A problem highlighting/selecting text in Illustrator CS3

[rdale1961]

In several instances I can't highlight text to copy or to edit, other times it works fine. If I click the radio button for the text in layers (other layers may be locked to prevent accidental selection), the baselines appears and I should be able to highlight the text, but I can't. If I highlight some other unaffected area of text successfully (unlocked layers), sometimes it will allow me to select the problem text directly after. Then it will go back to being a problem, why?

[Larry G. Schneider · Accepted solution]

Yolu are probably accidentially hitting Cmd(Ctrl)-H which in Illustrator is the toggle for Show/Hide Edges (View>Show/Hide Edges).

[itakimasu]

Thanks! This just happened to me!

[gabrielpapke]

Thank you! It works for me!

[Rochelle5EDB]

genious!!!!! thank you!

[Roger Deal5FD5]

Life saver!  Thanks for reducing my frustration today. 

[Babita26653528y5lw]

Day just got saved. Thanks a lot!

[Monika Gause]

Instead of highlighting the text, what exactly does Illustrator do? Which tools do you use? Is there some object positioned above the text? Could you show a screenshot?

[rdale1961]

I'm using the general text tool, I've locked the other sublayers to avoid accidentally selecting those items. Then I click the radio button on the sublayer I wish to edit or copy, which reveals the baselines. Then if I click within that object to highlight text with the cursor, the text tool creates a new textbox/sublayer and does not highlight the text I intended.

From: Monika Gause <forums@adobe.com<mailto:forums@adobe.com>>

Reply-To: <jive-1854183576-rzb2-2-2dkba@mail.forums.adobe.com<mailto:jive-1854183576-rzb2-2-2dkba@mail.forums.adobe.com>>

Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:49:40 -0600

To: Roger Daleiden <rdale@fullcompass.com<mailto:rdale@fullcompass.com>>

Subject: A problem highlighting/selecting text in Illustrator CS3

Re: A problem highlighting/selecting text in Illustrator CS3

created by Monika Gause<http://forums.adobe.com/people/Monika+Gause> in Illustrator - View the full discussion<http://forums.adobe.com/message/3992086#3992086

[Monika Gause]

Which icon does the cursor show the moment you click? Perhaps you have checked "Select Type by path" in preferences. In this case you must click exactly on the baseline to select the text

[rdale1961]

You have solved my issue, select type by path was indeed checked. I unchecked it and now it works fine!

Thank you!

From: Monika Gause <forums@adobe.com<mailto:forums@adobe.com>>

Reply-To: <jive-1854183576-rzb2-2-2dkcf@mail.forums.adobe.com<mailto:jive-1854183576-rzb2-2-2dkcf@mail.forums.adobe.com>>

Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:14:14 -0600

To: Roger Daleiden <rdale@fullcompass.com<mailto:rdale@fullcompass.com>>

Subject: A problem highlighting/selecting text in Illustrator CS3

[danad89251200]

Thank you so much!!!!!

Preferences > Type is a check box to select the type only by path.

[Mike_Gondek]

There are 2 wasy you can enter text edit mode

1. Double Click iwht a selction tool on the text

2. Click and drag with the text tool

For either method to be sucessful you need to be able to click on the text. Your problem could:

• You may have an image on top, that has transpraency or set to a blending mode,

(click with the selection tool over your type, look at the top left to see what yo have selected. CMD 3 to hide, keep repeating until you hide some clutter and finally select your text. When done OPT CMD 3 to unhide all.

• or your text may be within a mask

Look at the tol bar on top, yo will see an icon after the word group, click on teh second one to enter the mask.

There are some more reasons, but a screenshot would help to reduce the length of my reply and better target a solution for you.

[rdale1961]

Select type by path was checked. I unchecked it and now it works fine!

From: Mike Gondek <forums@adobe.com<mailto:forums@adobe.com>>

Reply-To: <jive-1854183576-rzb2-2-2dkb2@mail.forums.adobe.com<mailto:jive-1854183576-rzb2-2-2dkb2@mail.forums.adobe.com>>

Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:17:50 -0600

To: Roger Daleiden <rdale@fullcompass.com<mailto:rdale@fullcompass.com>>

Subject: A problem highlighting/selecting text in Illustrator CS3

Re: A problem highlighting/selecting text in Illustrator CS3

created by Mike Gondek<http://forums.adobe.com/people/Mike+Gondek2> in Illustrator - View the full discussion<http://forums.adobe.com/message/3992078#3992078

[Monika Gause]

You're welcome.

You should perhaps mark this thread solved.

[Piamedea-Digital]

where was this selected? I am having the same issue but I cannot find anywhere that I have that selected.

[Larry G. Schneider]

In Preferences>Type is a check box to select the type only by path. Did you check View>Show/Hide Edges as well?

[kenb47]

I was looking for that. thanks

[vickyb99067892]

I'm having this problem, and it's not Select type by path, or edges.  Just want to delete the text.

[vickyb99067892]

Nevermind, the group selection tool worked....I may be a dummy, but Illustrator is confusing and frustrating.