How to control combine?

[eobet]

The shape in this screenshot is combined from three objects (circle, triangle and outlined path). It was done in one go, yet the results at both ends differ (circle end has a white hole where combined, while the arrow end is combined in union, which is what I want):

How do I make all shapes combine in union and not leave any holes?

Also, how do I move the objects inside of a combined shape without separating it first?

[Paulius]

How do I make all shapes combine in union and not leave any holes?

You get a hole, because what you have is a CompoundPath which means the direction of paths does matter. Unfortunately we don’t have a way to reverse a single subpath, so you have to separate first:

1. Select the shxape
2. Preset “Separate” in Path section of Inspector
3. Select the circle
4. Press “Reverse” in the same menu
5. Select all shapes
6. Press “Combine”

Or just use the actual boolean operation

1. Select the shxape
2. Preset “Separate” in Path section of Inspector
3. Press Union in the action bar at the top

But that will intersect your shapes and maybe that’s not what you want.

[Paulius]

Also, how do I move the objects inside of a combined shape without separating it first?

You can do that in Node tool, you just have to select all nodes of the path. Both iOS and Mac have helpers for that:

• Mac: Hold CMD and press on a node - it will select all nodes in the path. Just move the path afterwards.
• iOS: Use double touch (or triple touch?) to select the node, i.e. put one finger on screen and with another press on the node (i.e. double touch) - it should select all nodes of that path too.

[eobet]

Thank you. I have two comments on your solution:

1. Every newly created circle needs to be reversed in order to combine cleanly. What’s the reason for this? Can’t you reverse the default output of the circle from the start so this step can’t be skipped?
2. When you apply a stroke to the combined objects, the result is still “intersected” (like in the screenshot below). Why am I not getting a stroke on the silhouette of the combined objects?

[Paulius]

Every newly created circle needs to be reversed in order to combine cleanly.

That very much depends how you created your other objects. For example if I create a circle and a rectangle they have the same order (see the order to red, green, blue nodes):

And if I combine them then it produces no hole:

So it all depends on how you drew your shapes. I can draw a triangle using Pen in clock-wise and counter-clock-wise way.

Also some other people might want the hole:

So it depends on context too much, to say that it should be one way or the other way out of the box.

When you apply a stroke to the combined objects, the result is still “intersected” (like in the screenshot below). Why am I not getting a stroke on the silhouette of the combined objects?

This is by design. In combined objects every object gets stroked individually. If you want a stroke around combined fill, then merge these shapes using Boolean Union operation.