Selecting all layer object in layer panel selects locked objects too

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
September 7, 2023
4 replies
2842 views

Selecting all layer object in layer panel (clickin at the right most part of the layer).
It selects locked object too if there is only one object locked. And I am able to move this locked object with all the other selected stuff. What does the meaning of the lock here? What is this feature good for?

Mike_Gondek10189183

Community Expert

Your post asks why clicking on the column showing the yellow arrow is for. That is if you want to select all items regardless if they are locked. Just click in the column under the red arrow to not select locked items

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Eugene Tyson

Community Expert

Locked objects shouldn't be

Kurt Gold

Community Expert

I don't remember exactly, but about 15 years ago there was a long-winded discussion about this behaviour in this forum. Many pros and cons were fervidly debated and at least one Illustrator engineer confirmed that it is intended behaviour.

In short, think about an Illustrator layer as a real container that is stored at a harbour. You can throw all kinds of objects into that container and tether them, so they are locked. If some crane now takes the entire container and humps it onto the loading area on a freighter, it is pretty consistent that the locked objects inside the container move together with the container. And then the freighter can go from Shanghai to New York or elsewhere.

Basically, I do like this behaviour in Illustrator. What I don't like is that it is not consistently implemented. For example, if a main layer contains at least one sublayer and that sublayer is entirely locked or all objects inside the sublayer are locked, the real container idea as outlined above doesn't work anymore. All locked (or hidden) objects inside the main layer will then not be selected.

I agree that there should be an option to control the behaviour. Such as the one that currently controls whether locked and hidden objects are moved together with artboards.

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Eugene Tyson

Community Expert

It's 100% a bug.

It's not a harbour.

There's many reasons to lock a layer and not have that item deleted.

I'm not arguing with anyone - it should be an option

Delete Locked Objects = Yes or No

InDesign does not work like this

You lock an object and you cannot select it the same why by hitting the layer square - it won't select it.

There's no harmonisation on the products.
And I'm aware that InDesign Layers and Illustrator layers are different.

In my case: https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/locked-items-within-layer-able-to-delete/m-p/14069322#M379661

I want to keep certain elements that are technical elements specific to that artwork.

I can get around it by having them locked - turning off the other layers and pressing CMD A

This selects all on the artboard except the locked objects.

But it's clunky.

It should be at least an option to select the Layer square and delete and then a warning to delete locked objects or not.

I found an open case in the Bugs Forums

https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447-illustrator-desktop-bugs/suggestions/38315200-select-objects-in-layer-selects-locked-objects

I've added my voice here too.

It's not intuitive and works differently across the suite of products.

Kurt Gold

Community Expert

You are right, it's not a harbour. But I guess you may understand the container part of the short description.

You may also call it a bug, but according to Teri Pettit (a former Illustrator engineer) it is indeed intended behaviour, not a bug. As already mentioned, we once had an acute discussion about the topic. Unfortunately, it is not there in this forum anymore.

If you never have the need to select and move an entire layer including locked objects (which can be pretty useful), then just do what Carlos recommended above.