Changing width and height of shape of a rhombus but keeping angle

[robynl37878747]

Hello, I would like to increase the width and height of a rhombus in illustrator, but when i use scale or change the width or height the angle changes size.  I've tried expanding the shape but still not.  Can anyone help?  Many thanks

Robyn

[Ton Frederiks]

Can you hold down the Shift key while dragging the bounding box?

Or double click the Scale tool?

[robynl37878747]

Hi Ton, thanks for replying, unfortunately when I hold down shift, both the width and length change.  I only want the length to change, so if i hold down shift it gets wider proportionally which i don't want.  I've tried to play around with scale but I get the same outcome, width and length change.  Would you have another suggestion?

[robynl37878747]

sorry, I re-read my original question and it wasn't clear.  On some of the shapes I want to increase the width, and then others the lenght, but all of them are to have the 45 degree angle, but when i change either length or width the angle on at least one end changes.

[tromboniator]

Direct Select click and hold the side you want to move, then drag, being careful of the alignment when you finish.

Peter

[robynl37878747]

Hi Peter, thanks so much for responding.  That allows me to make it longer yes, but doesn't seem to work to make the width greater or smaller.  When I use the direct and click on the line at the top or bottom and move, the angle changes also.

[tromboniator · Accepted solution]

For a 45°/135° rhombus you should be able to Direct Select any side, hold down Shift, and move to the desired width or length. For any other angles (assuming one pair of sides is vertical or horizontal), reset the Constrain Angle (Preferences > General > Constrain Angle field) to the appropriate value, then Direct Select and Shift-drag one of the vertical or horizontal sides. Restore the Constrain Angle to 0° to move the remaining sides vertically.

If you are already holding down Shift when trying to move the top and bottom lines and are unable to move them straight vertically, check the current Constrain Angle to be sure it is 0°. 

Peter