Inspiring

Answered

Effect:Convert to Shape:Ellipse in JavaScript

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
July 27, 2018
4 replies
1873 views

Hello, so I am able to kind of read Javascript and have had success editing existing javascripts as well however I have not been able to effectively write one at this time. Could someone please help me with the how to script the Effect:Convert to Shape:Ellipse?

The only thing I could find is:

/** @ingroup MenuCommand

Effect:Convert to Shape:Ellipse */

#define kLiveEllipseCommandStr "Live Ellipse"

I have an elaborate action that calls up that menu command about 4 times as well as the Effect:Convert to Shape:Rectangle but i have to enter different values each time it comes up and I would like to be able to script those variables.

Any Help and/or guidance would be very appreciated!

Thank you!!!

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer CarlosCanto

Hi Bryan, glad to hear you figured out some of your questions.

on your 1st question, you can loop through your selection and apply effect to each element.

// apply Ellipse Effect to selected object
// carlos canto
// https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2517904
var idoc = app.activeDocument;
var sel = idoc.selection;
var w = 10;
var h = 15;
// Convert to shape Ellipse, Relative 10 pts extra Width, 15 pts extra Height
xmlstring2 = '<LiveEffect name="Adobe Shape Effects"><Dict data="R RelHeight ' + h + ' R AbsWidth 36 R CornerRadius 9 R Absolute 0 R AbsHeight 36 I Shape 2 R RelWidth ' + w + ' "/></LiveEffect>';
for (var a=0; a<sel.length; a++) {
    sel.applyEffect(xmlstring2);
}

on the same note, you could change the xml string parameters (w & h) while you go through your selection if that's what you mean in your last comment.

B

BryanPagenkopfAuthor

Inspiring

Below are all 4 of the Separate Effect Scripts:

1 - Offset Stroke

2 - Convert to Shape Rectangle

3 - Convert to Shape Ellipse

4 - Convert to Shape Ellipse

First Effect Works

var idoc = app.activeDocument;

var sel = idoc.selection[0];

var wh = -10.8;

// Offset Path LiveEffectEffect

xmlstring2 = '<LiveEffect name="Adobe Offset Path"><Dict data="R mlim 4 R ofst ' + wh + ' I jntp 2 "/></LiveEffect>';

for (var a=0; a<sel.length; a++) {

sel.applyEffect(xmlstring2);

}

Second Effect Works

var idoc = app.activeDocument;

var sel = idoc.selection[0];

var wh = -10.8;

//Convert to Shape Rectangle -.15" Relative

xmlstring2 = '<LiveEffect name="Adobe Shape Effects"><Dict data="I Shape 0 R AbsWidth 36 R AbsHeight 36 R Absolute 0 R CornerRadius 9 R RelHeight' + wh + 'R RelWidth' + wh + '"/></LiveEffect>';

for (var a=0; a<sel.length; a++) {

sel .applyEffect(xmlstring2);

}

Third Effect Errors

var idoc = app.activeDocument;

var sel = idoc.selection[0];

var wh = 29.52;

//Convert to Shape Ellipse .41" Absolute

xmlstring2 = '<LiveEffect name="Adobe Shape Effects"><Dict data="I Shape 2 R AbsWidth ' + wh + ' R AbsHeight ' + wh + ' R Absolute 1 R CornerRadius 9 R RelHeight 18 R RelWidth 18 "/></LiveEffect>';

for (var a=0; a<sel.length; a++) {

sel .applyEffect(xmlstring2);

}

Fourth Effect Errors

var idoc = app.activeDocument;

var sel = idoc.selection[0];

var wh = 10.944;

//Convert to Shape Ellipse .152" Absolute

xmlstring2 = '<LiveEffect name="Adobe Shape Effects"><Dict data="I Shape 2 R AbsWidth ' + wh + ' R AbsHeight ' + wh + ' R Absolute 1 R CornerRadius 9 R RelHeight 18 R RelWidth 18 "/></LiveEffect>';

for (var a=0; a<sel.length; a++) {

sel .applyEffect(xmlstring2);

}

CarlosCanto

Community Expert

for a single object, we used

var sel = selection[0]; // the first object in the selection array

for multiple objects we should use

var sel = selection; // all selected objects

then in the loop we use

sel // each object in selection

B

BryanPagenkopfAuthor

Inspiring

Got it!

I ran the script through Adobe ExtendScript and it is highlighting this line

var sel = idoc.selection[0];

as an issue.

Which would be why I am getting the error popup for

sel.applyEffect(xmlstring2);

I removed the [0] from the line var sel = idoc.selection[0];

to read var sel = idoc.selection;

and it worked!!!

B

BryanPagenkopfAuthor

Inspiring

There also seems to be a lot less of XML Code data when I apply the Convert to Shape: Rectangle with the JavaScript vs Manually

In the End all I really want to accomplish is to have Illustrator Automatically input the needed values rather than typing in the same values each time I run my action. So if there might be an easier way I'm open to any and all suggestions.

CarlosCanto

Correct answer

Community Expert

Hi Bryan, glad to hear you figured out some of your questions.

on your 1st question, you can loop through your selection and apply effect to each element.

// apply Ellipse Effect to selected object
// carlos canto
// https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2517904
var idoc = app.activeDocument;
var sel = idoc.selection;
var w = 10;
var h = 15;
// Convert to shape Ellipse, Relative 10 pts extra Width, 15 pts extra Height
xmlstring2 = '<LiveEffect name="Adobe Shape Effects"><Dict data="R RelHeight ' + h + ' R AbsWidth 36 R CornerRadius 9 R Absolute 0 R AbsHeight 36 I Shape 2 R RelWidth ' + w + ' "/></LiveEffect>';
for (var a=0; a<sel.length; a++) {
    sel.applyEffect(xmlstring2);
}

on the same note, you could change the xml string parameters (w & h) while you go through your selection if that's what you mean in your last comment.

B

BryanPagenkopfAuthor

Inspiring

Okay,

EDIT: I know this is a standard object loop but have no understanding of the -- sel -- that is the part that confuses me. I am getting an error though.

It worked for the Convert to Shape: Rectangle but not the Ellipse.

Below is what I have typed out.

// apply Ellipse Effect to selected object

// carlos canto

// https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2517904

var idoc = app.activeDocument;

var sel = idoc.selection[0];

var wh = 29.52;

//Convert to Shape Ellipse .41" Absolute

xmlstring2 = '<LiveEffect name="Adobe Shape Effects"><Dict data="I Shape 2 R AbsWidth ' + wh + ' R AbsHeight ' + wh + ' R Absolute 1 R CornerRadius 9 R RelHeight 18 R RelWidth 18 "/></LiveEffect>';

for (var a=0; a<sel.length; a++) {

sel.applyEffect(xmlstring2);

}

//Obsolete Applies the effect to a single object

//sel.applyEffect(xmlstring2);

B

BryanPagenkopfAuthor

Inspiring

Okay so in order to get the XML data, as recommended I installed Illustrator CS6 and followed your instructions per your online Tutorial: https://aiscripts.com/apply-live-effect-applyeffect-liveeffectxml/ Which worked like a Charm! Also, I believe I have figured out the answers to my 2nd and 3rd follow up questions, but the 1st question is still throwing me for a loop.

1. I cannot seem to get this to work on all the selected shapes at once, it only applies the effect to the last shape of the (ungrouped) selection.

2. I can accomplish with a simple calculation

3. The number following the word "Shape" indicates the shape selected 0 = Rectangle, 1 = Rounded Rectangle, and 2 = Ellipse

XML excerpts:

//

//Offset Path -.15" Inset

//

</ai:PaintFields>

<ai:LiveEffects>

<ai:LiveEffect index="0" isPre="1" major="1" minor="0" name="Adobe Offset Path">

<ai:Dict data="R mlim 4 R ofst -10.8 I jntp 2 "/>

</ai:LiveEffect>

</ai:LiveEffects>

//

//Rectangle -.15" Relative

//

</ai:PaintFields>

<ai:LiveEffects>

<ai:LiveEffect index="0" isPre="1" major="1" minor="0" name="Adobe Shape Effects">

<ai:Dict data="I Shape 0 R AbsWidth 36 R AbsHeight 36 R Absolute 0 R CornerRadius 9 R RelHeight -10.8 R RelWidth -10.8 ">

<ai:Entry name="DisplayString" value="Rectangle" valueType="S"/>

</ai:Dict>

</ai:LiveEffect>

</ai:LiveEffects>

</ai:ArtStyle>

//

//1st Ellipse .41" Absolute

//

</ai:PaintFields>

<ai:LiveEffects>

<ai:LiveEffect index="0" isPre="1" major="1" minor="0" name="Adobe Shape Effects">

<ai:Dict data="I Shape 2 R AbsWidth 29.52 R AbsHeight 29.52 R Absolute 1 R CornerRadius 9 R RelHeight 18 R RelWidth 18 ">

<ai:Entry name="DisplayString" value="Ellipse" valueType="S"/>

</ai:Dict>

</ai:LiveEffect>

</ai:LiveEffects>

</ai:ArtStyle>

//

//2nd Ellipse .152" Absolute

//

</ai:PaintFields>

<ai:LiveEffects>

<ai:LiveEffect index="0" isPre="1" major="1" minor="0" name="Adobe Shape Effects">

<ai:Dict data="I Shape 2 R AbsWidth 10.944 R AbsHeight 10.944 R Absolute 1 R CornerRadius 9 R RelHeight 18 R RelWidth 18 ">

<ai:Entry name="DisplayString" value="Ellipse" valueType="S"/>

</ai:Dict>

</ai:LiveEffect>

</ai:LiveEffects>

</ai:ArtStyle>

CarlosCanto

Community Expert

here's something to get you started, you can have your action run the script

select an object before running

// apply Ellipse Effect to selected object
// carlos canto
// https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2517904
var idoc = app.activeDocument;
var sel = idoc.selection[0];
var w = 10;
var h = 15;
// Convert to shape Ellipse, Relative 10 pts extra Width, 15 pts extra Height
xmlstring2 = '<LiveEffect name="Adobe Shape Effects"><Dict data="R RelHeight ' + h + ' R AbsWidth 36 R CornerRadius 9 R Absolute 0 R AbsHeight 36 I Shape 2 R RelWidth ' + w + ' "/></LiveEffect>';
sel.applyEffect(xmlstring2);

B

BryanPagenkopfAuthor

Inspiring

That's more than I've been able to accomplish thank you!

3 follow up questions if I may and sorry for my ignorance:

1. Will this work on multiple selected items at once (2 - 200)?

2. How would this code vary to have the measurements in Inches?

3. How would this code vary for the Convert to Shape: Rectangle?

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