How to create an object that is an outline of a group of unclosed objects?
Is there a way to outline a group of unclosed objects to create an object that is a combination of all the others but without any of the interior lines? I realize that I can select just the lines along the perimeter, cut all the extending lines one by one and join them, but is there a more expedient way?
Group of unclosed objects:
Just the objects along the permiter:
The unclosed objects will not join properly:
The goal is to get an outline of this shape:

