Xara :: Create Outline Path In Designer Pro?

I have used Xara designer for years as its generally easier to use, but still can't work out hot to easily create the Outline Path and the pathfnder merge shapes function as in Illustrator. The idea is to have a block of text with an outline round the outside of the whole text, but separated from the text characters.

In illustrator the sequence is:

Write text and select then create outlines

Then Object, Path, Outline Path.

Then using the pathfinder utility, merge the outlines into one.

In Xara Designer, I can change text to shapes, but not generate an outline other than a line that hugs each character.