Changing size of multiple objects while keeping proportions

[JillyC12345]

I have searched the forums for an answer to my problem and have come across an answer that Monika Gause referred to here: How to make objects equal size , which nearly helps but I wonder whether I am doing something wrong.

Basically I have a list of names that I have typed out in different fonts. I have expanded them all (as I will align them all later). I am now wanting to make each name all the same length (width) but keep the proportions. I then would use align to make them all line up under each other and be equally spaced out. As I wish to keep the font style, I need to change the width of each selection but enlarge it proportionally so the heights may vary.

Wunder's script, though truly brilliant, just seems to make the selections the same width or same height but it doesn't seem to change the proportions too.

The heights stay the same as originally.

Do you know if there is any way that I could do this too please?

I know I could do this individually using the measurement options on the top bar or just manually scaling them all (before or after expanding) but but I have hundreds of names to change.

Many thanks!

Jill

[JillyC12345]

Ok guys - back again - thanks for that!

Peter your explanation was fab and I have managed to produce the list in the correct order having rearranged the layer stacking. The script works well.

Carlos - that's the only way to do it, is it, as the rearranging is a bit time-consuming when there are a lot of names? I guess if I was to enter the names in the correct order in the first place then that would help, but I can't always do that.

Jacob - I am wanting to try your method too but not quite sure .... where you say this:

1) Select each live name and Effect>Path>Outline Object (for the second name on Effect>Apply Outline Object will do), then in the Transform palette set the desired W(idth), then pressing Ctrl/Cmd+Enter (or just Enter if you have locked to keep proportions);

does that mean that I would still have to select each name one by one to change the width? 

Thanks again all. Mighty clever 😉

Jill

[Jacob Bugge]

Jill,

does that mean that I would still have to select each name one by one to change the width?

I am afraid so, unless (as I am still clinging to the last straw of hope that) Carlos can work that Effect bit on the live Type into a script.

[CarlosCanto]

JillyC12345  wrote

Carlos - that's the only way to do it, is it, as the rearranging is a bit time-consuming when there are a lot of names? I guess if I was to enter the names in the correct order in the first place then that would help, but I can't always do that.

no, I can use their position on the page, the script just needs some work work. 

[CarlosCanto]

tromboniator  wrote

Those names were not randomly selected, by the way!

is it a beer reference?

[tromboniator]

Alas, no. Grandkids.

[CarlosCanto]

hahaha oops, it would be too much to name your kids after Beer

[Jacob Bugge]

Ah, of course, Peter, apologizing for my seemingly becoming too old and dense (as I believe you said recently before being gainsaid by me).

Why alas?

And will one of the next in use be Sydney?

[JillyC12345]

Cool (and quite literary) names for Grandkids. Wonder what the next shalt be?

So does that mean that we watch this space then Carlos .... ? 😉

[Jacob Bugge]

So does that mean that we watch this space then Carlos .... ? 😉

Indeed, Jill. The rest of us can rest.

[CarlosCanto]

Yes Jill, I'll get to it as soon as time permits.

[Jacob Bugge]

Jill,

It was stronger than I, so here is a new way you can try with live Type while we wait (if you have the desired vertical order, it may be simple and fast enough to be worth considering):

0) Edit>Preferences>General>tick Use Preview Bounds;

1) Select all the names and align the others horizontally to the shortest name (Click the shortest after selecting all, then use Align>Horizontal Align Left); the vertical distance matters little, but should be sufficient so you can see what you are doing;

2) Select the shortest name and copy the W(idth) value in the Transform palette, then set the Chain to the right to Constrain Width and Height Proportions, and tick the bottom left Reference Point to the left;

3) Select each of the longer names and insert the copied W value and press Enter;

This should give all the others the same (shortest) length in one simple go for each;

4) Select all and then set the desired W(idth) value so all change to the right size while keeping the original proportions;

5) Click one of the names, then Align>Distribute Spacing and set the desired distance (= gap between names) and click the Vertical Distribute Space;

This should give the desired appearance and size with uniform vertical spacing/gaps, with live Type;

6) Edit>Preferences>General>untick Use Preview Bounds.

If you forget 6), you will regret later.

[tromboniator]

Alas simply because I might enjoy off-the-beaten-track brews with names like these, nothing against my grandchildren! These four are distributed (not equally!) among our three offspring, over whom I exert no authority and precious little influence, particularly in choosing names for new people. Speaking of whom, Iona is the latest, having come ashore only a couple of months ago. She is not quite ready to take me on at chess, whereas Gulliver, at 8, is mounting some frightening offenses, some of which are even deliberate.

I have few connections (again, Alas!) to Down Under, so any perceived link is accidental.

So Jill: I wonder with you. I have not been informed of the need for another name, but the possibility is out there.

[Sergey Osokin]

Better late than never. I think future searchers will find it useful. I made a modification of Carlos' script (textBlock.jsx), where the text remains editable and the order of the objects is presorted by coordinates instead of the order of the texts in the Layers panel.

[CarlosCanto]

Awesome! thanks for the updated version Sergey