Expert: Amy - 1/5/2009

Question
Hi,
firstly, 'Show Bounding box' is turned on in View.

The problem is basically that I :

   * can't use the Direct Selection Tool
   * can't see anything when I draw a line (I can color it afterwards but not beforehand as the stroke and fill colors stay on Transparent)
   * click on an image within the file and nothing happens but if I drag around it, then it gets selected
   * can't move some things in the file using the Selection Tool
   * can only use keyboard commands to move 'some' objects
   * drag around text, images all together ...and only the box surrounding the text gets selected and can therefore be edited.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.  I tried the "finding the AIPrefs file/desktop advice" elsewhere here but as I am using someone else's computer I am wary of messing around with their machine.

Many thanks,
henalbenal

Answer
Hi,

Sounds like either a couple different View or Preference settings or a corrupt prefs file. I know you don't want to throw away the Prefs file right now because it's not your machine. So....

Alternatively, make sure that "Show Edges" is chosen under View and make sure you're not in Outline Mode (also under View).

Next, go to Preferences and check that "Select Object by Path" is NOT selected under "Selection and Anchor Display." That's where this setting is located and what it is named in CS3+... sorry, I can't remember the name it is given in earlier versions... but it is an option in preferences in most versions.

Aside from a few other tablet-related errors, I can't think of anything besides a bad prefs file that might cause this. My Guess is the Hide Edges suggestions.

Let me know!
Amy