your response and advice. I've tried these solutions, but they do still persist.

    I wish I could point to a particular update, but this started happening a while ago and I just dealt with it until now. I do remember there being a large Ai overhaul a year or so ago and I believe the issues began then. Unfortunately, I cannot point to a specific update.

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