Anchor points not shown when using direct selection tool

[Simon_Wyse@adobeforums.com]

Hi All,

I'm working with a file containing several objects and groups. When I use
the direct selection tool to select an individual, basic object, I would
expect to see a border and anchor points to appear around the object,
allowing me to easily modify the corner points. But this doesn't happen - I
don't see anything except when I click and drag the object the border
appears for the duration of the drag then disappears. It's making it really
difficult to change the corner points.

The weird thing is that if I create a new document, add a rectangle, all
anchor points and border appears as expected.
I can't find any difference in settings between the two documents, I've just
deleted the prefs file, which made no difference. I'm running a Illustrator
10.0.3 on XP Pro.

Any ideas, this is driving me insane?

Thanks in advance,
Simon

[BobHill@adobeforums.com]

Simon,

You should get the object's bounding box with it's eight handles (white boxes)and all points (smaller than handles) ONLY when you use the Selection tool (if you have VIEW, SHOW BOUNDING BOX opted). When you use the Direct Selection tool, you'll ONLY get the anchor points on the path. I believe you are looking for the Handles of the Bounding Box, not anchor points.

Bob

[Simon_Wyse@adobeforums.com]

Hi Bob,

I'm getting the eight handles when using the Selection tool, Show Bounding
Box is enabled. I don't see any anchor points around the path when I click
the object with the Direct Selection Tool. In fact, it appears to do
nothing - the cursor changes from a white to black arrow when I click the
mouse, but no anchor points are displayed. I'm looking for the anchor points
as I'm trying to change the object's shape.

Simon

<BobHill@adobeforums.com> wrote in message
news:3bb446e6.0@webx.la2eafNXanI...

> Simon,
>
> You should get the object's bounding box with it's eight handles (white

boxes)and all points (smaller than handles) ONLY when you use the Selection
tool (if you have VIEW, SHOW BOUNDING BOX opted). When you use the Direct
Selection tool, you'll ONLY get the anchor points on the path. I believe you
are looking for the Handles of the Bounding Box, not anchor points.

>
> Bob

[BobHill@adobeforums.com]

Simon,

Did you first select the object with the Selection tool prior to choosing the Direct Selection tool? Or you have to click on the path with the Direct Selection tool, of course. Points are very small and do not increase in size if you zoom in, so you do have to loop carefully. If you still don't see any points (even a straight line will have one point on each end of the line, with or without a stroke), then delete your AIPrefs file with Illustrator closed. Next time you install it, you should get your points back.

Bob

[Jacqui_Dervan@adobeforums.com]

I am having the same problem which occurs intermittently running Win2K. Clicking on an object with direct selection tool sometimes does not reveal the points. Did deleting the AIPrefs file work Simon?

Jacqui

[JTD@adobeforums.com]

You need to select "Show edges". It's under one of those menus (I can't remember which at the moment because I'm still learning ai and I'm at work now). This will reveal the all the anchor points and direction lines. Enjoy!

[B. Philippus]

Ctrl-H, or View>Show Edges.

Occasionally you may hit Ctrl-H by accident when you're trying to hit Ctrl-[Neighbor of H]. Then the fun begins... The setting is saved with the document, so going from one to another doc the "problem" appears and disappears.

Bert

[Matt]

Guys,

Check View > Show Edges.

Matt



[email]Jacqui_Dervan@adobeforums.com[/email] wrote in message news:<3bb446e6.3@webx.la2eafNXanI>...

> I am having the same problem which occurs intermittently running Win2K. Clicking on an object with direct selection tool sometimes does not reveal the points. Did deleting the AIPrefs file work Simon?
>
> Jacqui

[clocksnmirrors@adobeforums.com]

Thank you all!

I've had the same problem and Ctrl-H did the trick!

This is a wonderful place!

[Unregistered]

You need to select "Show edges". It's under one of those menus (I can't remember which at the moment because I'm still learning ai and I'm at work now). This will reveal the all the anchor points and direction lines. Enjoy!

This worked! Thank you much, something new learned.

[Unregistered]

Thank you very much to those who suggested Show Edges. Must have hit Ctrl+H when trying to group something :) Drove me mad for a few minutes.

Cheers
Alex

[Unregistered]

Thank you for the Control+H!!!!

[Unregistered]

I had the same issue with not seeing the anchor points when using the direct selection tool. Bert, your answer saved the day! Thank you, thank you, thank you. I was so frustrated.

Ctrl-H, or View>Show Edges.

Occasionally you may hit Ctrl-H by accident when you're trying to hit Ctrl-[Neighbor of H]. Then the fun begins... The setting is saved with the document, so going from one to another doc the "problem" appears and disappears.

Bert

[Unregistered]

Thanks for ctrl+H trick, I had that problem in the past and couldn't remember the shortcut for the life of me.
Could you tell us what it controls? And where to find it in the menus?

[raj kr singh]

top menu/ view /show bounding box

[jersahi]

yes the solution is "Show edges" yeahhh... thanks !!!

[Miranda]

This was driving me crazy - Thanks!

[dina_kalo]

you need to select "show edges". It's under one of those menus (i can't remember which at the moment because i'm still learning ai and i'm at work now). This will reveal the all the anchor points and direction lines. Enjoy!

this works!
It's under view--> hide/show edges
that's all that was needed, i must have pressed "ctrl+h" by accident which basically hides / shows edges!

[Unregistered]

You need to select "Show edges". It's under one of those menus (I can't remember which at the moment because I'm still learning ai and I'm at work now). This will reveal the all the anchor points and direction lines. Enjoy!

Thank you that was my problem also and that seemed to do the trick.

[Unregistered]

You need to select "Show edges". It's under one of those menus (I can't remember which at the moment because I'm still learning ai and I'm at work now). This will reveal the all the anchor points and direction lines. Enjoy!

Thanks that worked for me! Was driving me mad!