Can't use isolation mode for text objects?

[imcarey]

Hi, AI CC 2019, OS 10.14.5. I'm trying to enter isolation mode on a text object (to edit the text frame), but double-clicking switches to the text editor. When I go to the object in the layer panel and open the flyaway menu, "Enter Isolation Mode" is grayed out. Is there a workaround? I have lots of overlapping text boxes I'm trying to clean up and isolation mode would made it much simpler. Thanks!

[Myra Ferguson · Accepted solution]

Double-clicking text and getting the text editor is the expected behavior. If you want to edit the text in isolation mode, you'll need to group it (even if it's just one line of text) so that the group becomes its container.

[imcarey]

OK thanks. I understand that the "double-clicking switches to text tool" is the expected behavior of course, but I wish there was a more intuitive way to enter isolation mode on text objects (such as the grayed out item on the layers palette menu) than creating an unnecessary group. (I don't understand why it makes sense to be able to group a single object, but that's another topic...)

[Myra Ferguson]

Think of a group like a box that you can use to put one or more items inside. That box is a container. When you enter Isolation Mode, you are peering inside the container with the benefit of seeing its contents in relationship to items outside of the container but dimmer. Isolation mode works the same with a symbol. If you make your text a symbol (F8), it puts it into a symbol container. It's a different type of container with its own benefits, but if you double-click it, you also enter Isolation Mode.

If you'd like to see a different behavior for Isolation Mode, go to Adobe Illustrator Feedback. First, search the features that have been requested for Isolation Mode to see if anyone else has made a similar suggestion. If so, you can upvote it. Otherwise, you can enter your idea. The Illustrator team looks at those requests--especially the ones with a lot of votes.

I hope that helps.

[John Mensinger]

imcarey  wrote

When I go to the object in the layer panel and open the flyaway menu, "Enter Isolation Mode" is grayed out. Is there a workaround? I have lots of overlapping text boxes I'm trying to clean up and isolation mode would made it much simpler.

Understandably given its name, you're attributing a function to Isolation Mode that was not part of the design intent. Isolation Mode isn't available when a single object is selected because Isolation Mode was implemented as a method for selecting and isolating an object that is otherwise in a group (or other multi-object entity; e.g., a blend). It was not intended to simply "disable" non selected items as you might imagine. All that is why Myra's advice to "group" the object works. (Yes, you can group a single object to get it to behave as a group.) It would also work if you select all your text objects (Select > Object > All Text Objects) and group them. Then Isolation Mode would be available to isolate the one you double-click from the rest.

[imcarey]

Thanks. But I can create a single rectangle, double-click it and go into isolation mode. So it does work in that way, just not for text.

[Myra Ferguson]

From https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/selecting-objects.html#

Isolation mode

Lets you quickly isolate a layer, sublayer, path, or group of objects, from all other art in your document. When in isolation mode, all nonisolated objects in the document appear dimmed and are not selectable or editable.

Here are the objects that you can use in isolation mode (although I don't know why symbols aren't listed because you can isolate them). If what you want to isolate isn't one of these, like type, grouping it is a workaround to get isolation mode to work.

[imcarey]

Lets you quickly isolate a layer, sublayer, path, or group of objects, from all other art in your document.

... but a text object IS a layer. (You can see it right there in the panel!) My issue is that it seems like they singled out text to not be isolation-able. Anyway, my question's answered, thanks for the replies and discussion everyone.

[Monika Gause]

imcarey  schrieb

... but a text object IS a layer. (You can see it right there in the panel!)

Not every item in the layers panel is a layer.

Only the ones with a arrow in front of them might be layers (but sometimes are also just other kinds of containers)

[Myra Ferguson]

Yeah, sorry about that. I don't think that help document is entirely accurate. I don't know for sure, but I wouldn't think the Illustrator team singled out text to not be able to be isolated. My guess is that it has more to do with attributes of the object (or its parent) and/or what most users expect to have happen when they double-click on text. But if the Illustrator team hears from enough people that it's a desired feature, they might address it.

[imcarey]

Thanks. You can upvote my feature request here.

[Kurt Gold]

"Isolation Mode isn't available when a single object is selected because Isolation Mode was implemented as a method for selecting and isolating an object that is otherwise in a group (or other multi-object entity; e.g., a blend)."

That's not quite true, John.

For example, select any ungrouped path or raster image, do a right click and choose the Isolate Selected Path command. That will of course isolate that single path and there is no special container required.

You could also define a custom keyboard shortcut to enter Isolation mode. That would also work for many kind of ungrouped objects, but not for type objects.

[John Mensinger]

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Kurt+Gold  wrote

That's not quite true, John.

Yes, I see now that I "misspoke". Fortunately, the OP was not mislead by my spurious statement.