Minus Front in Pathfinder with Extendscript

[ariffjeff]

Using Extendscript, I'm trying to automate a process that includes the use of the Pathfinder tool, specifically Minus Front. The issue is that Minus Front doesn't exist amongst the list of executable commands even though the majority of the other options do.

Here's the list: https://ten-artai.com/illustrator-ccver-22-menu-commands-list/

Searching for pathfinder shows that all the options exist except Minus Front. This means I'm trying to find a workaround with Minus Back instead, but I can't seem to get it to work either.

How do I effectively get Minus Front automated via Extendscript?

Thanks.

[femkeblanco]

app.executeMenuCommand("Live Pathfinder Subtract");

Group the pathItems first.

[ariffjeff]

This works visually but doesn't actually cut out the paths themselves - not that I specified that as a need in my original post. The other reply here seems to work best in this case by solving that problem as well.

[femkeblanco]

Yes, this corresponds to the pathfinder effect in the effect menu and applies an effect, an appearance attribute, which would then need expanding.  There is no counterpart to the pathfinder panel in ExtendScript.  

[Charu Rajput · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Try following snippet

app.executeMenuCommand('group');
app.executeMenuCommand('Live Pathfinder Subtract');
app.executeMenuCommand('expandStyle');
app.executeMenuCommand('ungroup');

[ariffjeff]

Works perfectly. Thank you!