CAD like selection (direction of the marquee toggles Enclosed mode)
Illustrator now allows to use Enclosed Mode to select objects within the marquee (originally requested here: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/31863601), but the only way to do it is tap E key.
Make an option to enable this method also:
Click - Left drag: select everything INSIDE the marquee.
Click - Right drag: select everything CROSSING the marquee.
Many CAD programs work this way. It makes selections much simpler.
David Allen Cleveland
shared this idea
-
Jinmu
commented
I can see why anyone who has never used CAD software would be confused, but it's only because they aren't familiar with the behavior because it's never been available to them. We figured this one out in a couple minutes as 15 year old high school drafting students. I'm sure a bunch of motivated, intelligent professionals can adapt, particularly if it is offered as an opt-in setting rather than a new default (which no one likes anyway). You could make a bunch of users happy, and the ones confused by the behavior would be unaffected as they don't have to activate it. For example, 3DS Max allows you to turn this selection type on and off, make it so it's always enclosed or open selection, and even change the window direction for enclosed/open. Besides, I feel like anyone who is familiar with the feature could easily demonstrate to other artists how quickly it will make their lives easier and end their confusion and frustration. I found the pen tool really frustrating when I first tried it coming from AutoCAD. Then someone explained it to me and I was fine.
I love Illustrator and I hate AutoCAD, but sometimes it feels like Illustrator is still lagging behind the decades-old features of that absolute dinosaur of a program.
-
The team reviewed and tested this approach during the Beta phase while developing Enclosed Selection mode, requested here originally: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/31863601
The method brought a lot of confusion to testers, and it got shelved. The current way to toggle the behavior is to hit E key once while dragging a marquee. Here is the full help article on this: helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/selecting-objects.html#modified-marquee-selection
The implementation left a lot of users frustrated and perhaps there is a chance for it to be reviewed.
It’s nice to have it as a separate request now, thanks. -
David Allen Cleveland
commented
This just makes the selection process easier. In addition, using SHIFT should only ADD to the selection, not add new and remove old like it is now. And CTRL should only TAKE AWAY from the selection. These just seem like common-sense selection ideas.
