Selecting multiple anchor points

[jpmoran]

Is there a way in illustrator to drag select multiple anchor points without selecting the lines between them?

I guess another way to put this is:

I want to be able to select several anchor points in an object by dragging and then delete them without opening the path.

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I edit paths a lot and I can't stand having to individually select each anchor point I want to delete. There must be a better way.

Thanks in advance


Patrick

[TORCH511]

In CS3 Yes, in earlier versions... not that I know of.

in CS3 there is a Delete Selected Anchor Points option that appears in the command bar. Very handy.

In earlier versions you can use the Delete Anchor Point Tool (on the Pen Tool Tearoff). You still have to click each anchor point though.

[jpmoran]

Thank you for the info. That will help me a lot

[Makai]

With the direct selection tool, hold Shift and select them point by point or simply use the selection-box via drag'n'drop. (?)

[jpmoran]

Thanks for everyones help.

I have another pen tool question.

I did it once before, but I can seem to replicate it. How do you grab a path segment between to ancor points and pull it so the curve handles aoutomaticall adjust. Basically I was able to drag the line segment into a curve without using the anchor point handles.

Any thoughts?

[TORCH511]

That only works if the segment has at least one curved (smooth) anchor point to begin with. If you were to use the rectangle tool, and then use the Direct Selection Tool and click and drag, you will just move the segment. Click adjusting a curve works best when both segment anchors are smooth.

Believe it or not, sometimes in the process of expanding and during some pathfinder operations, an anchor point will appear to be "right" (a 90 degree angle) but the anchor points are smooth corners, and not true corner points, so if you click and drag, it arcs rather than move.