move several objects together

[Simon29023850n8dj]

Is there a quick way to move several objects together in Adobe illustrator (so that there is no gap between them but also no intersection)? Specifically, I have a bar chart and I want to select all the bars (or a group of bars) and move them together with a simple command so that there is no gap between them but also no intersection. At the moment I push the bars together manually, is there an easier way? If there is, how does it work? If not, this would be an extremely desirable feature.

[sishamIAGD]

If the bars are a specific width you can use the align tool, specifically the 'Horizontal Distribution Centre'. All you need to do is work out the combined width of your bars, set the two outer bars at either end and then select all and align them.

[Monika Gause]

Is the chart still a live chart?

In that case aligning will not work.

Use the chart options instead.

[Kurt Gold]

Can you post a sketch that shows the initial situation and the desired result?

[Simon29023850n8dj]

Normaly we have the data in Excel and prepare the graphs there. If we paste it into Illustrator the bars do not have the same size and are sometimes overlapping. What I do then is switching to outline view and manualy adjust the bars such that they do not overlap and have the same size. It would be great if there is a way to adjust the whole group. So that I do not have to adjust every bar itself.

[Jacob Bugge · Accepted solution]

Simon,

If applicable,the simplest way may be to Align>Distribute Spacing (vertically) set to 0.

[Kurt Gold]

As far as I understand you put the charts into Illustrator by copying them in Excel and then pasting.

Have you already tried to export a .pdf in Excel and embed placing the .pdf in Illustrator, just to check if there are the same overlapping issues or not?