Thread View: adobe.illustrator.featurerequests
13 messages
13 total messages
Started by IkeOxford
Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:42
Swap stacking order
Author: IkeOxford
Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:42
Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:42
13 lines
967 bytes
967 bytes
If this feature already exists, please let me know. How about a feature to swap the stacking order of selected objects? This would be very useful for masking since the mask should be in front. Otherwise it's... 1. Select top object 2. Send Backward x number of times or 1. Select top object 2. Cut 3. Select bottom object 4. Paste Behind An instant flip arrange would be nice
Re: Swap stacking order
Author: Mariusz
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 06:33
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 06:33
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This will of Corel. In Ai no such function and injury. You can get around this 1. select object or objects 2. Cut (CMD+X) 3. Select behind object 4. Paste.
Re: Swap stacking order
Author: Steve_Fairbairn
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:25
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:25
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Take a look at sub-layers in the Layers palette. Click on the grey arrow to the left of the layer icon to see them. There you can drag things around as you please, just like you do when altering the layer order or moving things between layers. You can also drag effects around to apply drop shadows and things to other objects. Just click on the sub-layer "meatball" of a sub-layer that has an effect and copy-drag it to another object. This all makes life a lot easier than 'paste in front', 'paste behind' and 'send backward'.
Re: Swap stacking order
Author: Mariusz
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:54
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:54
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But is not as quick, intuitive and does not like a lot of layers. Copying effects by this method can and is good but there are several layers. In addition, in the end could be an option "Paste remember layers" of the key pair example CMD + V + shift.
Re: Swap stacking order
Author: IkeOxford
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:08
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:08
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I wish I knew applescript or javascript because I assume it would be simple to code. Unfortunately, you can't bind a script to a key command in Illustrator (another wish for the feature list)
Re: Swap stacking order
Author: James_Talmage
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 22:10
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 22:10
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I wish I knew applescript or javascript because I assume it would be simple
to code.
Well, if you really wish you knew Javascript, this would be an excellent first attempt, because it would be relatively easy.
If you care to, you could even use the script named JET_StackTopToBottom.jsx, downloadable from here <http://www.illustrationetc.com/AI_Javascripts/TransformScripts.htm> as a starting point.
That script stacks items top-to-bottom, based upon their Y (vertical) positions on the page. I wrote it to address a chronic problem with text objects on imported CAD files.
But I am yet to see the actual value of the stated purpose in this thread, creating a clipping mask. Illustrator's built-in treatment for invoking scripts is far from convenient, and has been a complaint of mine since I started scripting AI. Going to the File menu, waiting for the Scripts submenu to appear, then selecting the desired script among the others there is tedious beyond words for something the whole purpose of which is to perform a quick and simple transformation.
So I really wouldn't expect that to be quicker or more convenient than simply selecting the object you intend to use as the clipping mask and typing "Ctrl-]" (bring to front). If that object is the rearmost, and is completely obscured, right-click and choose Select>LastObjectBelow (another too-tediously implemented feature).
You are supposed to be able to call a script by including it in an Action. That would be ideal for quick access script calls. But that is prevented by a bug which has existed (and been much complained about) for four versions now.
JET
Re: Swap stacking order
Author: IkeOxford
Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 02:42
Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 02:42
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Hi, James and thanks. I create maps for a newspaper. Each map has several elements -- text boxes, road symbols, street names, etc. Some items get grouped and some items are ungrouped. Because our maps are a set size, I start with a template box with dummy text and I scale the map so it generally fits the box area. Eventually I use the template box as my mask. The process involves lots of moving and grouping of elements, so the stacking order is always changing...hence the mask problem. In short, I'm moving lots of elements around so I'm constantly changing the stacking order with multiple keystrokes and mouse clicks. I'm very fast, but when I have 2 items selected, I have the impulse to flip them with a quick key command. And I agree that a script wouldn't be any faster, especially since Illustrator can't bind key commands to scripts :(
Re: Swap stacking order
Author: James_Talmage
Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:59
Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:59
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I'm very fast, but when I have 2 items selected, I have the impulse to
flip them with a quick key command.
Two objects? You're very fast?
Click top object. Ctrl-X.
Click second object. Ctrl-B.
JET
Re: Swap stacking order
Author: IkeOxford
Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 07:21
Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 07:21
1 lines
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2 clicks, 2 key commands. It may not seem like much but I do it all day. If you can boil it down, (like Freehand's 1-step Clone command vs. Illustrator's 2 step copy, paste in front) I don't see the harm
Re: Swap stacking order
Author: James_Talmage
Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 10:58
Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 10:58
11 lines
794 bytes
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It may not seem like much but I do it all day.
You do this all day?
All day you have situations in which the rearmost of 2 objects needs to be used as a clipping path for the frontmost?
JET
Re: Swap stacking order
Author: IkeOxford
Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 16:19
Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 16:19
1 lines
581 bytes
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Yes
Re: Swap stacking order
Author: James_Talmage
Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 21:37
Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 21:37
3 lines
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Then I would have to ask why you repeatedly draw your clipping mask path behind the single object you intend for it to mask. JET
Re: Swap stacking order
Author: IkeOxford
Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 06:19
Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 06:19
1 lines
615 bytes
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It's ok. Don't worry about it, James
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