How to create unique shapes in Illustrator CS4

First off....
I am new to the Adobe suite of applications and also new to owning a Macbook Pro. I have been using a design program for Windows for many years.
I would like to master the creation and manipulation of shapes using Illustrator CS4.
As one example, how would I create the following:
I want to end up with a shape that is similar to one-quarter of a full moon.
Using my Windows program (not an Adobe product), I would create a line using a line tool, and then I would be able to convert that line to a curve using a shape tool, which would enable me to drag from the midpoint of the line and have it become an arc. Then, while still using the shape tool, I could click once to select one of the endpoint nodes to then click on an "auto-close" option which would add a straight-line edge to close the shape for outline and fill purposes (so one side of the shape is straight at this point and the other side is curved). Using the shape tool, I would double-click near the midpoint of the straight edge to add a new node to the shape, and then I would use the "convert to curve" option from within the shape tool to be able to drag this straight side towards the curved side to end up with the quarter-moon shape as desired.
How would I make this sort of shape using Illustrator, and as a general question for learning, how can I learn all about how to put lines in the design space for purposes of joining these lines, curving any part of one or more lines and then filling or outlining the finished shape made from joined lines?

> and as a general question for learning, how can I learn all about how to put lines in the design space for purposes of joining these lines, curving any part of one or more lines and then filling or outlining the finished shape made from joined lines?
Well, you can read the documentation. That will be much more thorough and methodical than asking a random series of "how do I..." questions in a user forum. And it will take you
a lot less time.
> Using my Windows program (not an Adobe product)
You can say the name. If there's actually anyone here who doesn't know other drawing programs exist, well, they
need to. Your description sounds like Xara Xtreme.
> I want to end up with a shape that is similar to one-quarter of a full moon..create a line...convert that line to a curve...drag from the midpoint of the line and have it become an arc...select one of the endpoint nodes... "auto-close"...double-click near the midpoint of the straight edge to add a new node..."convert to curve"...drag...
A similar procedure could be used in just about any vector drawing program that draws cubic Bezier curves. A much quicker procedure could also be used in just about any program, by leveraging the geometric shape tools and path combination commands that are just as ubiquitous:
1. Draw a circle.
2. Duplicate the circle.
3. Overlap the circles partially.
4. Use one circle to "punch" the other, leaving the difference (the crescent shape).
Here are two AI-specific differences I note in your description:
Illustrator can't bend a straght segment by dragging its middle if the straight segment has both its associated curve handles retracted. Dragging such a segment in AI just moves the segment (and its associated anchorPoints).
Illustrator displays fills on open paths. There is no option to turn off that often unwanted behavior.
Again, read the manual (the online Help files). It will take you decades to learn the program by asking random questions on the basic use of the tools, location of commands, organization (well, disorganization) scheme of the program, etc., etc.
JET

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