Expanding makes my shape break!

[Cryptic_Chocolate]

Hi all,

Im trying to expand my sun rays stroke. However when I click on expand it does this. See image attatched 

Could someone please help

Thanks

[Monika Gause]

Exactly how did you create that?

[Cryptic_Chocolate]

I created a stroke, dashed it and then increased the stroke weight. Then expanded

[sishamIAGD]

Why don't you just outline the stroke instead then..? Object>Path>Outline stroke

[Cryptic_Chocolate]

It does the same thing when I do that

[sishamIAGD]

Ok, switch the Dashed line to Preserves exact dash and gap lengths

Image added for clarity 🙂

[sishamIAGD]

How have you created it in the first place..?

[Cryptic_Chocolate]

I created a stroke, dashed it and then increased the stroke weight. Then expanded

[Monika Gause]

Can you try and delete that second 0 in the dash settings?

[Cryptic_Chocolate]

Deleting the second zero causes the dashed line to disappear

[Monika Gause]

I don't understand these settings anyway. Why do you use these values? Why not a positive value for the gap?

[Ton Frederiks]

Looks like a bug. I can reproduce it (also in older versions).

You can report it here:

https://illustrator.uservoice.com

[sishamIAGD · Accepted solution]

Yeah me to, but changing the dash alignment to 'Preserves exact dash and gap lengths' fixes it for me

[Cryptic_Chocolate]

I'm using the most up to date version at the moment

[Monika Gause]

Can you please look up the number? Thank you.

[Ton Frederiks]

Yes, Sisham is right, changing the dash alignment to 'Preserves exact dash and gap lengths' fixes it.

[Monika Gause]

I can't reproduce that bug. Is it only when you use specific values?

[sishamIAGD]

Same happened for me when producing it with the same values and the 'Aligns dashes to corners and path ends, adjusting lengths to fit' selected

[Cryptic_Chocolate]

Thanks. Thats worked!

Thanks you all for your help 

[sishamIAGD]

No problem, glad we got there in the end. 🙂

[Ton Frederiks]

[Monika Gause]

OK. So my values for the gaps were too large.

[Monika Gause]

If you use Object > Flatten transparency instead of Outline stroke, the shapes won't break. It also works with adjusted dashes.

[Ton Frederiks]

Yes, Flatten transparency works with Convert all Strokes to Outlines checked, but Outline Stroke should work as well.