Global Edit in Isolation mode
Global edit is very powerful but not a fully realized feature.
Many things are missing from it (like this one: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657-illustrator-feature-requests/suggestions/35768314-create-symbols-from-global-edit)
Another one is that the Global Edit button is completely missing when you are in isolation mode. So instead of entering a group and editing similar objects only in this particular group, we are forced to lock similar objects manually (because GE won’t allow to do it), EXIT the isolation mode, start GE and edit found similar-s with everything else NOT isolated (which obstructs editing).
Let me provide a practical example I am working on. I have several similar staircases. One of them, while being generally the same, has a different step height. I want to isolate this particular staircase (to not interfere with another art in the same layer) and edit only this object’s steps. But Ai forces me to A) lock other staircases, B) lock underlying art. This is very limiting.
BTW, if you have found all you similar-s and want to lock all other objects, except these that you found, — what would you do? Select > Inverse >Lock Selected? Nope, it won’t work, Inverse don’t treat found as selected. Not sure it must, but I can’t see a fast way anyway.
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As it turns out, Global Edit DOES work in isolation mode. It’s just the button on Control panel (and the ability to set parameters) is missing when in isolation! The Select > Start Global Edit command is still there.
Please bring the button back.