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Hi, I'm missing the option to use the mouse wheel to zoom in and out. I realize you can do this by holding Ctrl (Cmd), but it was far easier for a Windows kid to use in version 1. Am I missing a checkbox in Preferences somewhere? TIA, Gary

Thanks, you v_kyr. Worked a treat. I'm only sorry I'm not as quick to adapt as I used to be. I'm anal and need to have an EXE file backed up locally.

Hi, and thank you for how fast you replied. And I'm a little less sheepish seeing that I'm not the only one to ask about enabling a choice of install locations, based on using the msi installer. But I don't see one available on the downloads page in my account. Am I looking in the wrong place? TIA, Gary

Hi, and sorry that this is not a features question! Where, physically, is Designer 2.1 installed on my drives? I'm desperately short of space on my drive C, and while installing this version, I noted that it didn't give me an option as to where I wanted Designer installed. I assume it's drive C, my primary drive, but I cannot locate it! Have I taken too many stupid pills, or is there a way to define the destination upon install and redirect it? Manyh thanks in advance!

Yes, yes, and yes! One investment in time, three uses for the finished idea! "Second-level" tools, modifiers for appropriate shapes (shapes with control points in this example) can be executed from a Context menu entry—also from a tool that changes behaviour by holding modifiers keys (Zoom tool +Alt/Opt=Zoom out), and also, also by double-clicking, right-clicking and so on. Let's call the tool that changes node function a Node tool, okay? When you double-click a smooth node, it becomes a cusp node in Xara Designer. I realize you have a function that converts a node property when you Alt/Opt+hold on a node control handle to toggle between smooth and cusp, but to get picky here, that's one more step in the process the artist needs to perform to reach their goal. Little things add up. At least they do in politics. —g

No, Eℓƒяє∂, the toolbar flyout actually isn't a fast enough method to create a fast basic shape. At least not for someone who nursed their way up to compound paths on CorelDRAW. Again, I believe it's incumbent upon the brilliant designers who engineered an award-winning program to check the competition, and more often than not challenge themselves to a "What's the quickest way?" mental contest. Metaphorically here, to borrow from advertising slang, the Rectangle tool, or the Line tool (generic terms here) are parity tools, every program has one. And if you can't improve on the way they work, improve upon how quickly they can be accessed and executed. I'd offer the palette treatment for shapes, as Corel has had since the 1990s. Not to be critical of a hard-workng company, but Corel Corp. has too many redundant features. It's great to be able to do something three different ways, but entirely unnecessary if two of the ways are cumbersome and just plain dumb. And I realize I've been underwhelming in these discussions and I'll still use AD if they don't change a single thing. My spouse Barbara tells me that's what true love is.

Thank you for a vote of confidence, Petar. I will mull a suggestion around a lot of times before posting, because I need to keep in mind that the Windows version of Designer is almost two years younger than the version for Mac. Use all three mouse buttons—I learned that the wheel can also be used as a button from other graphics programs. Use the context menu for what it's been used for. "Any process the takes the artist away from their work is an unnecessary distraction." —some Microsoft engineer When I'm not laughing, I'm crying at some of the awkward stunts Adobe Systems has pulled over the years with graphical interface programs. WHY, in God's name, do you fold a brilliant little program, Adobe Dimensions, into Illustrator...and then run the whole thing from within a proxy box?! A proxy box. Why didn't they go full bore and make it a command line feature? Seriously, and not to rant at all (this forum is fun!); designers eat, breathe, think and work visually. If there is a short(er) graphical way of doing something—short of being bizarre—you just do it. Thanks mightily! —gare

I'll make this UberSuggestion once a year, okay? Hoping it isn't too late in the cycle—the length of which is unknown, right?—to suggest... If you want to conquer the world with AD, the world is not limited to Adobe Illustrator. Two Windows drawing programs—MAGIX Xara Designer and CorelDRAW—have some features and tools worth investigating/adopting/stealing. The foremost one I'd like to see implemented is a truly context-sensitive right-click pop up menu. The fewer trips away from my cursor, the better—you work faster when your tools are close at hand, in the same way you get more meat at dinner when the serving plate is closer to your fork. </attempt at humorous analogy> Play "what if" with me for just a moment? The Shape tool is new and a really terrific too for someone who began with vector art in 1991 and had a "Line tool, deal with it" tool. But what if all the shapes could be accessed by a right click menu when the shape tool is clicked on? And "what if" there was one editing tool for lines and control points, whose purpose is determined by holding Alt/Opt, Cmd?Ctrl? I've always learned new curse words when working in Illustrator with lines. Direct Select, Change Curve, Add Point, ya-dah-dah. All those tools are covered in Xara with one tool, and the commands are repeated on the context menu bar, somewhat redundantly. Quality over quantity. Again, just a suggestion. I didn't get a pony for Christmas so I'm accustomed to disappointments. Happy 2019. Or Else. —Gary

Rick— Unintentional gaffe in your post: "womone". Someone, right? Because I originally scanned it as woman, and the woman behind me became offended. "It's so easy even a someone could use it!" Happy New Year, Gary

I regret my offering is not a low-poly model.

Thanks right back at you, Alfred. I'm all for making this a yearly thing. What do y'all think?

Sorry, it's not a piece of graphic artwortk, but rather a musical one (from a previous career!): This is a digital download of about 60MB, of mp3 files. It’s a mix of styles—from the 17th century, to jazz, and back again. I used digital sampling software and an occasional synthesizer to reproduce the wide range of instruments you’ll hear. a standalone download page on my website No nonsense, no self-center redirect. This is just from the heart of a fellow artist and his spouse, trying to put a little more love into this world. Happy Holidays, all! Gary and Barbara Bouton <I used a number of different programs to draw the work, including a lot of you-know what, begins with an "A">

Just a thought: it's a fairly standard convention in some of the graphics programs I use, to just double-click the origin box joining the rulers to reset. It's the first place I try when opening a new program and have screwed up the rulers.

Me, I'd be happier than a pig in fecal material if you folks just took "the best of the best" features in products, both existing, such as CorelDRAW, and orphaned, such as Creature House Expressions. There's a lot to like with AD, and I'd just like to see it grow without falling while running, as some other commercial software has done. Good luck, Jim. Other products will self-destruct in 10 seconds. ☞ ♬♬♬♬♬♬♬♬♬♬♬♬♬♬♬♬♬.... ☺ —g