Illustrator Smooth Tool 2020 Bug

[Nick Antonopoulos]

Hello everyone,

so I was using the Smooth Tool as always and Illustrator suddenly started giving me a strange error when I tried to smooth out a line on my design. I'm not sure what it means, and I assume it's a new 2020 bug. After researching for quite a while, I was not able to find anything related to that error in illustrator.

The Error states: "Partially selected objects cannot be set as key objects. In order to set an object as a key object, make sure the entire object is selected and try again."

Not really sure what it's supposed to tell me, but I guess it's a JavaScript bug.

If anyone knows what's up with that and could help, please let me know. It's getting kinda annoying hearing a Mac's error sound every millisecond. Thanks in advance.

[Monika Gause]

WHich version exactly is it?

[Nick Antonopoulos]

Latest update 24.2.1

[Monika Gause]

Did you reset the preferences after the update?

And then what are you doing step by step?

[Nick Antonopoulos]

I did yes.

I Image Traced a picture of a head that I wanted to use for a Logo I was making, and I was smoothing out some edges because the trace was too rough. So I began using the Smooth Tool when suddenly for the first time this error appeared. I had to restart Ai for the Error to disappear for a while. Then as I was smoothing out the rest of the head, the Error started popping up again, without me doing anything else that could disrupt my process.

[Monika Gause]

I can't reproduce that.

[cydward]

I have the same problem. It worked fine yesterday. Today, I created a few leaves with the Blob brush, then tried to use the smooth tool on one and received the "partially selected objects..." error. I don't understand how this could be related to a "key object" since I'm not trying to align anything. I'm using the latest Illustrator as of 7 days ago on a newer Macbook Pro.

[Monika Gause]

Which version is that?

[cydward]

Illustrator 24.2.1 on a 2018 15" Macbook Pro

[shaun-lee]

I had the same error, had to click "Don't Show Again" otherwise it would not stop.

[Ashutosh_Mishra]

Hi there,

Sorry to hear about this. Would you mind sharing version of the OS & Illustrator? Does it happen with a specific file? You may also share your workflow for better understanding.

This information will help us assist you accordingly. Looking forward to your response.

Regards,

Ashutosh

[shaun-lee]

Thx. Mac OS Big Sur 11.0.1, AI 2021 v 25. At the time of the error I had the 'Direct Selection' tool active. I have only had it happen once and I will never see the error again as I had to click the "Don't Show Again" check box to exit the error.

[Vlad GRU]

I get the same mistake more than once! Clicking «OK» or pressing to Esc button does not close this message window. There is no chance to continue working!  😞

When the error occurs (see screenshot), I use the Direct Select tool and the path as M is the only chosen path (within a HOME compound path).

Illustr. v. 24.3.0/ MacOS Mojave 10.14.6 (18G6042)/ iMac (Retina 5K, 27 дюймов, 2017)