9 replies to this topic

[miz fellenz]

I figured it out! Transform Each doesn't work on sub-layers. The objects must be on a layer at the top level of the document.

That's the magic trick? I'll give it a shot tomorrow!

In the meantime I managed to convert 3,424 arc symbols into 3pt circles using the Convert to Shape and Expand Appearance functions. I was pretty amazed that Illustrator didn't even blink and only took a couple seconds to process the whole batch. Did Adobe get rid of the Find and Replace Symbol function? I know Illustrator used to have something... (I've had a year of Freehand and am catching up with CS2)... where did it go?

[ELeFevre]

Miz Fellenz

The "select same symbol" is in the select menu. After selecting all of the same symbol you can swap the symbol for a different one in the symbols palette. Not sure about the find and replace symbol function you mentioned?

[Martin Gamache]

Did Adobe get rid of the Find and Replace Symbol function? I know Illustrator used to have something... (I've had a year of Freehand and am catching up with CS2)... where did it go?

That sounds like Freehand to me

[MapMedia]

Find & Replace in AI requires 2 steps (select, then replace), sometimes a few more. And for symbols, use a script.

[Claude]

Find and Replacing in CS2 is pretty easy. You select the symbol that you are looking for in the Symbols palette fly-out menu "Select all Instances" and when the symbols are selected, click on the new symbol in the symbols palette that you would like to replace them with. Once the new one is chosen, click the replace symbol icon at the bottom of the symbols palette, et voila!

[Martin Gamache]

Find and Replacing in CS2 is pretty easy. You select the symbol that you are looking for in the Symbols palette fly-out menu "Select all Instances" and when the symbols are selected, click on the new symbol in the symbols palette that you would like to replace them with. Once the new one is chosen, click the replace symbol icon at the bottom of the symbols palette, et voila!

The complication ( requiring a script to get around) is that arc map exported document symbols are not ilustrator"Symbols" and the method you described above will not work. You first need to define all those obnects as the same instance of a symbol. There is a script floating around that does this, but I dont think it's on the adobe exchange site.

m

[MapMedia]

If you export from ArcMap black dots, for instance, and want to replace these with an AI symbol, you will need to run a script. The one I prefer is CopyToMultipelObejects.

All you do is (1) add AI symbol to layer - making sure it is first object at the top of the layer's workspace, (2) size the object as needed, (3) add new layer to top of layer list, (4) turn clipping mask off target layer & select the objects in the layer to be replaced, including new AI symbol, and (5) run script. This places newly created AI symbols in the new layer you created.

The thing to keep in mind is that the script distorts the AI symbol to 'fit' the geometry of the feature object. If you are replacing a triangle with a round AI symbol you will get an oblong shape. Think about how this when you assign map symbology in Arcmap before exporting.

[natcase]

Find and Replacing in CS2 is pretty easy. You select the symbol that you are looking for in the Symbols palette fly-out menu "Select all Instances" and when the symbols are selected, click on the new symbol in the symbols palette that you would like to replace them with. Once the new one is chosen, click the replace symbol icon at the bottom of the symbols palette, et voila!

The complication ( requiring a script to get around) is that arc map exported document symbols are not ilustrator"Symbols" and the method you described above will not work. You first need to define all those obnects as the same instance of a symbol. There is a script floating around that does this, but I dont think it's on the adobe exchange site.

m

Also, note that MaPublisher 7 imported points are symbols. (yay!). (thanks for the tip Claude).

[johnwun]

If you export from ArcMap black dots, for instance, and want to replace these with an AI symbol, you will need to run a script. The one I prefer is CopyToMultipelObejects.

All you do is (1) add AI symbol to layer - making sure it is first object at the top of the layer's workspace, (2) size the object as needed, (3) add new layer to top of layer list, (4) turn clipping mask off target layer & select the objects in the layer to be replaced, including new AI symbol, and (5) run script. This places newly created AI symbols in the new layer you created.

The thing to keep in mind is that the script distorts the AI symbol to 'fit' the geometry of the feature object. If you are replacing a triangle with a round AI symbol you will get an oblong shape. Think about how this when you assign map symbology in Arcmap before exporting.

Just a brief note, the CopyToMultipelObejects script has been updated, and now gives you the option of resizing or not.

cheers,
-J

[Andrew Patterson]

Also, note that MaPublisher 7 imported points are symbols. (yay!). (thanks for the tip Claude).

Also, you can use Apply Expression to change the symbol style. Just select the symbols you want to change (a MAP Selection Filter can make that pretty easy) and then hit Apply Expression. Select #Style as the destination attribute & enter the name of the symbol style you want to switch the selection to (in quotes) as the expression. Hit OK and presto! Done!

This will only work for symbols on a point layer naturally, but I don't suppose anything stops you from making a layer of symbols a Point layer, doing this switch and then changing it back into a normal layer (Remove GIS data...).