Joining 2 lines with effect

DobeLearner,

In order to join two (or more paths with Zig Zag effects applied without getting one continuous Zig Zag all the way round adapted to the segments of the path, you need to apply Object>Expand Appearance (and Ungroup). You also need that in order to change the number of waves/segments on one of the paths to have them start/end differently.

You can get the desired appearnce with the following steps:

1) Create a straight path (1 segment)  ,then apply the Zig Zag effect, then move a copy downwards, as in the first set in the image below; this is what you have at the top in your screenshot;

2) Expand both paths (and Ungroup) each path, then delete the leftmost path segment (you can just deselect and then Click the leftmost end Anchor Point with the Direct Selection Tool and press Delete), as in the second set in the image below; now the copy path is shorter;

3) Select the shorter copy path, then click one of the rightmost Reference Points in the Transform palette and increase the W value to be the same as the W value for the original path, as in the third set in the image below; this will increase the length of the copy path to match the original path length; this corresponds to what you have in the middle in your screenshot;

4) Join the two paths (you can select both paths and apply Ctrl/Cmd+J, hold Ctrl or Cmd and press J), as in the fourth set in the image below; this corresponds to what you have at the bottom in your screenshot.

Click to get closer, Click again to get closer still

Did you expand the appearance on the zigzag line?