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MarieMeyer
Inspiring
May 27, 2019
Question

Select by shape?

  • May 27, 2019
  • 5 replies
  • 5294 views

Is there a way to select all objects that share the same shape? For example, in a field of polka dots, could I automatically select all of the ones that were 1" dia, regardless of their fill/stroke?

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    5 replies

    Mike_Gondek10189183
    Community Expert
    Mike_Gondek10189183Community Expert
    Community Expert
    November 11, 2021

    Use symbols

    Then you can Select >> Same >> Symbol Instance

     

    Your file will be smaller if they are very complex like in Cartography/Mapping.

    Linda.R.Smith
    Linda.R.Smith
    Known Participant
    November 11, 2021

    ...The script actually stopped working 😞

     

    @Mike_Gondek10189183 Your right, it's cartographic bubble map exported from ArcMap as an Illustrator file. 
    ArcMap Export: Picture Symbol: Vectorize Layers with bitmap markers/fills. 

     

    I don't understand how I would do this. That selection is greyed out. Troubleshooting your answer, I'd have to assgin each circle an instance which unless I'm not understanding you would be just as tedius as manually seperating the same size circles into seperate layers. 

     

    If possible PLEASE advise 😄

     

    I've gone back and forth between requesting the export to be a Charactor (font) Marker Symbole and Vector Shape Symbol. Maybe I should request Charactor font to select same font size. 

    Peter Villevoye
    Community Expert
    Peter VillevoyeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 27, 2019

    Well, there's this new and shiny feature called Global Editing in the panel we all love to hate (the Properties). It does exactly what you want, at least what you described in your example: "select all of the ones that were 1 inch dia, regardless of their fill/stroke". You start by selecting one as a sample shape, and hit the mysterious Start Global Edit button in the Properties panel. (Be sure to check out the Options fly-out menu next to the button.) With a little luck, it finds all the similar ones for you. And every edit you make for the selected element, will be applied to the others.

    Need just the selection, to group them, or do anything else with them ? Hmm... that's tougher – as I stated it will find the similar ones, but not select them for you. Strange, huh ? I know. That's why we love/hate the half-baked Properties panel...

    Adobe Help: Editing similar shapes and objects globally.

    (Sorry or the Dutch version of the interface, but I guess you'll get it...)

      Linda.R.Smith
      Linda.R.Smith
      Known Participant
      November 11, 2021

      Global Editing gave me an error message I could not find what it meant when searching on Google: "global edit is currently not supported for more than 1000 highlighted objects".

       

      The script https://thomask.sdf.org/blog/2018/12/03/selecting-objects-same-size-adobe-illustrator.html Nikhil R Gupta mentioned works!

      Nikhil R Gupta
      Community Manager
      Nikhil R GuptaCommunity Manager
      Community Manager
      May 27, 2019

      Hello  MarieMeyer

      You may try the As suggested above by Matthew, this can be done by scripts. Addition to the link shared above, you may check the below links aswell.Hope this helps.

      adobe illustrator - Selecting same shapes in vector files - Graphic Design Stack Exchange

      https://thomask.sdf.org/blog/2018/12/03/selecting-objects-same-size-adobe-illustrator.html​

      Thanks,

      Nikhil Gupta

      M
      matthewn43692242
      Inspiring
      May 27, 2019

      There are a number of installable scripts that have been written to accomplish this. I am still able to use one that I downloaded for CS4 with my current CC2019 version of Illustrator. The script is called SelectPathsBy Size.jsx. It allows you to select any ojects in the file based on the AREA of the object. You can choose to select objects bigger, smaller or of an exact area. It works like a charm.

      I believe this is the link to the latest version of the script:

      js4ai/SelectPathsBySize.jsx at master · johnwun/js4ai · GitHub

      You would download this file & place it in Illustrators script folder. On a mac thats - Applications > Adobe Illustrator CC2019 > Presets > en_US > Scripts

      Monika Gause
      Community Expert
      Monika GauseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      May 27, 2019

      You can select "Same shapes" if a circle hasn't been converted to a path.

      You can select by size using scripts.

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