Illustrator Help - How to convert points from an Arc into a single line?

[aphex]

Messing around with the Illustrator trial and I'm kinda stuck.

I have a PDF file that I converted into an AI file for a local acrylic shop. Some of the slots on the layout look like a pill (two arcs with a solid line on each side). I got a message back from the shop saying "if its possible to connect all the lines on individual shapes (currently the slots are all lines & arcs)."

How would I go about doing this? I tried using the join command, but it doesn't seem to do what I need.

Any ideas?

 

[rivan]

I'm certain I can help, but I'm not 100% sure I understand your issue.

Are the lines and arcs separate paths that just happen to line up to visually make a shape? If so, they'll need to be joined into a single path to make artwork the acrylics people can use in their software (presumably to drive a table router).

IF that's the case, using the direct selection pointer, select endpoints that you want to join and hit cmd-J to join them. If the paths are directly overlapping (like you drew the shapes separately and dragged them over one another) it'll eliminate the duplicate point and join the paths into a single path. If they're not overlapping, it'll draw a straight path between them.

Alternatively, you can create a single path by giving them fills and using pathfinder "unite", then expanding that.

If those are off the mark, I can certainly fix it if you send me the paths/file in question and explain fully once I see the exact issue.

 

[aphex]

lol, to be honest i'm really not 100% sure

YGPM