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Selecting 'component' curves?


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Hello!
Let's say there's a vector shape consisting of multiple disconnected curves (subcurves, component curves, ... whatever they are called here), like in the letter O.

Is it possible to select one of these curves with one click? Looks like it's not possible with the Move Tool, tried all combinations of modifier keys.

So, with the Node Tool, I could of course select all nodes of the one curve I want to edit, but that is sometimes not easily possible. Is there a trick to select ALL nodes of a curve at once, except with lasso/rectangle/ etc.?

Thanks!

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If the curves are grouped, option clicking drills down thru the layers. Sometimes it helps to marqee select a bunch, and hide those to thin the forest out.

Once the curve9s0 is chosen, switch to node tool. Then, command click a for all.

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25 minutes ago, gdenby said:

Sometimes it helps to marqee select a bunch, and hide those to thin the forest out.

Very good advice.

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Thanks!

That's not what I mean, though. I'm not talking about grouped curves, but 'merged curves', to use the correct term.

As a quick example, create the letter O, then convert it to curves. Or, create two or more curves > select all of them > context menu Geometry > Merge Curves.

Now those curves are part of one and the same object=layer (which is important if you want the inner curves to produce holes in the fill - groups cannot do this).

How would you select one of those 'component' curves then? In a simple way, since the curves can be close together or overlap.

 

image.png.aef723f44cfa7d319f5dbc6651b60283.png

 

 

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For the O, do a self divide. Grab whichever set 7 manipulate. Then subtract the inner from the outer.

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Hi! Thanks, but my question ist: how do I select one of the component curves in the simplest possible way, without messing with the object? So, not a workaround - which there are several - but a direct selection.

See screenshot - how would you select those inner curves? I used lasso selection, carefully. There could be a simpler way, like double clicking on a node, or CTRL-clicking the componet curve etc. Not possible, right?

Thanks!

image.png.9dd8b83c3b819ff91b4e828aaffe0173.png

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I suppose there has to be a listing of all the nodes on a distinct vector shape. At this point, there isn't a routine/tool that allows all nodes in that contiguous series by just touching one of the series. Maybe add a request to the feature list.

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There is currently no short convenient way to do what you are asking.

The workarounds in earlier posts are useful to know, but dragging a freehand lasso (or clicking a polygon lasso) is the tool that is available for now.

Wrong wrong wrong - ignore all that!

Select a node on the inner circle of the O and hit Ctrl+A to select all the inner nodes.

A second press of Ctrl+A will select all the nodes of the entire shape.

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@Aammppaa, I am only posting a reply to let you know that if I could have given your post a higher 'reaction' than a "Like" I happily would have done so! :)

Great find, one that I am sure will save me lots of time. Well done!

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8 minutes ago, R C-R said:

@Aammppaa, I am only posting a reply to let you know that if I could have given your post a higher 'reaction' than a "Like" I happily would have done so! :)

Great find, one that I am sure will save me lots of time. Well done!

Likewise. I would have sworn I had control clicked on nodes of similar paths and just got all, not the portion. Just spent about an hour playing w. grabbing parts of Curves objects.

iMac 27" Retina, c. 2015: OS X 10.11.5: 3.3 GHz I c-5: 32 Gb,  AMD Radeon R9 M290 2048 Mb

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25 minutes ago, R C-R said:

Great find, one that I am sure will save me lots of time. Well done!

A great find indeed, and @Tupaia’s observation

13 hours ago, Tupaia said:

the first CTRL-A selects ALL component curves of every node that is selected

means that we can, for example, easily select all of the inner nodes in a figure ‘8’.

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5 minutes ago, Alfred said:

A great find indeed, and @Tupaia’s observation

means that we can, for example, easily select all of the inner nodes in a figure ‘8’.

Combine that with Transform mode & the possibilities seem endless.

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40 minutes ago, R C-R said:

Combine that with Transform mode & the possibilities seem endless.

Combine that with Transform mode & the possibilities seem are endless.

FIFY.

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