text outline: Photoshop vs Illustrator 1

[SoupXVII]

I am a Photoshop user and I recently started learning Illustrator. My problem is this:
In Photoshop, I use the following method to add an outline to my text: first I use Select -> Load Selection and choose "XYZ Transparency". Then I go to Select -> Modify -> Expand, choose the number of pixels and get an expanded selection. Then I fill that with color and the job is done.
I have no clue how to do something like that in Illustrator. Any ideas?

 

[blueark]

You know where the foreground/background colors are in Photoshop's toolbox? Well in Illustrator they're fill & stroke (or outline). Select your text and set the stoke to whatever color you like. There's also a stroke palette where you can set the thickness of your outline.