Feature request: New convert line to shape

**ivan louette** · 14 August 2008, 10:24 PM

When converting to shapes the outline of filled closed shapes that could be a very useful and time saving feature if a filled inner shape without outline was automatically created (like in 2). At the moment one must always convert line to shapes + break shapes + combine/slice shapes + change color of the inner shape : four steps instead of only one !

kindly,
ivan

**Egg Bramhill** · 14 August 2008, 11:05 PM

I agree Ivan. I use XXP and Flash a lot and Flash's line handling isn't perfect so I always:

Create a shape, no outline
Clone it, apply a stroke and convert line to shape
Then export these 2 shapes to Flash via swf

To work effectively you'd need a "convert shape to two shapes" within the Arrange menu whereby the stroke part would be converted from a stroke (line) to a shape.

**steve.ledger** · 15 August 2008, 01:08 AM

I agree - that would be useful. Perhaps via a modifier key or a right-click context option 'create shapes' which would convert the lines to a shape without killing the parent shape.

**alexbozhenov** · 15 August 2008, 01:19 AM

Looks like Expand command in AI, right?

**Scotty** · 15 August 2008, 03:08 AM

Hi,
What I do is copy the object with a hairline to clip board apply the outline with you wish then convert to ouline oblect, 'Paste in place' the copied object snd to back with the fill you desire, and then apply the features you want to the converted to line object Bevel whatever.
Jim

**ivan louette** · 15 August 2008, 09:14 AM

In fact in my example end proposal the parent shape IS killed. The edge of the inner one exactly matches the internal edge of the outer one.

But one could imaginate different results if Scale line width is checked or not.

kindly,
ivan

**BobInce** · 15 August 2008, 05:43 PM

The edge of the inner one exactly matches the internal edge of the outer one.

I'd generally want the fill area preserved from the original shape, I think. Certainly this would be the only way converting a dashed line to shape could work.

But yes, either version would make more sense than the current approach of just throwing any fill away.