Aligning

[Elliott_Tank@adobeforums.com]

I am trying to align lines in a diagonal way. I create one line then duplicate it a few times, I offset the bottom line to the left and then select all lines and press the distribute vertical in the align panel all of the lines except one aligns. Why?

Also I if I want to center one line with another it always moves both lines. Why?

[jonf@adobeforums.com]

1. I think it depends on which line you move. If you move the first line you created rather than the last it ought to work. So try offset ting the top line instead.

2. That's just the way Ai does it. I don't like it either, but some users do. It's aligning both to a center point rather than moving one in relation to the other.

[Mordy_Golding@adobeforums.com]

Once you've selected your object, click on the one that you want to stay and then apply the function.

:) Mordy

[Elliott_Tank@adobeforums.com]

No that does not work for me. What do you mean "So try offset ting the top line instead."

I think AI has some great features, but it is poorly designed. I really what to call it junk, but that is probably too strong. I say this because InDesign is new from the ground up and it works like you think it should. I do this align thing and everything is a go. Same with center aligning. Adobe know what is right or they would not have do this way in ID. Hope they can rewrite AI like ID some day.

[Elliott_Tank@adobeforums.com]

Mordy

I must be really stupid. I've tried this and the line never shift right. Why is this soooo hard?

[Mordy_Golding@adobeforums.com]

Follow these steps:

To align objects to a specific object (called a key object):

1. Draw two objects
2. Select both objects with the Selection tool.
3. Using the selection tool, click on the object that you want to remain in place.
4. Click on the desired Align function in the align palette.

:) Mordy

[James_E._Talmage@adobeforums.com]

I think it's a bug.

1) Get the Layers Palette open where you can see it.

2) Line Tool: ShiftDrag to draw a short vertical line.

3) Flip the Layer 1 triangle so you can see that the line is listed.

4) Pointer: AltShiftDrag a copy of the line to the right. Look at the Layer Palette. The new line is above the original in Layer 1, as should be.

5) Control-D (to Duplicate the copy&transform). The third line is listed above the other two in the stacking order, as it should be.

6) Drag the still-selected line a distance downward.

6) Select all three. Align Palette: Make sure Auto is selected in the Distribution Spacing popup. Click the Distribute Vertical Centers button. The middle line jumps to the top of the alignment instead of the bottom one.

Repeat the whole process, but this time in step 6 move the original one vertically. Perform the alignment and the three distribute correctly, as jonf suspected.

However: Now try the whole thing with a series of 10 or so lines. First move the last (topmost) line before performing the alignment. It's not the last one, but the NEXT to the last one, which doesn't move. Then undo twice. Then move the first object (bottommost) and try it again. Now two lines fail to move; the first and last. Undo and try it by moving one of the in-between lines. The next to the rightmost one always stays put, even if you experiment by changing the stacking order.

I can imagine it being useful to have an OPTION for distribution to abide by stacking order, but that does not seem to be what is going on here. I see no rhyme or reason to it; and therefore no justification for it. So I think it's a bug. If intentional, then why does a similar thing not occur when distributing horizontally by centers?

JET

[James_E._Talmage@adobeforums.com]

Mordy,

Glad you're here.

This isn't about aligning, but distributing vertically. Is there a logic to the behavior described above, that I am just missing?

JET

[James_E._Talmage@adobeforums.com]

I'm stuck in AI10 at this location, BTW. Don't know if this is the same behavior in CS 'till I get back to the Studio.

JET

[Elliott_Tank@adobeforums.com]

Mordy,

Yes, that is a big help for aligning to center, but that does not seem to apply to aligning in using the distribute function when trying to stair step objects.

[James_E._Talmage@adobeforums.com]

Elliot,

You working on AI10 or CS?

JET

[jonf@adobeforums.com]

I'm not noticing the behavior James is describing. They always seem to align correctly for me.

I really suspect this is a specific user issue, not a bug. You just need to be very careful to pay attention to where the lines are being moved, and which align tool is used to spread them out. If you move one of the end points to the inside of the others then the alignment will not be even. If you use the horizontal instead of the vertical distribute it may correctly distribute in your situation. It's hard to say.

Can you post images of what you're attempting?

[Elliott_Tank@adobeforums.com]

I am using CS

I am not sure if an image will help. But here are my steps.

1. Create a horizontal line
2. Option drag it down
3. Duplicate ten times
4. Drag the last one to the right about 12 px
5. Drag to select all the lines
6. Click on either top or bottom line or none
7. Horizontally Distribute lines

Does not work with Distribute Horizontal Center or Distribute Horizontal Space set to Auto

[jonf@adobeforums.com]

Now I see what you mean. That does look buggy. I was offsetting each copy on the diagonal slightly, then moving the top or bottom line and re-distributing. Which for some reason seems to work. It's only when you start with each line being constrained straight downward that the problem seems to appear for me. Very odd behavior.

You could avoid this by using the blend tool. Create just the first and last lines. Double-click the blend tool and select "specified steps" then input the number of lines you want between the end lines (in this case 9, if you have 11 total lines). Then apply the blend tool to your two lines. Then you can drag either the top or bottom lines anywhere you want and the distribution is done automatically.

[Elliott_Tank@adobeforums.com]

I will remember the blend technique. Thanks

[James_Talmage@adobeforums.com]

Well, I tried it on two different machines running AI10, and on this one running CS (all Windows), and the same bizarre behavior happens every time.

It happens with diagonal lines, any kind of LBO, a bunch of different objects; doesn't matter.

It's a bug. A big ugly one.

JET