Unable to Zoom out with Alt key when text is selected in Illustrator 2019-2021 on macOS & Windows

[GrangerMorton]

Hi

I click on spyglass, spyglass turns to "+" I zoom in.

With 2019 (and end cs6 before that) I hold down 'alt' and it turns to "-", enabling me to immediately zoom out.

Wit 2020 the Alt thing doesn't work immediately, I have to pick another tool, then go back to spyglass, then do Alt. Sometimes I have to pick another tool twice.
I've got to the point where I have to solve this. It's now intolerable, why is it that these updates impede my workflow, why the hell don't they leave it alone?? I'm fine with 2019  (I'm fine with cs6) but now I have all these clients sending me buggy 2020 files so I have to use it.

Anyone got a solution??

Grahame (about to launch iMac out of the window)

{Renamed by MOD}

[GrangerMorton]

Monika

I think the point is, I'm used to clicking to zoon in and out (which now does not work if the cursor is in the text).

The fact that the nature of the spyglass tool has illogically changed does seem ridiculous. It would make more sense for my 'click to zoom' both in and out should be disabled when cursor is in the text, but they left one (+) still working..... hence confusion. I can see the issue of 'space bar handtool' needed addressing but feel it's been done in a non-intelligent way.
I will have to accept that rugs are pulled out from beneath me learn a new way of working.  I liked the 2017(?) version that worked well, but I find 2019 and 2020 really cumbersome, I can't select small text anymore, cursor accuracy is hopeless, and every time I click anywhere I get a a page of the bible! So that scroll issue is a well used method.

Maybe it's  because I'm old and have been using Illustrator since 1991(before scroll wheels....)

Thankfully I'm near retirement and will be able to bid farewell to this CC nonsense. 🙂

[Monika Gause]

Thankfully I'm near retirement and will be able to bid farewell to this CC nonsense. 🙂

By @GrangerMorton

This has nothing whatsoever to do with the CC licensing.

This happens due to user demand. There are simply more (or louder) people who wanted to have it this way.

[Ton Frederiks]

Yes, that works, first mouse down and then the alt key.

[MagnusKallas]

I had a file open yesterday that turned ALT/Zoom into Hand tool 100% of the time.
Then I Saved As the file as a new file because I needed a duplicate. And now Alt/Zoom works consistently, with no glitches. And I couldn't replicate the bug in any case: creating text, objects, moving around Artboards etc.
So I have a theory it is a glitch in the Cache. And it has been there for ages.

[Monika Gause]

---

@MagnusKallas  schrieb:

Then I Saved As the file as a new file because I needed a duplicate. And now Alt/Zoom works consistently, 

---

The file could contain corrupt objects.

And when was the last time you rebooted the computer?

[MagnusKallas]

It was booted some hours ago. Trust me. This glitch has been around for at least 5 years and to this day me and many other users, including users here, haven't found a solution. It is a bug on AI side.
And if an object is corrupt or not, it should not interfere how Keyboard works. Plus, I Saved a straight up copy of the same file and the bug was fixed. So all data was carried over except - to my logic - a new Cache thread is created. Which makes me think it has something to do with Cache... OR possibly a corrupt Copy Clipboard.

[Monika Gause]

And how should the cache interact with the keyboard?

It's more likely that another app steals your key presses. That is documented in a couple of long threads in the forum. Several apps are affected.

• WebRoot
• Apple Terminal
• Word, Excel, Powerpoint
• »Enable Full Keyboard« in Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard on Mac OS
• Apple Mail, Outlook
• Spacebar is used as a shortcut by the system
• Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari
• Wacom Desktop Center, Wacom settings
• Windows Touch Pad problem
• LastPass, Bitwarden (password managers)
• The VPN

All of these  have caused modifier keys stopping to work for several people.

[MagnusKallas]

The problem is... I'm on Windows. And I don't own the license for Office. I have touchpad turned off. I don't use VPN etc. My point is, with no programs opened or closed, a new Save As file started functioning correctly with no closing.

[Monika Gause]

I suppose you have a browser and email opened. And there might be plugins installed in your browser.

You can contact Adobe Customer Care to check out your system. https://helpx.adobe.com/contact.html

[MagnusKallas]

Yes I have. Including this forum in a Tab. My point remains, it is one solution - that worked for me - doing a new Save As file of the problematic one. I swear on my mother's eyes, I didn't fiddle with any Chrome apps or windows. I just did a new Save As.

[Monika Gause]

One thing that worked for you exactly once. But can you repeat that?

Quitting those third party applications interfering with other apps has worked for hundreds of people. Rebooting the computer or even booting into safe mode when something is going wonky has worked for hundreds of people in several situations. 

[Slappy000s]

Please add legacy settings like Adobe. Changing the functions in Adobe products for main quick keys is very obtuse at this point. Hiring UX guys to justify their jobs and "I'm making the product better" by using the mouse wheel should only be optional under preferences. The concept of hey, lets make users better  or learn this function as so many UX designers do, just so they can get excited about look at the major change I made does not apply for learning UX that has been in place since version one. Sure, use a mouse wheel, but add the alt function back. Another that's painful for example is to check legacy in Photoshop to get save as for more export options.  At least you added this, but should be the other way around.

[Anubhav M]

Hello @Slappy000s,

Thanks for reaching out. I understand that having the option to use legacy settings in Illustrator is important to you, and I apologize for its unavailability at this time. Would you mind creating a UserVoice for this request (https://adobe.ly/47tT0Bm) and adding your comments there? Doing this will help us prioritize this request, and you will be notified of any updates.

Feel free to reach out if you have more questions or need assistance. We'd be happy to help.

Thanks,
Anubhav