A numerical pattern synthesis technique for equispaced linear arrays that allows us to obtain shaped patterns with a specified sidelobe and ripple level adhering to a desired array element excitation is described. The method perturbs the roots of the array factor in order to find the optimal sidelobe and null-filling topography of the pattern associated with a desired aperture distribution. Application to a shaped cosec2 θ-pattern using a cosine-type tamplitude distribution is presented. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 23: 224–226, 1999.