Adobe Illustrator - Can I link objects?

Author

Can I link objects?

Nik Coughlin

2006-11-05, 10:21 pm

Illustrator CS2. I have an object (a group containing various paths and
text) which is repeated a number of times across my artboard. When I want
to make a change to the object I have to either make the changes to all of
the instances of it one by one or change one of them and then delete the
others and replace them with copies of the updated object. Is there a way
to "link" the copies to the master object so that whenever I update that,
all of the copies change automatically?

MisterOwl

2006-11-05, 10:21 pm

If you're placing a layered Photoshop file, and linking it (not
embedding it), when you update the Photoshop file and save, Illustrator
should ask you if you want to change the file you have linked as well.

I don't know if Photoshop in this case has a CS2 requirement, or if any
layered photoshop file will function the same.

steggy

2006-11-05, 10:21 pm

Nik Coughlin wrote:
> Illustrator CS2. I have an object (a group containing various paths and
> text) which is repeated a number of times across my artboard. When I want
> to make a change to the object I have to either make the changes to all of
> the instances of it one by one or change one of them and then delete the
> others and replace them with copies of the updated object. Is there a way
> to "link" the copies to the master object so that whenever I update that,
> all of the copies change automatically?
>
>

I will repost what I posted one day ago. Not sure whether objects will
follow this but text surely does. The method is based on business cards,
but why would something else behave differently.

Here goes. Hope it helps.

============

I still love this one, credits to Paul who we do not see here anymore:

Try this, if you have Illustrator 9 or higher. I'm going to assume for
the moment that you want the cards to be printed out 2 across and 5
down, without any space between them. If this isn't right you'll need
to change some of the numbers.

1. Create one copy of the card in the upper left corner, exactly where
you want it printed. Make sure it is on one layer.
2. Target the layer for effects by clicking in the little circle on its
row of the layers palette. It should get a double circle when you do
this.
3. Effect->Distort & Transform->Transform...
4. Enter 85 mm into the Horizontal Move field, and enter 1 into the
number of copies. Click OK. You should now see a copy of the card 85
mm to the right of the first copy.
5. Again, do Effect->Distort & Transform->Transform... Depending upon
the version of Illustrator, you might get a warning message about the
effect being applied twice. This is what you want, so proceed.
6. This time enter -55 mm into the Vertical Move field, and 4 into the
number of copies. Click OK.

You should now have 10 copies of the card on the page. Only the top
left one will be editable, but any changes you make to it will happen to
the other 9 copies.

[mfk]

2006-12-06, 6:21 pm

try to trick with CTRL+D, perhaps it will work

[mfk]

inez

2006-12-06, 6:21 pm

On 11/20/06 4:53 AM, [mfk] commented:

> try to trick with CTRL+D, perhaps it will work

Steggy has given the correct answer for this question. When duplicating
graphics the Effect>Distort &Transform>Transform is great. I love it! It's
perfect for laying out business cards 8-10 on a page. The original
graphic/group acts like a master so that when you change it, all the
duplicates are changed.

It's also good if you just want to duplicate something evenly spaced; then
if you want to edit each piece independently to be different from the
original you simply Expand Appearance.

inez