Cleaver Tool?

[mjackson83002]

I am looking for a tool in Illustrator in which I can add multiple points by dragging a line across two or more selected objects. See the attachment.

The three points in yellow in the lower left were added individually by clicking on each path with the Add Points option. 

The highlighted line in the lower right was dragged across the three circles. I would like to quickly add three new points where it intersects the circles (and then I need the line to disappear)...just add the points. 

I've tried holding down the Option key while dragging the Knife tool across the elements (to create a straight line), but it is slicing the actual shapes. Another program I use on my PC calls this a Cleaver Tool. Is this in Illustrator, and I am missing it?

Thanks in advance,

MJackson

[Kurt Gold · Accepted solution]

Currently, Illustrator does not have a Cleaver tool as per your description.

What you can do is:

- With the Line tool draw a non-stroked, non-filled line across the paths.
- Select both the line and the other paths.
- Object menu > Live Paint > Make.
- Object menu > Live Paint > Expand.
- Ungroup if desired.

It may be partially automated with a custom action.

[mjackson83002]

Kurt...you are good! 

I tried using your technique and it worked as long as the original objects have fills and I didn't drag the line segment across the entire set of shapes. In those cases, it left a line and divided the shapes. The Unite feature made them whole again and left the new points. 

This may save me time, but it is not as efficient as the cleaver tool in my other software.

I'll check with Astute and see if Pathscribe or any of their tools can do it without all of the extra steps.

Thanks! MJackson

[Delightful_adventure157F]

Hi.
In Astute Graphics, we have a tool called "Path Intersections."
Please check the following video:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/16K1A3k8pbnLzdpEtSVUg3MDSoXznqxlN/view?usp=sharing

Best Regards