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M
Mobius Strip
Known Participant
April 21, 2009
Question

How do you combine paths?

  • April 21, 2009
  • 5 replies
  • 96117 views

Hi all.

I had to break a closed path apart, delete a section, and re-do it.  Unfortunately Illustrator has a penchant for deselecting the path you're working on with the pen tool and starting a new one from time to time, so now I have three paths instead of one.  But they all have common end points, ready to join.

I've searched the doc, the forums, and the Web, but haven't found how to join these paths into one.  Not a compound path that remains separable (which is what "Pathfinder" creates), but rather one path as if I'd drawn it continuously.

What to do?

Thanks!

      This topic has been closed for replies.

      5 replies

      Delltar
      Delltar
      Inspiring
      June 12, 2014

      I had to solve similar problem and what helped me was InkScribe, with inkscribe tool I just connected points I wanted and that was it, simple as that. Why this is such an obstacle for out-of-the-box Illustrator is beyond me.

      A
      ABADGE
      Participant
      April 21, 2009

      have you tried the unite in pathfinder?

      Steve Fairbairn
      Steve Fairbairn
      Inspiring
      April 22, 2009

      Unite works too but will only join ends with a straight line and may produce extra lines between other open ends. The pen tool is better for this job.

      M
      Mobius StripAuthor
      Known Participant
      April 23, 2009

      Thanks for the responses, guys.

      Yes, I tried Pathfinder, but it creates a "compound path", which still acts as separate paths when you're selecting. The other operations I tried produced bizarre web-like connections between points that weren't even selected.

      The lines weren't in groups or any of the other conditions mentioned in that dialog box.

      I have the JET scripts, thank you.  They're nice, but the fact that Illustrator doesn't let you assign scripts to a hotkey is just pathetic.

      Once again, I regret wasting time on this pitiful product.

      Jacob Bugge
      Community Expert
      Jacob BuggeCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      April 21, 2009

      Mobius,

      See the JET_JoinNearest script here (and enjoy some of the many other amazing things created by James (JETLT): http://www.illustrationetc.com/AI_Javascripts/PathScripts.htm.

      Edit: Hi Harron.

      J
      Joshua Delph
      Participant
      April 21, 2009

      Hello...

      The paths may be grouped or even considered compound paths.  Ungroup the paths and also check under the Object menu to ensure none of the paths are compound paths.

      After that, you can do as others have mentioned here...select the endpoints with the Direct Selection tool and join.  Alternatively, JET has created some great scripts for joining paths that I use ALL of the time.  I am not sure what the URL for the download is, but I'm sure someone floating around the forums would be able to post it.

      -jD

      H
      Harron_K_Appleman
      Inspiring
      April 21, 2009
      I am not sure what the URL for the download is...

      http://www.illustrationetc.com/AI_Javascripts/PathScripts.htm

      Steve Fairbairn
      Steve Fairbairn
      Inspiring
      April 21, 2009

      Two ways:

      Either select both endpoints with the direct selection tool and Cmd-J. This joins points with a straight line.

      Or use the pen tool, click on one end point, drag if you want to, click on the second endpoint and drag if you want to. This joins the point with a curve, if that's what you want.

      M
      Mobius StripAuthor
      Known Participant
      April 21, 2009

      Thanks.  I tried that, but that only works to close a single path.  If you try that with two separate paths, you get a dialog saying, "To join, you must select two open endpoints.  If they are not on the same path, they cannot be on text paths nor inside graphs, and if both of them are grouped, they must be in the same group."

      The lines satisfy all those conditions, but Illustrator still won't join them.

      Steve Fairbairn
      Steve Fairbairn
      Inspiring
      April 21, 2009

      Strange, it works o.k. for me (CS2 and CS3 - I tried on both). I drew two wiggly lines and had both of them deselected. Got hold of the pen tool again and went to the first anchor - a little diagonal line appeared beside the cursor as soon as it approached the anchor. Click and drag and then to the second anchor - a tiny square with a line through it appeared beside the cursor. Click and drag and I had joined the lines. Note that the drag is optional - if you don't drag you get a sharp corner.

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