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Keyboard shortcuts for Align/Distribute commands and 'Align to' modes

I miss having keyboard shortcuts for align/distribute from my CorelDraw days. I'm a pro designer in a fast turnaround environment, and keyboard shortcuts are essential to my workflow.

As far as I know, the numeric keypad isn't being used in Illustrator. My proposal is: Pressing 0 toggles between absolute to the artboard or relative to last item selected. Pressing 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 will perform the align .2 = bottom, 4 = left, 5 = centre, 6 = right, 8 = top. Additionally 7 = distribute horizontal, 9 = distribute vertical.

Also, please copy the CorelDraw keyboard shortcut Tab = select next object/group, Shift Tab select previous object/group

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Simon shared this idea  ·   ·  Report…  ·  Admin →
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AdminEgor Chistyakov (Admin, Adobe Illustrator) responded  · 

The most recent version finally has the Object > Distribute menu added.

Now both Align and Distribute commands can be accessed via menu and have assigned keyboards shortcuts to them.


The order of the commands though seemingly matches the one the panel has: horizontal first for Align and vertical first for Distribute. If you find this odd and want to change it — vote here: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657-illustrator-desktop-feature-requests/suggestions/45855823-sync-the-order-of-align-and-distribute-menu-comman


Also, Align To and Distribute Spacing commands are still missing in top menus, so please keep voting here to make them added too.

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  • Katarina commented  ·   ·  Report

    Forget numeric keyboard - too many people work on laptops! Just the ability to assign buttons. We will manage with the rest.

  • MarT commented  ·   ·  Report

    Wake up Adobe!

    We also need to be able to assign a shortcut for "Align to Artboard" and "Align to Selection" as switching between them manually is a real pain!

  • Kinga commented  ·   ·  Report

    Wake up Adobe!

    We also need to be able to assign a shortcut for "Align to Artboard" and "Align to Selection". Switching them manually all the time is a real pain.

  • ViolaM commented  ·   ·  Report

    Adobe, please wake up!

    It is also important to be able to set a shortcut for "Align to Artboard" and "Align to Selection" as switching between them all the time manually is a real pain.

  • Nina commented  ·   ·  Report

    This is so sad, if they just added individual align commands to the menu, we could assign any shortcut to them, depending on how we work. I'm very disappointed for many year not having this fixed yet... :(

    I'm seriously thinking of switching to another software, perhaps Affinity Designer.

  • MilenaZ commented  ·   ·  Report

    Please make them simply available as menu commands! Same as Pathfinder commands are! This is the only solution! If Pathfinder commands are available via menu, why not Align commands??? Come on!

  • GregMuller commented  ·   ·  Report

    SO expensive piece of software for rent, and we have to beg for such simple solution. Adobe has been known to be a corporation that don't care about what users ask for. They only care about money.

    SHAME ON YOU ADOBE!

  • Peter.W commented  ·   ·  Report

    Exactly! We need those align options to be available as commands as it was mentioned below! So we can assign ANY shortcuts! F-keys macros is not a solution at all! It's a huge pain, and I'm not sure why Adobe doesn't give a **** for years!

  • Anonymous commented  ·   ·  Report

    With all respect @Sowell Roid, but this is not a solution at all for various reasons described below, which I'm sure you didn't care to read!! So please take time and read it! Because this stupid workaround with F keys has been known for ages, and it's not a solution at all! And never was!!

  • Anonymous commented  ·   ·  Report

    Macros with Function Keys is a well known workaround which has NEVER worked! In fact, it is so limited that it might solve the problem only for a small number of people.

    We need Align commands to be listed as Menu commands, in the same fashion as Pathfinder ones, so we can assign any shortcut keys!

    Actions don't work, because of the lack of flexibility. For example, I constantly have to switch between "Align to Selection" and "Align to Artboard", and if you play an action which center objects to Artboard, and the "Align to Selection" is selected, then the Macro will NOT WORK! So, you have this very limited function key shortcut, which only work if you manually switch the mode from Selction to Artboard - we need a shortcut for that too! At the end I have to go to Align panel anyway to switch between modes, so what's the point! If I had the commands available in menu, I could assign whatever key I need to my specific needs!!!!

    This software is way overpriced, people are forced to pay monthly without even owning the software, and need to beg for years for such basic functionality! This is absolutely ridiculous!!! Adding Align commands to the menu it's a one afternoon job for their programmers for Christ sake!!! What the **** is going on there??!!

    Shall we beg for it for another 10 years??? WAKE UP ADOBE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Anonymous commented  ·   ·  Report

    I made a quick action set.. hope this helps. It works with the Function Keys, you can adjust as needed.

  • Anonymous commented  ·   ·  Report

    Alignment shortcuts exist in InDesign -- the right way. They also exist in Photoshop -- the WRONG way. Why aren't they in Illustrator at all? Should be in ALL programs, and should allow any keyboard shortcuts (I'm looking at you, Photoshop).

    My workaround for Illustrator:
    1) Create actions (omg, they are SO limited!!! Can only use F keys, and only mod keys allowed are Shift & Ctrl. This needs to be fixed as well)
    2) Go to my programmable keyboard and program a new macro for a macro key that executes the Fn keystroke

    **** ridiculous to have to do this for FIFTY-FIVE FREAKING DOLLARS A MONTH!

  • Anonymous commented  ·   ·  Report

    Exactly! If I only had a chance, I would be more than happy to apply my own shortcuts to whichever Align options I want - the problem is - Align options don't exist in the commands! This is absolutely crazy! for example all Pathfinder commands are there, in the menu, so I can assign my own shortcuts to them, but not Align commands! Adding those commands to the menu can probably be done by developers in one afternoon, but no one cares! no one! for years! bloody corporation...

  • Kent M commented  ·   ·  Report

    Amen Anonymous! People have been begging for these shortcuts for years. I've never seen an explanation from Adobe why it can't and/or won't make this happen. I've never seen Adobe personnel comment on this issue at all. You're supposed to be the standard in the industry. Act like it.

  • Anonymous commented  ·   ·  Report

    Years of waiting for such basic feature! How is it possible that we're still not able to use keyboard shortcuts for one of the most used command of all! There are hundreds of features that I don't use at all, yet they have shortcuts! even some of the least used ones have shortcuts! This is crazy how ignorant Adobe is, users participation in the development is almost non existent! Shame on you!

  • David Nielsen commented  ·   ·  Report

    Allison: Are you using Actions? Which Keyboard Shortcut menu are you using? This request is specifically to allow Keyboard Shortcuts to do alignment.

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