Trying to select specific objects

[Donald_S._Woodward@adobeforums.com]

I am using Illustrator 10 on Windows 98. When I go to select an object on the screen (using the select tool) it selects all the objects, and everything turns red and bold. All I can do at that point is click off the image and it deselects everything. Basically, I am unable to select specific objects for editing. This seems to be happening at some point on all the files I've been creating. Any assistance or advice concerning this is most appreciated.

[Timothy_Foolery®@adobeforums.com]

Ungroup the objects ([ctrl]+[Shift]+[G]) or use the direct selection tool (White arrow) If these files are imported from other applications (especially CorelDraw) they may contain compound paths instead. Press [ctrl]+[shift]+[8] to release the compound paths.

[BobHill@adobeforums.com]

Also try Control Y and use Outline mode, then click the actual object's path. If two objects have a common overlapping path, choose a side that's not common. If all sides are common, then Arrange and move the top to rear to get to the front path.

Bob

[Donald_S._Woodward@adobeforums.com]

Thanks for the suggestions ! I'll give these a whirl and let you know how I make out.

[Donald_S._Woodward@adobeforums.com]

Timothy,

OK, Ctrl+Shift+G ungrouped the objects. However, now when I select one of the objects, it's still in bold red and I can't seem to edit it. For example, a text object - It's in bold red and I can't change the text inside. Any further thoughts or suggestions ?

Thanks much for your assistance.

[latchet_mcbride@adobeforums.com]

Hi

Some ideas - the text could also be grouped. Try ungrouping until it is free. Or the text may have been converted to objects which means you can't use it as type any more.

Latchet

[Timothy_Foolery®@adobeforums.com]

I think Latchet is bang on there sorry Donald.

[LenHewitt@adobeforums.com]

Donald,

Switch off Smart Guides

[Donald_S._Woodward@adobeforums.com]

Lachet & Timothy:

I think you are correct. It must be some bonehead thing I'm doing to all my files (i.e. grouping stuff together by accident - like the text objects.) Maybe at some point I chose "group all" and that screws up the Illustration. Is that possible ? Live & learn I guess.

Len, the Smart Guides was not checked. I turned them on and it does show the text all broken up into anchors/paths. So that does give me some idea what went wrong.

Starting from scratch and being more careful this time....

Thanks for your suggestions.

Don

[Hopkins_Chris@adobeforums.com]

Use the direct selection tool. (The wite arrow)

[BobHill@adobeforums.com]

Bye the way, don't forget you can use the sublayers and select each object from there as well as select multiple objects. But, of course if there are many, and the objects aren't necessarily named, you might have to pick and watch when you click on a sublayer, if there are a great many in any given layer. Just click on the right cicle and it'll highlight the object. Hold down SHIFT and click for multi-select.

Bob