Adjust stroke length while keeping original path?

[matthewjayfleming]

Is there a non-destructive way to maintain a path in Illustrator, but adjust where the visible stroke begins and ends? I love this function in After Effects, and would love the feature for Illustrator. For instance, if I have an elipse with a stroke on it, is there a way to adjust where the visible stroke starts and ends, creating an arc, without destroying the circle path?

[Monika Gause]

You coud try dashes on the stroke. But it would be rather tedious to adjust.

[tromboniator · Accepted solution]

Monika, I presume this is the sort of thing you mean?

[Monika Gause]

Exactly.

[Michael Riordan]

You could use a mask.