Tools palette not appearing by default

[timesmith@adobeforums.com]

I am using Illustrator 10.0.3 in Mac OS X 10.3.4. Since installing Illustrator 10, the tools palette does not appear by default when I open Illustrator; I have to go to the 'Window' menu to select it.

Any suggestions as to how I can have the tools palette show up by default?

[C._Cheatham@adobeforums.com]

Interesting to find your post on this topic today because I just started searching AGAIN for a solution to this. Our office uses AI 10.0.3 in Mac OSX. All seven of our production stations have this problem. Other threads I've read said that the only solution is to upgrade to CS. That will not happen here for a long time because our corporate masters figure they have to upgrade the entire corporation at once, and they won't spend that.

Anyhow, the damn tool palette is one more irritation in a day littered with software annoyances.

Please, someone find us a fix.

[jonf@adobeforums.com]

Try this. Open your "Adobe Illustrator Startup_CMYK" file found in the plugins folder in your Ai app folder. Turn on the tool palette in the Window menu. Save. You might have to do this for the "Adobe Illustrator Startup_RGB" also, depending on how you normally work. Hopefully that will take of it.

[Ratz@adobeforums.com]

For what it's worth, I've found that the Tool palette problem goes away if I quit Illustrator using the Application Menu to Quit. The next time I run Ai, the Tool palette is there. If I use Command-Q, or quit from the Dock, the next time I run Ai the Tool palette needs to be re-opened.

[jonf@adobeforums.com]

After re-testing I realize I spoke too soon. The start-up files don't seem to have any actual effect on the palette windows displayed. There's probably something else going on. If Ratz' advice works that may be a good workaround, but the behavior doesn't sound normal. Have you trashed preferences, repaired permissions, and all the standard measures?

[timesmith@adobeforums.com]

Thanks, Jonf. I have tried everything suggested, except for what Ratz suggested. I have noticed that the behavior is erratic, so the way I quit Illustrator may be the culprit.

[L._Nichols@adobeforums.com]

Cool info Ratz. I'll have to check it out. I have consistently had the disappearing tool palette problem since upgrading to OS X. Trashing the AIprefs file fixes it for a while, but it has always come back (of course I typically quit from the dock).

For what it's worth, I don't have this problem with Illustrator CS.

L.