[JS] [Action] Split or break a dashed line into separate (real) lines by script

Your second version is a very good improvement, sttk3.

The next level would be to find a way to allow multiple selected dashed paths with different stroke attributes. I have an action that can almost do it, but currently it is still not precise enough and it will alter the dash positions a bit.

It's a challenging game.

Improved the appearance of rounded caps and projecting caps.

/**
  * @File expand a dashed stroke  
  * https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/js-action-split-or-break-a-dashed-line-into-separate-real-lines-by-script/td-p/12614309
  * @version 1.0.1
  * @7111211 sttk3.com
  * @7340357 © 2022 sttk3.com
*/

//@target 'illustrator'

(function() {
  if(app.documents.length <= 0) {return ;}
  var doc = app.documents[0] ;

  // only one selection is allowed
  var sel = doc.selection ;
  var messageInvalidSelection = 'Select one dashed stroke and execute this script.' ;
  if(sel.length != 1) {
    alert(messageInvalidSelection) ;
    return ;
  }
  
  // terminate when selected item is not a path, not a dashed stroke, or has a fill
  var originalPath = sel[0] ;
  if(!/^PathItem$/.test(originalPath.constructor.name)) {
    alert(messageInvalidSelection) ;
    return ;
  }
  if(originalPath.strokeDashes.length <= 0) {
    alert(messageInvalidSelection) ;
    return ;
  }
  if(originalPath.filled) {
    alert('This script should be execute after the fill is removed.') ;
    return ;
  }

  // generate a unique color
  var tempSpot = doc.spots.add() ;
  var tempColor = new SpotColor() ;
  tempColor.spot = tempSpot ;
  tempColor.tint = 100 ;

  try {
    var pathfinderGroup = originalPath.layer.groupItems.add() ;
    pathfinderGroup.move(originalPath, ElementPlacement.PLACEBEFORE) ;
    var maskWidth = originalPath.strokeWidth + 1 ;

    // object to fill dash
    var dashPath = originalPath.duplicate(pathfinderGroup, ElementPlacement.PLACEATEND) ;
    dashPath.strokeWidth = maskWidth ;
    dashPath.strokeCap = StrokeCap.BUTTENDCAP ; // make the dash length unchangeable

    // object to fill gap
    var gapPath = originalPath.duplicate(pathfinderGroup, ElementPlacement.PLACEATEND) ;
    gapPath.strokeDashes = [] ;
    gapPath.strokeColor = tempColor ;

    // leave fill only at gaps
    doc.selection = [pathfinderGroup] ;
    app.executeMenuCommand('OffsetPath v22') ; // Outline Stroke
    app.executeMenuCommand('Live Pathfinder Subtract') ;
    app.executeMenuCommand('expandStyle') ; // Expand Appearance
    app.executeMenuCommand('compoundPath') ; // Compound Path Make
    
    // remove gaps of originalPath by live paint
    originalPath.strokeDashes = [] ;
    originalPath.selected = true ;
    app.executeMenuCommand('Make Planet X') ; //  Live Paint Make
    app.executeMenuCommand('Expand Planet X') ; //  Live Paint Expand
    app.executeMenuCommand('ungroup') ;
    app.redraw() ;
    
    // remove gapPath
    var tempGroups = doc.selection ;
    var itemColor ;
    for(var i = tempGroups.length - 1 ; i >= 0 ; i--) {
      itemColor = tempGroups[i].pathItems[0].fillColor ;
      if((itemColor.constructor.name == 'SpotColor') && (itemColor.spot == tempSpot)) {
        tempGroups[i].remove() ;
        break ;
      }
    }
  } catch(e) {
    alert(e) ;
  } finally {
    tempSpot.remove() ;
  }
})() ;

 

… I'm curious about Mark's (m1b) approach.

By @Kurt Gold

Yes, me too.

😉

Pixxxelschubser,

my guess is that you are just overwhelmed by all the half-baked approaches so far. You may possibly consider to never use dashed paths again. 🙂

But I think one day someone will crack the nut. I have some other ideas, but currently they do not work as they are supposed to work.

I'm curious about Mark's (m1b) approach.

I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Unfortunately, I don't have time to give my topic the attention it deserves at the moment.

However, I thank you very much for all the solutions posted so far. Unfortunately, I have not yet been able to test the last two promising variants of @Kurt Gold  and @CarlosCanto  extensively.

A first test with @sttk3  very good script showed very good results with newly created stroke lines (much more precise than with an artbrush with deviations of less than 0.05 mm). However, the script does not cope well with rounded caps. There are indeed deviations there. At this point I unfortunately had to interrupt my tests. And thanks also to you for this great solution.

I will definitely not forget this topic. When I have enough time again, I will test all suggestions in detail and give accurate feedback.

A very good approach, sttk3.

Unfortunately, depending on the specific dashed line settings, it often changes the original appearance to a considerable degree.

But I'm sure it may be improved.

Hello pixxxelschubser,

I'll offer a solution other than art brushes: you can use Live Paint as a pathfinder for strokes.

/**
  * @File expand a dashed stroke  
  * https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/js-action-split-or-break-a-dashed-line-into-separate-real-lines-by-script/td-p/12614309
  * @version 1.0.0
  * @7111211 sttk3.com
  * @7340357 © 2022 sttk3.com
*/

//@target 'illustrator'

(function() {
  if(app.documents.length <= 0) {return ;}
  var doc = app.documents[0] ;

  // only one selection is allowed
  var sel = doc.selection ;
  var messageInvalidSelection = 'Select one dashed stroke and execute this script.' ;
  if(sel.length != 1) {
    alert(messageInvalidSelection) ;
    return ;
  }
  
  // terminate when selected item is not a path, not a dashed stroke, or has a fill
  var originalPath = sel[0] ;
  if(!/^PathItem$/.test(originalPath.constructor.name)) {
    alert(messageInvalidSelection) ;
    return ;
  }
  if(originalPath.strokeDashes.length <= 0) {
    alert(messageInvalidSelection) ;
    return ;
  }
  if(originalPath.filled) {
    alert('This script should be execute after the fill is removed.') ;
    return ;
  }

  // generate a unique color
  var tempSpot = doc.spots.add() ;
  var tempColor = new SpotColor() ;
  tempColor.spot = tempSpot ;
  tempColor.tint = 100 ;

  try {
    var pathfinderGroup = originalPath.layer.groupItems.add() ;
    pathfinderGroup.move(originalPath, ElementPlacement.PLACEBEFORE) ;
    var maskWidth = originalPath.strokeWidth + 1 ;

    // object to fill dash
    var dashPath = originalPath.duplicate(pathfinderGroup, ElementPlacement.PLACEATEND) ;
    dashPath.strokeWidth = maskWidth ;

    // object to fill gap
    var gapPath = originalPath.duplicate(pathfinderGroup, ElementPlacement.PLACEATEND) ;
    gapPath.strokeWidth = maskWidth ;
    gapPath.strokeDashes = [] ;
    gapPath.strokeColor = tempColor ;

    // leave fill only at gaps
    doc.selection = [pathfinderGroup] ;
    app.executeMenuCommand('OffsetPath v22') ; // Outline Stroke
    app.executeMenuCommand('Live Pathfinder Subtract') ;
    app.executeMenuCommand('expandStyle') ; // Expand Appearance
    app.executeMenuCommand('compoundPath') ; // Compound Path Make
    
    // remove gaps of originalPath by live paint
    originalPath.strokeDashes = [] ;
    originalPath.selected = true ;
    app.executeMenuCommand('Make Planet X') ; //  Live Paint Make
    app.executeMenuCommand('Expand Planet X') ; //  Live Paint Expand
    app.executeMenuCommand('ungroup') ;
    app.redraw() ;
    
    // remove gapPath
    var tempGroups = doc.selection ;
    var itemColor ;
    for(var i = tempGroups.length - 1 ; i >= 0 ; i--) {
      itemColor = tempGroups[i].pathItems[0].fillColor ;
      if((itemColor.constructor.name == 'SpotColor') && (itemColor.spot == tempSpot)) {
        tempGroups[i].remove() ;
        break ;
      }
    }
  } catch(e) {
    alert(e) ;
  } finally {
    tempSpot.remove() ;
  }
})() ;

pixxxelschubser,

now I know the reason why you got (many) closed objects with curved dashed strokes. There is yet another Illustrator bug in the Actions palette. That is, the very first action step (adjusting the Pathfinder settings) is being ignored if the modal dialog for this step is turned off.

Unfortunately, one has to turn it on and then has to hit the Enter key one time while the action is running. Alternatively, you can manually adjust the Pathfinder settings once per Illustrator session and then turn the modal dialog off in the Actions palette.

Here you can download the modified and slightly improved action.

Dash Nipper 3

It also contains a sample Illustrator file with all kinds of dashed paths (artboard 1). On artboard 2 you can see the results I got after running the action.

As already mentioned in a previous post, due to an Illustrator rounding error bug when writing the Preferences files, it may be that the action won't work after quitting and restarting Illustrator. In that case, unfortunately, you will have to delete the action set in the Actions palette and then reimport it. After that, it should work again.

Hi pixxxel, on Windows we can use a jsx mixed with vbs to send clicks to Illustrator to dismiss the Brush Windows.

how to set up this excercise

- create a "createBrush" Action in a "test" Action Set

- select a path to create an Art brush from

- save this vbs script anywhere (your jsx could create and execute this vbs on the fly)

'Option Explicit

Dim Shell, WMI, wql, process, processes

Set Shell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
Set WMI = GetObject("winmgmts:{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\.\root\cimv2")

wql = "SELECT ProcessId FROM Win32_Process WHERE Name = 'illustrator.exe'"

For Each process In WMI.ExecQuery(wql)
  Shell.AppActivate process.ProcessId

  Wscript.Sleep 3000
  Shell.SendKeys "{TAB}{TAB}"
  Wscript.Sleep 500
  Shell.SendKeys "%A" 
  Wscript.Sleep 500
  Shell.SendKeys "{ENTER}"
  Wscript.Sleep 500
  Shell.SendKeys "carlosBrush{ENTER}"

  exit for
  msgbox "after exit for" 'this never executes
Next

'msgbox "done"	

finally run the following jsx, adjust the path to point to your own vbs file

// creates an Art Brush via Action (with Dialogs), vbs will choose Art Brush and dismiss dialogs

var vbs = File("C:/Users/canto/Google Drive/Adobe Scripts/addBrush_sendKeys_test.vbs");
vbs.execute();
        
app.doScript("createBrush", "test");

have fun!

 

… Ich … werde natürlich testen, ob die Bildpinsel-Methode dort keine "chunk objects" erzeugt. Glaube nicht daran, aber wer weiß ...

 

By @Kurt Gold

Nur noch zwei kleine Zwischenfragen:

• Mac oder PC? (den Zip-Dateien nach wahrscheinlich Mac)
• "deine eigene manuelle" Bildpinsel-Methode oder mein Test-Skript?