Convert to Path

[Avery Denniso25243575ocgd]

Hello:)

Iam looking for something which will help me to create rectangle or square with same size like selected object. Something similar like we can create artboard (shift+O) by clicking on object. Do i need any script for that or i can do it somehow in illustrator?  Or other way if i will make Artboard in this way can i convert artboard to path(rectangle)?

[Monika Gause]

You can apply an additional fill or stroke via the Appearance panel and then apply Effect > Convert to shape > Rectangle to that fill/stroke.

Afterwards Expand appearance if necessary. But since that will expand all appearances: what kind of object are we talking about that you need this for?

[Jacob Bugge]

Avery Denniso,

Once you have made an Artboard to fit the artwork, you can just ClickDrag between opposite corners of it with the Rectangle Tool, Smart Guides being your friends.

Or, whichever object you have, you can always select the artwork, and then create a Rectangle with the W and H values in the Transform panel, and then Align it with the artwork as the key object (you can copy either the W or the H value first and then insert it instead of writing the value).

[Avery Denniso25243575ocgd]

Ohh i forgot to write that i need it for Action.  

[Jacob Bugge]

Avery Denniso,

Especially if you mean action rather than script, I believe it is one for @Kurt Gold 

What say you?

[Avery Denniso25243575ocgd]

I wasnt able to find anything that i can do in action. So i was thinking that i could use some script (and use this script in action)

[Monika Gause]

Did you read my post?

[Avery Denniso25243575ocgd]

Yeah but its kinda not helping me 😞 ... imagine i have triangle  and i would like to do (by action) recangle which have exactly same size (width and height) as this triangle (similar like convert to artboard but then i have artboard instead of path) 

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

I have also asked a question but you didn't even asnwer.

So here's a video: https://youtu.be/J5tg_hG7NQY

The desired outcome, the existing objects and your desired workflow is important in this.

[Avery Denniso25243575ocgd]

ohh thats help ! thanks 

[Monika Gause]

I'm glad you could sove it.

As I already wrote: "Expand appearance" will expand all the effects applied to your objects not just the rectangle. So there might be workflows in which you cannot use this method.

[Kurt Gold]

Sergey Anosov has a versatile script called MakeRectangle. I'd recommend to try it out.

https://sites.google.com/site/dtpscripting/welcome

[CarlosCanto]

Here's another way hopefully easier

- select your path

- Ctrl+C to make a copy

- Ctrl+F to paste in place

- Object->Path->Split Into Grid...do One row, One Column

- press ok, done

(I created a shortcut key to apply Split into Grid easier, Alt+L), so the new steps are

- Ctrl+C

- Ctrl+F

- Alt+L

- Enter

- (possibly Slash "/" to remove fill)

[Kurt Gold]

Certainly helpful in some situations, Carlos. But as Monika already indicated, it depends on what kind of objects we are talking about.

For example, the Split into Grid way does not work with open paths, type objects, raster objects, gradient meshes, symbol instances etc. There are workarounds to handle them as well, but I think Sergey's script does it a bit better.

[CarlosCanto]

agree, Scripting is the easiest. I was trying to find a way to go without one.