Is there a trick to the Path menu?

[Evelyn]

I was working on a recipe book yesterday and I wanted to join two rectangles together so I could create tabs on the pages. I wanted to do Path Union instead of Weld.

It worked on the first try, but when I went to do the union on the next two triangles, all the options under the Path menu were grayed out. I quit and re-started SCAL2 (for my Mac) and was able to do one more. But I had to quit and re-start for every pair of rectangles I wanted to join together.

I do have the latest version of SCAL2 for Macs installed. So, I was wondering if there is a little trick that I don't know about.

Thanks for your help. Evelyn

[Shelley]

Yes, way off your design DRAG a square around the objects you want to union. Then try: path -- union..

[Evelyn]

Suppose I wanted to cut out this flower in four pieces: the stem, the outline of the flower, the center circle of the flower, and the "top" layer which would be the flower with the circles cut out to reveal the color behind. What steps would I take?

Evelyn

[HeatherM]

Use Object/Break apart. Then select the outer piece and drag it away. Click on the stem and center circle and drag them away. Then select the flower and the circles inside and and use Object/Group to keep them together. If you want them on separate layers use Cut and then paste them into new layers. Otherwise, just move them to where you want them on your mat. HTH

[Evelyn]

Thanks, Heather,
I tried that, and I did a couple of extra steps. I copied and pasted the outline of the flower, and grouped that with the circles on the petals, and was able to do a path, exclusion so that I could layer that ontop of the outline of the flower. (Then my SCAL crashed.) When I tried it again, the Path options were grayed out. Do you have any idea why they're available sometimes, and sometimes not?? Evelyn

[talanhart]

The two that you have selected aren't on the same page. Try selecting two of the Blue objects and see if the options are there.

[HeatherM]

I haven't had any problems with using Path operations over more than one layer. I think it is likely the Mac Path bug. There really isn't any need to use the Path operations on this unless you are going to weld it to something else though.

[Evelyn]

Thanks, both of you, for your help. The path options were grayed out even when the objects were on the same layer. It must be the problem Heather spoke about. Hopefully, they'll work out the bug soon!

Evelyn

[firstcut]

Evelyn,
I reported this bug a couple of weeks ago here.
http://forums.surecutsalot.com/viewtopi ... =7&t=11489

You did find the work around, which ,unfortunatley is to restart SCAL.

[Evelyn]

Hi, Kay,
Yes, I've experienced the SCAL2 taking me to a different page when I click "undo." Thanks for reporting the issues. Maybe they'll work on them and fix them!!
Evelyn -