Rotating an object around a circle

[defaydesigns]

This used to be real easy via the rotate tool but since the 2018 release, I haven't been able to pin a reference point on the circle I want to use and use the rotate panel to use a specific angle. Everytime I try, it changes the reference point to the center of the object I'm rotating, not the circle.

[Ton Frederiks]

This is what works for me:

Create a big circle.

Create a small one at the top of the big one.

Select the small circle.

Select the Rotate Tool.

Alt click on the center of the big circle to set the rotate point and open the Rotate dialog.the

[defaydesigns]

That's what I tried but every time I open the rotate panel the reference point changes.

[Ton Frederiks]

I don't open the Rotate panel by double clicking the Rotate Tool.

The Rotate panel opens automatically when I Alt click the spot I want to rotate around.

[michelew83603738]

You need to open the rotate panel via the Alt Click method, otherwise it will reset the point of rotation to the center of the selected object. That hasn't changed with AI 2018.

[defaydesigns]

It seems to have changed for me. I keep using alt click and it never brings up the rotate panel.

[barbara_a]

1. Select the circle.
2. Select the Rotate tool in the Tools panel.
3. Hold down Alt and click once on the selected circle. Be careful to click, not drag, and click only once.

That should bring up the Rotate dialog box and allow you to rotate around the point where you Alt clicked.

If that is not working, let us know. There may be something wrong with the Illustrator installation.