Move by Distance

Script for Adobe Illustrator

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Description

Move by Distance is a powerful Adobe Illustrator script that provides precise control over moving selected objects in any direction (left, right, up, or down) by a specified distance. The script features an intuitive user interface with real-time preview capabilities, allowing you to visualize changes before applying them.

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Key Features

Directional Movement: Move objects in four directions (Left ←, Right →, Up ↑, Down ↓)
Precise Distance Control: Enter exact values or use the interactive scrollbar
Real-Time Preview: See changes live as you adjust settings
Copy Mode: Create copies instead of moving originals, with support for multiple duplicates
Multiple Duplicates: Generate multiple evenly-spaced copies in a single operation (1-100 copies)
Unit-Aware: Automatically adapts to your document's ruler units (inches, cm, mm, pixels, points, picas)
Settings Persistence: Your preferences are saved between sessions
Keyboard Shortcuts: Use arrow keys for quick value adjustments
Fit Selection View: Quickly zoom to fit selected objects in the viewport

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Installation

1. Download the Move by Distance.jsx script file.

2. Place the script in your Adobe Illustrator Scripts folder:

⮑ Mac: /Applications/Adobe Illustrator <Version>/Presets/<Language>/Scripts

⮑ Windows: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator <Version>\Presets\<Language>\Scripts

3. Restart Adobe Illustrator if it's already running.

4. Access the script via File > Scripts > Move by Distance.

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Alternative: You can run the script without installation by dragging and dropping the .jsx file directly onto an open Illustrator document.

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Using the Script

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➊ Prepare Your Document

Before running the script, ensure you have:

An open document in Adobe Illustrator
Objects in your document (the script won't run on an empty document)
At least one object selected (use the Selection Tool V)

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➋ Launch the Script

Run the script via File → Scripts → Move Objects (or your preferred method).

A dialog window will appear with the following sections:

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➌ Choose Direction

In the Direction section, click one of the four directional buttons:

← Left – Moves objects to the left
→ Right – Moves objects to the right
↑ Up – Moves objects upward
↓ Down – Moves objects downward

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➍ Set the Distance

In the Distance section, specify how far to move the objects:

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Using the Scrollbar

Drag the scrollbar to adjust the distance (range: 0–1000)
Click the scrollbar arrows to increment/decrement by the current step value
Right-click on the scrollbar to instantly reset to 0

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Using the Input Field

Type any numeric value directly (not limited to 0–1000)
Use Up/Down arrow keys to adjust by the step value
Hold Shift + arrow keys to adjust by 10× the step value

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Understanding Units

The distance is shown in your document's current ruler units:

in = Inches
cm = Centimeters
mm = Millimeters
pt = Points
px = Pixels
pc = Picas

The script automatically converts your input to the correct internal values.

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Reset Button (✖)

Click the ✖ button next to the distance to instantly reset it to 0.

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➎ Adjust Step Value (Optional)

The Step value controls the increment used when:

Clicking scrollbar arrows
Using keyboard arrow keys in the distance field

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To change the step value:

Enter a value in the Step field (default: 1)
Use Up/Down arrow keys to adjust by ±1
Hold Shift + arrow keys to adjust by ±10
Click the ✖ button to reset to 1

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➏ Enable Copy Mode (Optional)

Check the Copy checkbox to create copies of selected objects instead of moving the originals:

Copy ON: Creates duplicate objects at the target distance, leaving originals in place
Copy OFF: Moves the original objects to the new position

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Setting Number of Duplicates

When Copy mode is enabled, you can specify how many copies to create:

Enter a value in the Duplicates field (range: 1-100)
Use Up/Down arrow keys to adjust the count
Click the ✖ button to reset to 1

Note: Multiple duplicates are evenly distributed between the original position and the target distance, creating a stepped effect.

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➐ Enable Preview (Recommended)

Check the Preview checkbox to see real-time changes as you adjust settings:

Preview ON: Objects move instantly as you change direction or distance
Preview OFF: Changes are only applied when you click OK

Tip: Preview mode helps you visualize the final result before committing.

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➑ Hide Edges (Optional)

Check the Hide Edges checkbox to hide selection bounding boxes and anchor points:

Hide Edges ON: Clearer view of your design without visual clutter
Hide Edges OFF: Standard selection display with bounding boxes

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➒ Use the Fit Selection Button

Click the ✚ (zoom) button to automatically fit selected objects in the viewport:

Adjusts zoom level to 85% of the selection bounds
Centers the selection in the window
Only enabled when Preview is ON

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➓ Apply or Cancel

Once satisfied with your settings:

Click OK: Apply the movement to selected objects and close the dialog
Click Cancel: Revert all changes and close the dialog (objects return to original positions)

Important: Your settings (direction, distance, step, preview, hide edges) are automatically saved for future sessions, regardless of whether you click OK or Cancel.

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Keyboard Shortcuts

Up/Down arrows in Distance field: Adjust by step value
Shift + Up/Down arrows in Distance field: Adjust by 10× step value
Up/Down arrows in Step field: Adjust by ±1
Shift + Up/Down arrows in Step field: Adjust by ±10
Right-click on scrollbar: Reset distance to 0

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Workflow Tips

Enable Preview first to see live updates
Use Hide Edges for a cleaner canvas view
Use the Fit Selection button to quickly focus on your work
Set a custom step value for faster adjustments with large or small increments

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☻ Conclusion

With Move by Distance script, you have complete control over precise object positioning in Adobe Illustrator. The combination of real-time preview, flexible input methods, and persistent settings makes it easy to achieve pixel-perfect layouts efficiently. Start experimenting with the script today to streamline your design workflow and save valuable time on repetitive positioning tasks.

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#Arrange

Move by Distance

Version: 1.0.4

Updated: December 14, 2025

Download Move by Distance

1.0.0 – Initial release.
1.0.1 – Added Move Copy mode for non-destructive workflows.
1.0.2 – Added Duplicates control to create intermediate copies between original and final positions.
1.0.3 – Multiple bug fixes. Zoom to selection now works correctly even when "Hide Edges" option is enabled.
1.0.4 – The zoom button now frames all items being processed, including intermediate duplicates when using Copy option.
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Tested on MacOS:
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- Adobe Illustrator 2023 (27.0)
- Adobe Illustrator 2024 (28.1)
- Adobe Illustrator 2025 (29.8)
- Adobe Illustrator 2026 (30.0)
Supported Versions:
- Compatible with Adobe Illustrator CS6 and later, including Adobe Illustrator CC versions.
Operating Systems:
- Works on both macOS and Windows platforms.
End User License Agreement (EULA)
Last Updated: 21.12.2024
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This End User License Agreement (“Agreement”) is a legal agreement between you (“User” or “Licensee”) and Samolevsky.com (“Licensor”) regarding the use of the Adobe Illustrator scripts (“Software”). By downloading, installing, or using the Software, you agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement.
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1. Grant of License
Licensor grants the User a non-exclusive, non-transferable, and revocable license to use the Software in accordance with this Agreement.
- Free Software: If the Software is provided for free, you may use it for personal or commercial purposes without payment, subject to the restrictions outlined in this Agreement.
- Paid Software: If the Software is provided for a fee, you may use it only after payment has been made in full.
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2. Usage Rights
You are permitted to:
- Install and use the Software on devices you own or control.
- Use the Software in your personal or commercial projects, subject to compliance with this Agreement.
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3. Restrictions
You may NOT:
- Reverse engineer, decompile, or otherwise attempt to discover the source code, underlying ideas, or algorithms of the Software.
- Reuse, incorporate, or integrate any portion of the Software into any other software, product, or project, except as expressly permitted by the Licensor in writing.
- Resell, redistribute, or share the Software, whether in its original or modified form, without prior written consent from the Licensor.
- Claim ownership of the Software or its underlying code.
- Use the Software in any way that violates applicable laws or regulations.
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4. Ownership
The Software and all intellectual property rights therein remain the exclusive property of the Licensor. This Agreement does not transfer ownership of the Software or any intellectual property rights to the User.
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5. Disclaimer of Warranties
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED “AS IS”, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE LICENSOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES, OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
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6. Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Licensor shall not be liable for any damages, including but not limited to direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages, arising out of or related to the use or inability to use the Software.
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7. Termination
This Agreement is effective until terminated. Licensor may terminate this Agreement immediately if you breach any term of this Agreement. Upon termination, you must cease all use of the Software and destroy any copies in your possession.
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8. Updates and Support
Licensor is not obligated to provide updates, support, or maintenance for the Software. However, updates may be provided at the sole discretion of the Licensor.
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9. Governing Law
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its conflict of law principles.
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10. Entire Agreement
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between you and the Licensor concerning the Software and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous understandings regarding such subject matter.
By using the Software, you acknowledge that you have read this Agreement, understand it, and agree to be bound by its terms.
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For any questions or concerns regarding this Agreement, please contact us at hello@samolevsky.com

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Required Software

🅰 Locating the Scripts Folder
To install a Move by Distance.jsx script in , you need to place it in the correct directory where Illustrator can recognize it. Follow these steps to locate the Scripts folder:
1. MacOS:
  Open Finder and navigate to:
  Applications/Adobe Illustrator <Version>/Presets/<Language>/Scripts
2. Windows:
  Open File Explorer and navigate to:
  C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator <Version>\Presets\<Language>\Scripts
3. Replace <Version> with your version (e.g., 2025).
4. Replace <Language> with your language folder (e.g., "de_DE" for German, "en_US" for English).
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🅱 Installing the Script
1. Copy the Script File: Copy the Move by Distance.jsx file to the Scripts folder located in the path above.
2. On some systems, you may need administrator permissions to modify the Scripts folder.
3. Restart : To refresh the scripts menu, close and reopen Adobe Illustrator.
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Explore our complete guide to mastering Adobe Illustrator scripts.
1. Open and ensure a document is active.
2. Go to the top menu bar and select File > Scripts.
3. If the script is installed in the Scripts folder, it will appear in the dropdown list.
4. Click the Move by Distance script to run it.
5. The Move by Distance script will execute, and any dialog boxes or results will appear based on the script’s functionality.
☻ Before running any scripts, it’s strongly advised to save your work — especially when working with complex or large documents.

🅰 Locating the Scripts Folder
To install a Move by Distance.jsx script in , you need to place it in the correct directory where Illustrator can recognize it. Follow these steps to locate the Scripts folder:
1. MacOS:
  Open Finder and navigate to:
  Applications/Adobe Illustrator <Version>/Presets/<Language>/Scripts
2. Windows:
  Open File Explorer and navigate to:
  C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator <Version>\Presets\<Language>\Scripts
3. Replace <Version> with your version (e.g., 2025).
4. Replace <Language> with your language folder (e.g., "de_DE" for German, "en_US" for English).
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🅱 Installing the Script
1. Copy the Script File: Copy the Move by Distance.jsx file to the Scripts folder located in the path above.
2. On some systems, you may need administrator permissions to modify the Scripts folder.
3. Restart : To refresh the scripts menu, close and reopen Adobe Illustrator.
ㅤ
Explore our complete guide to mastering Adobe Illustrator scripts.

1. Open and ensure a document is active.
2. Go to the top menu bar and select File > Scripts.
3. If the script is installed in the Scripts folder, it will appear in the dropdown list.
4. Click the Move by Distance script to run it.
5. The Move by Distance script will execute, and any dialog boxes or results will appear based on the script’s functionality.
☻ Before running any scripts, it’s strongly advised to save your work — especially when working with complex or large documents.

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