Alt & drag to copy not working.
I only read one post about this problem with a GIF example. I'm working on Windows desktop, every time I try to alt + drag to copy something, at first it creates a copy, but when I release the mouse or keys (tested many combinations), it ends up only moving that object to that place instead of creating a copy. It's really frustrating because it's making my job difficult.
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Tay
commented
The first part is correct, only after a failed attempt of already clicking alt and moving it to a different location that it works. If I add shift, it cancels duplicates
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Just to clarify — so it NEVER works if you add Shift, but works without Shift after a first failed attempt?
Or does it always work without Shift added? -
Tay
commented
Hi Egor,
Thanks again for the response & sorry for my late one. Unfortunately I've tried everything in those forums & on reddit, and I've found no solution. I actually wanted to change the shortcut but it's not possible, and I've tried all combinations and order of keys. Resetting everything too.
The persisting problem is that the first time I click alt, the object, or first the object and alt (order didn't matter in this case), and I drag, it doesn't duplicate. Only after I do this, then I can duplicate. But I *cannot* duplicate using shift to keep it in alignement. I tried showing it in the video, sorry about the quality. It leads me to have to spend more time using the alignment panel which does affect my workflow :-( -
I personally don’t have this problem... But it’s not the first time this bubbles up :(
1. Holding Alt while dragging an object to copy / duplicate it doesn’t works — http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447/suggestions/32365747 — nobody replied if it was fixed for them
2. Alt-Drag to Duplicate (and Shift to align) Only Works Intermittently — http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447/suggestions/31354873 — was fixed in 2020, and no-one upvoted this since then — but if fits your description with the Shift held additionally
3. Click-drag fails... snaps back — http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447/suggestions/44914921 — this one I was told is under review, but I never got a confirmation from the team it was fixed. Does this one feel like a same problem to you? -
Tay
commented
Hi Egor,
For my work (Macbook) laptop, it works fine. For my own computer, whenever I try to use alt on any object, it appears to make a copy, but when I release the mouse & key, it instead is just the original object, just moved to where my mouse is. I find that if I click an object at least twice when holding alt, I am able to duplicate it. I cannot duplicate and shift though to copy it in alignment, because otherwise it simply moves the object, like previously mentioned. I've read so many forums and tried so many things and have no idea why it isn't working. Maybe I am just making a dumb mistake?
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In Illustrator, unlike in e.g. Photoshop, we have to hold Opt/Alt all the time while trying to duplicate.
Is this what you are observing?A discussion about the difference in modality paradigms Ai and Ps have:
http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447/suggestions/45916234 -
Tay
commented
I found that it works but only after holding alt down and trying multiple times. I've even tried changing guidelines & properties settings and whatnot but yeah. Just in case someone else finds this thread.