new user, help! about line segment

[Andrew7724]

I just got illustrator this week.... trying really hard to learn right now.
so... I was drawing with line segment tool.

I drew and box with it, at 45 degree angle. I want to fill that box, is it possible? i can't use live bucket because I need to use mesh.

so does anyone know how to do this? thanks!

[GuyB]

I don't think that the line segment tool is the best tool to draw a box. The lines you draw with it do not create a closed path so you can't fill it with a color. To be able to do it, you have to join (Object/Path/Join) every corner after selecting them with the direct selection tool (one corner at a time).

You can use the rectangle tool (and rotate if necessary), wich create closed paths or it might be a very good thing to learn to use the pen tool (a little bit steep learning curve here but a very powerful tool).

[Andrew7724]

thank you so much!!

[Andrew7724]

another question that i have is about the pen tool. I tried it, but i don't think i know how to use it.
I mean, every time I clicked on pen tool, I place it on the "paper" and click, nothing appears. Do i have to change the setting?

[AdobeAce]

Hi Andrew7724,
Sounds like you're drawing with the Pen tool with no Stroke.
Try clicking on the Stroke icon at the bottom of your Tool palette and making the Stroke a color.
Hope this helps!

[GuyB]

Andrew,

I think it would be useful that you take a look at Illustrator Help under "Pen tool". You'll find there basic informations to help you start with this tool.

[Andrew7724]

thanks, but then i figured it out that it is a bug.
I searched other forums and heard that the language of illustrator must match with your system language.
I had an English version of illustrator and was using a chinese mac. I changed the language to English then it worked.
I guess Adobe should fix this bug then...

really appreciate you guys' help though! :D

[The Repro Kid]

Uh-oh, looks like I need to throw in my 2¢.

Why would you call an "English version of Illustrator not working on a Chinese system" a bug?

Isn't this the reason for localized versions of software? To make sure all runs smoothly? It seems to me it would be a bit impractical to make all localized versions of software run on any and all localized systems.

The moral of the story:
"If you are going to do something, do it right."

But then again, maybe that's just me...
:o

[GuyB]

Right, Repro Kid. But there's something that I don't understand here !? I'm on a Mac with OSX 10.3.9; my system language is French and I use an English version of Illustrator CS with no problems at all.

[The Repro Kid]

Probabley because the chinese systems are _so_ much different from the other, more latin based systems. I'm no programmer, but I've had direct contact with Japanese systems and they are quite a bit different than the others.

The asian based systems and programs also cost quite a bit more money if I remember correctly.

All things adobe come down to $$$$.

[Andrew7724]

illustrator English edition is working great on my chinese system, except pen tool.
If Adobe wants to localize their software, i don't think they will only disable the pen tool. that's why i said i think it is a bug

[The Repro Kid]

I am a well known adobe basher.

However, in this case, to me, your position just seems silly.

How can you complain when you do not run the software the way it is intended to be run?

:o

I'm no programmer, but again, in this case, it may not be so simple.

Further, localizing is not something done for inconvenience, but rather to simplify programming.

And how do you know it runs fine when you don't even know how draw a rectangle?

:o :confused: :o
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Edit Follows:
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Maybe I should mellow my position.

Here's way to determine if this is really a bug:

Phone adobe tech support and say "I am running an english version of Illustrator on a Chinese system, and I have a problem, can you help me?"

If they "yes, what is your question?"

then it is a bug.

If they say "no, we do not support that configuration"

then it is not a bug, it is simply "operator error"

I'm willing to bet on the latter, but I've certainly been known to be wrong in the past.

[AdobeAce]

Hi Repro,

I'm glad your back. I missed your comments.

Oh, and you would not believe some of the requests I got when I was doing online support for Adobe. My favorire -- "I WANT to continue to do it wrong, but I still want the ______ feature to work right."

Ace :D

[The Repro Kid]

Howdy Ace,

I try not to state the obvious -- but sometimes I can't hold back.

:o

[Grendel]

Howdy Ace,

I try not to state the obvious -- but sometimes I can't hold back.

:o

I'm new here...and I would have to agree. Deciding that "because it doesn't work within my configuration", it must be a "bug". hmmmm :confused:

[scottie]

You all might be a little kinder to our Chinese brothers and sisters. They seem to understand much more English than we do Chinese; although not to perfection. Just keep in mind...you may be working for a Chinese person one day. Do you think all those Chinese restaurants are here just to sell wontons?
zaijian

[The Repro Kid]

Scottie, I appreciate you're sentiment, However...
Say I was talking to an Armenian, or someone from Patagonia, or maybe someone from the Aleutian Islands. And say he complained that to me that his car that requires leaded gasoline was not running well on the unleaded gasoline he always bought.

I would still have no problem telling him he is approaching the problem Bass-Ackwards.

Chinese, Armenian, Patagonian, Aleutian Islander, whatever. Bass-Ackwards is Bass-Ackwards, no matter where you come from. I try my best to be an equal-opportunity reality dispenser.

I think you're reading between lines that don't exist in this thread.

BTW. I live and work in So. Cal. In case you weren't aware it's a bit of mixing pot over here. How do know I personally haven't already worked for Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Armenian, Yugoslavian, Persian (Iraqi), WASP, and African-American bosses and supervisors? -- Hint: you'd be foolish to think I haven't.

Cheers :D