Targeting items for appearance attributes

Before you can set an appearance attribute or apply a style or an effect to a layer, group, or object, you must target the item in the Layers panel. Selecting an object or group using any selection method also targets the object or group in the Layers panel, but layers can be targeted only by using the panel.

Shaded target icons in the Layers panel indicate which items contain appearance attributes.

A.: Targeting and appearance column
B.: Selection column
C.: Group with appearance attributes
D.: Layer with appearance attributes
E.: Object with appearance attributes

The target icon indicates whether an item in the layer hierarchy has any appearance attributes and whether it is targeted:

Indicates the item is not targeted and has no appearance attributes beyond a single fill and a single stroke.
Indicates the item is not targeted but has appearance attributes.
Indicates the item is targeted but has no appearance attributes beyond a single fill and a single stroke.
Indicates the item is targeted and has appearance attributes.

To target an item in the Layers panel, click the item’s target icon. A double ring or indicates that the item is targeted. Shift‑click to target additional items.

Note: When an object or group is selected by any method, the item is also targeted in the Layers panel. In contrast, a layer can be targeted only by clicking its target icon in the Layers panel.