Add an option for Pathfinder to make compound paths instead of groups
If you draw a row of rectangles (with gaps) and hit Unite button in Pathfinder — Ai will create a group.
But if you hold Alt, then hit Unite, and then hit Expand in this panel — Ai will make create a compound path!
I almost always want a compound path.
And I hate this workaround, since it requires twice as much operations (yeah, 2 instead of 1!). Another workaround is an action to ungroup and make a compound path — which is still a 2 steps operation!
The alternative is to have a panel full of actions for each of the Pathfinder’s buttons — which is just stupid since I just have one already, it's called Pathfinder! Why should I create a complete duplicate of it to workaround this?
What I want is just an option in Pathfinder which makes it to create compound paths instead of groups.
And I want it by default.
AdminEgor Chistyakov
(Admin, Adobe Illustrator)
shared this idea
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And perhaps you also want to upvote this:
Make option to generate compound paths instead of groups when text is outlined
http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/33627964 -
However, if you think we should be able to choose if we want compound paths to get created when possible, instead of groups, please vote here: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657-illustrator-desktop-feature-requests/suggestions/33627964-make-option-to-generate-compound-paths-instead-of
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I’ve made a short GIF demonstrating the workaround.
If you just hit Unite for a group (where some objects are not overlapping), Ai creates a group.
However, if you hold Opt/Alt and then click Unite, Illustrator creates a live Compound Shape first. And if you then click Expand — voila, the result is not a group, but a compound path.(Edited by admin) -
Sara
commented
Agreed! It should do the same as in the desktop version. It should merge the shapes, not just group them. (this is different from creating compound shapes.)
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Elizabeth
commented
I am experiencing this issue as well. Using AI 25.1. I tried Egor Chistyakov's suggestion to make compound path/hold Option/Alt while clicking Unite to enable the Expand, and then click that. The result was no different for me when I did that.
What gets me about this is that it worked just fine with other shapes in my document, but there are a few shapes that it will not merge.
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Oliver Malms
commented
same here!
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Anonymous
commented
go into the group and select the path you want then move into a separate layer. Delete the rest.
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I might be wrong but it always was like this. If you want to create compound path, 'Make compound path' or use Alt+Unite then Expand.
(Edited by admin) -
Simonne Brown
commented
Illustrator CC 23.0.2
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Simonne Brown
commented
When trying to combine individual paths (text outlines, shapes, etc) the pathfinder tool seems to be creating groups, rather than creating a compound path as expected.
Other colleagues have been experiencing similar issues. Video attached.
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Cindi Gilmour
commented
Pathfinder Join is no longer working, it will group the items but will not make 1 single shape, or compound path
