Action to Change Artboard Size

[nathanc89952229]

I need to change the artboard size of 519 files to 160mm square. I'd really prefer not to do it all manually. Why can't I record an action of all the steps to change artboard size???

Ai CC 24.1.3

OSX 10.14.6.

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012)

2.9 GHz Intel Core i7.

[Charu Rajput]

Hi,

Well this is not possible with actions. If you are comfortable with Scripting, you can write a script to change the size of the artboard. But many things need to be consider

• Is your 159 files have single artboards or multiple?
• Currently your artboard size is greater than 160mm or smaller than that.
• If you change the artboard size , may be you need to change the position of your artwork too, if position matters. I mean if your artworks are in center and you change the size of the artboard, then artwork may not be in the center using scripting.

[Kurt Gold · Accepted solution]

Well, basically it can be done with an action. See the following related thread to get an idea:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator/action-to-add-specific-dimension-to-left-and-right-side-o...

In your specific case it would even be easier to set up an appropriate action (in the thread that is linked above it was a bit tricky to extend artboards, independent of their actual dimensions).

[Charu Rajput]

Wow, it is working so nicely.

Thanks for sharing this.

[nathanc89952229]

Scratch my comments below. Got it.

Thanks for the reply. I see someone is having success. I however, am having no success downloading or unzipping the file that's part of the link to the answer! 

[Charu Rajput]

Hi,

Are you unable to download the file from that link?

Do you get any error?

[nathanc89952229]

I was able to download and unzip. The action changed my artboard; I'd just have to figure out how to modify it to the parameters that I need. That may be beyond me 😄

[Kurt Gold]

You can download and test a modified version that may suit your needs.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OrvdSa3ch7W17ky1jMYjDcjtQ1X7i5iV/view?usp=sharing

[mhawker@aaa]

Kurt, could you describe the steps that go into your action? I have run it, looked at it, but I can't figured out how to replicate it with the parameters I need - 26x26px to 400-400px artboard. I know I'm late to the thread, any help would be appreciated.

[Kurt Gold]

mhawker,

does that mean that your required artboard dimensions are always the same (400 × 400 px)?

In that case one could make a simplified version of the action.

[mhawker@aaa]

Yes, I have roughly 150 AI files of 24x24px round icons on 26x26px artboards. I was trying to create an action that changes the artboard size then scaled the icons - both to 400x400px but found the artboard was being ignored. Then I found this post. I will do the actions separately, but can't tell how your action actually works.

[Kurt Gold]

Assuming that you are referring to the action provided in my second link, you would just have to insert a different Select Path (see Actions palette flyout menu) with the required dimensions. The action step is called "Set Work Path" in the action list.

[mhawker@aaa]

Thanks for the help