How to use Variables in Adobe Illustrator?

[Vladimir3027440766px]

Dear community, 

I am trying to solve a thinkg in illustator, which may or may not work 🙂

I like Adobe Illustrator because of the simplicity and I would like to use it for my 2D vector graphic for my CNC machine.

The problem is, that I would like to set some variables for certain dimensions, which I can change later on.

In my case its usually because of the depth of the material I am using. As example I attached classic scenario for Finger Joints. Where The red lines should be the ones , Which I would like to make shorter or longer in case the material thickness change.

I can do it in 3D SW where this is completely normall, that each line has some variable, but for simple models, I can prototype it really quickly in Adobe Illustrator and this is the only think which is an obstale for me.

thanks for any hints.

[Sergey Osokin]

I'll start with a clarifying question. Once you have drawn this snake, what prevents you from selecting the top row of points and using the keyboard arrows to move along the Y-axis by a specified step (Preferences > General > Keyboard Increment)?

[Vladimir3027440766px]

Hi Sergey,

in this easy case yes, I can do it. but in more complicated models, I would need to edit for example 50 places . Thats why I am looking for a solution which is in other applications where I can insert instead of length 3mm a variable like teethLength = 3mm and if I want to change it in all model I just change the value of he variable to e.g. 4mm and all lines with length "teethLength" adopt accordingly.

[Sergey Osokin]

Illustrator has no such variables. I understand that changing the number in the variable should not only change the length of the red line, but also move all adjacent lines? This is probably not an easy task for a script to do either.

[Vladimir3027440766px]

Yes correct, would need to know the direction in which to move .

[Kurt Gold]

Another clarifying question: Global Editing or using and modifying symbol instances wouldn't work for you?

[Vladimir3027440766px]

I am not familiart with Global Editing, I will check what it can do. thank for tip

[Vladimir3027440766px]

Unfortunatelly with global editing, I can edit whole object, but not for example in this case only the teeths

[CarlosCanto]

would something like this help?

https://www.makercase.com/#/

[CarlosCanto]

@o-marat wrote a great script for finger joints a few years ago

https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/finger-joints/m-p/8684965#M154210

[Kurt Gold]

As far as I understand, you actually can do it with Global Editing, but it may very well be that I misunderstand your task. Can you perhaps share some more complex sample Illustrator file with instructions to explain what exactly you are going to do?

Also, I think you may like using symbols in this case.