Can't move objects with keyboard shortcut

[Guest]

I can't seem to move objects by using the Shift+Arrow Keys keyboard shortcut

[Warren Heaton]

Best guess would be that you've locked with the object or objects that you're trying to nudge or the layer that the object is on or objects are on.

How to lock, hide, and delete objects in Illustrator

Every so often, I accidently press the keyboard shortcut for locking an object on accident without knowing I did it until trying to select or nudge the object later.  It's also easy to forget that an object or layer was locked.

If you're able to select the layer and then not nudge it, double-check that the Selection tool is the active tool.  Also check that you don't have an text field activated on accident.   The arrow keys could be doing something else because something else is active.

There isn't a way to shut nudging off, but it could be reduced to a low increment in the preferences.  Of course, you would have had to have changed this as the default nudge it pretty obvious, especially with the Shift key (you're probalby already aware of that though since you're using the Shift key in the first place). Adjusting your nudge settings for precision

You can also relaunch Illustrator and/oirrestasrting your computer and try nudging again when the document is newly opened.

-Warren

[Bill Silbert]

If none of Warren's suggestions work for you, you might want to try resetting your preferences.

To do so:

For Macintosh Users: With Illustrator closed launch a Finder Window in column view and click on your home folder. With the Option Key pressed choose Library from the Finder Go Menu. Within the Library folder find the folder called Preferences and within it find the following two files and delete them: “Adobe Illustrator <Version #> Settings” (earlier versions of Illustrator might just say “Adobe Illustrator”) and “com.adobe.Illustrator.plist”. When Illustrator is next launched it will create new preference files and the program will be restored to its defaults.

After you’ve reset up the program (make sure that no document window is open) to your liking, it is a really good idea to create copies of your personalized “mint” preference files (make sure that you quit the program before copying them—that finalizes your customization) and use them in the future to replace any corrupt versions you may need to delete.

For Windows Users: Hold down Ctrl + Alt + Shift when launching Illustrator and respond affirmatively when asked if you want to reset.

[Guest]

It seems to have just been a minor glitch because it is no longer giving me the problem. I followed Bill's advice because it didn't show that I locked any layers and i could move the object freely with my mouse. Thank you for the help guys.

[Bill Silbert]

Happy to help.