How to Join Vectors in Illustrator on PC or Mac

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: July 8, 2019

This wikiHow teaches you how to join together multiple vector lines in an Adobe Illustrator file, using a computer. Joining multiple vectors will connect the end-points of all the selected paths, and allow you to edit the whole selection as a single vector.

Steps

1
Open the file you want to edit in Adobe Illustrator. Find your Illustrator file on your computer, and double-click on the file name or icon to open it in Adobe Illustrator.
2
Select the "Selection Tool" on the left-toolbar. This button looks like a black arrow icon near the upper-left corner of the Illustrator window. It will allow you to draw a marquee, and select all the vectors you want to join.
- Alternatively, press V on your keyboard. This keyboard shortcut will switch you to the Selection Tool.
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3
Marquee around all the vectors you want to join. Hold down your mouse with the Selection Tool, and draw a marquee on the canvas to include all the vectors you want to join together.
- This will select all the paths inside the marquee.
4
Click the Object menu. You can find it on the tab bar at the top of your screen. It will open a drop-down menu.
5
Hover over Path on the Object menu. This will open a sub-menu.
6
Click Join on the Path menu. This will instantly join together all the vectors in your marquee selection. You can now edit this whole selection as a single vector line.
- Alternatively, press Ctrl+J (Windows) or ⌘ Cmd+J (Mac) on your keyboard. This is the keyboard shortcut for the Join function. It will join and connect all your selected vectors.
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