Shape Mode Scripting continued - Unite equivalent script?

[bdgeorge2017]

I'm trying to work out how to achieve the same result as using the Pathfinder Shape Modes Unite tool via script. It's one of the few pathfinder tools not available via `executeMenu()`

So if I have two overlapping circles and unite them I end up with a single 'flattened' item of a single path with no internal paths, which differs from creating a CompoundPath which preserves the internal details for later editing - in this case, I'm deliberately trying to discard the internal details to get a clean united shape!

A similar question was posed here https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator/shape-mode-scripting/m-p/11206350?page=1 and that was resolved for the minus front operation and also has some good examples of doing it with compound paths, but not anything on doing it in a way that mimics Unite.

I could record an action and replay that via a script, but it's super slow to replay and a bit of a hack!

Has anyone done this before? Thanks!

[femkeblanco]

I thought 

app.executeMenuCommand("Live Pathfinder Add"); 

did that.  Sorry, I'm not at my PC to check.  

[Charu Rajput · Accepted solution]

Hi,

For Unite, the command is 'Live Pathfinder Add'

app.executeMenuCommand('Live Pathfinder Add')

When you record the action for Unite, you can see it add actions as Pathfinder->Add. See screenshot for reference.

But the problem is when I execute above command, nothing happens.

As per your requirement Unite operation can be done with combination of the exceuteMenuCommand. Make sure you have selected items.

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

Edit : Added after more information from Kurt_Gold

 

[Ian23727519yd85]

Charu, 

For some reason, the "expandStyle" menu command does not work for me. Could you help me out?

Thanks

[Kurt Gold]

Charu,

> "But the problem is when I execute above command, nothing happens."

Actually something happens. The command applies a Pathfinder effect (see Effect menu).

Usually Pathfinder effects are applied to groups or layers. So, in order to see that something happens, just draw a couple of overlapping filled and stroked paths and group them. Then apply the script.

After that you may do an Object > Expand Appearance.

[Charu Rajput]

Yes, that works perfectly.

With set of combination of commands, it is possible. I have updated the answer above.

Thank you. 🙂

[bdgeorge2017]

Thank you Charu and Kurt, that is totally awesome - exactly what I was hoping for!
Everytime I'm about to give on Extendscript the community saves the day 🙂

[ajmck]

This tip is very helpful. Thank you. However, it doesn't solve an issue I'm having. I'm trying to fix an existing script that creates outer strokes for a grouped object. After creating groups, the script runs the following commands:

app.executeMenuCommand("CompoundPath");
app.executeMenuCommand("Live Pathfinder Add");
app.executeMenuCommand("expandStyle");

This results in an outer stroke(good)  as well as maintains inner strokes (bad), though they are hidden (no stroke color/weight). See screenshot:

Ideally, the script would only keep the outer stroke and elimate the inner stroke, as they are unnecessary. That's exactly the result I get when using "Unite" from the Pathfinder tab. See screenshot:

Any advice on how to achieve the latter result using javacript?

[Inventsable]

You could simulate the Pathfinder > Unite command exactly as the native UI behaves by loading .aia rawtext as an Action, executing it, then unloading the Action so it disappears from the Actions panel:

/**
 * Creates and runs a temporary action from given .aia rawtext
 *  {String} actionName Exact name of action
 *  {String} actionSet Exact name of set containing action
 *  {String} contents Raw .aia string of action file
 */
function runActionFromString(actionName, actionSet, contents) {
    // Rather oddly AI always wants you to use a file instead of a string,
    // so we'll just create a temp file every time we need to:
    var tmp = File(Folder.desktop + "/tmp.aia");
    tmp.open("w");
    tmp.write(contents);
    tmp.close();
    // Then load, execute, and unload the action:
    app.loadAction(tmp);
    app.doScript(actionName, actionSet, false);
    app.unloadAction(actionSet, "");
    // And remove the file:
    tmp.remove();
}

var actionStr =
    "/version 3 /name [ 12 756e697465436f6d6d616e64 ] /isOpen 1 /actionCount 1 /action-1 { /name [ 5 556e697465 ] /keyIndex 0 /colorIndex 0 /isOpen 1 /eventCount 1 /event-1 { /useRulersIn1stQuadrant 0 /internalName (ai_plugin_pathfinder) /localizedName [ 10 5061746866696e646572 ] /isOpen 0 /isOn 1 /hasDialog 0 /parameterCount 1 /parameter-1 { /key 1851878757 /showInPalette -1 /type (enumerated) /name [ 3 416464 ] /value 0 } } }";

runActionFromString("Unite", "uniteCommand", actionStr);

[ajmck]

Thanks, @Inventsable. With a little help, I got this method to work.