Help with Compound Paths

Hello,
I would like to know how to accomplsih the following. I can't get it to work, assuming it is possible.
Background: I have type (in outline form) on top of a solid vector rectangle (rectangle A). Rectangle A is on top of a background color. I want the type to drop out to the background color. I know how to do this by a) selecting both the type and rectangle A and b) making a compound path. Works. No problem.
But, what I really want to accomplish is the following: I want the type to drop out to the background color when it is placed on top of TWO separate objects. Here is the order of objects, starting at the bottom: 1) background color, 2) rectangle A, 3) square B, 4) outline type (fits entirely within the area of the square). I want to be able to cause the type to "drill" through both square B and rectangle A so that the color of the type is the background color. Assuming this is possible, how do I do it? Thanks for some help. Dale

Sorry, no, I mean for output... In AI or PDF files this seems to work great but anything dealing with transparency gets flatteded when you pull an eps file into a layout program like Quark or InDesign and consequently, the knockout or transaprency mask turns white regardless of what background it is placed on...
I know that in Indesign, this shouldn't be an issue since you can just use the Illustrator format but say you work in a place (like I do) where for reasons dealing with output and central storage that are beyond your link in the chain and thus out of your control, you have to save as EPS still - is there any way that you know of right off, to get this to work without the knockout going to white?
I ask only because it seems like there should be a way to prevent this from happening since there are no transitions and this isn't dealing with a degree of transparency but a compleet knockout...
If this is something that to the best of your knowledge should work, I don't expect you to troubleshoot my problem and I'll look into the settings I'm playing with on my own.
As always, thanks for your help either way though!

Similar Messages

Help with updating PATH variable

I am using a T42 with WinXp pro
I installed JAVA SDK then I tried to update my cmd window path permanently so that I don't have to typed in the full path everytime, so I followed the description:
Microsoft Windows NT, 2000, and XP - To set the PATH permanently:
Choose Start, Settings, Control Panel, and double-click System. On Microsoft Windows NT, select the Environment tab; on Microsoft Windows 2000 select the Advanced tab and then Environment Variables. Look for "Path" in the User Variables and System Variables. If you're not sure where to add the path, add it to the right end of the "Path" in the User Variables. A typical value for PATH is:
C:\j2sdk1.4.2_<version>\bin
Capitalization doesn't matter. Click "Set", "OK" or "Apply".
The PATH can be a series of directories separated by semi-colons (;). Microsoft Windows looks for programs in the PATH directories in order, from left to right. You should only have one bin directory for a Java SDK in the path at a time (those following the first are ignored), so if one is already present, you can update it to j2sdk1.4.2_<version>\bin.
The new path takes effect in each new Command Prompt window you open after setting the PATH variable.
The wired thing is that there is no variable named: PATH in my environmental variables, so I added a new one, and it did not work, the one that I always get when I do run-> cmd is
c:\> documents and settings\my user name
which I found out is the so called"HOMEPATH", and it is not seen in the environmental variables tab.
How can I change it permanetly? Please help me

then I run cmd again, I still get
C:\Documents and Settings\user>set path
Path=C:\JAVA\j2sdk1.4.0\bin
PATHEXT=.COM;.EXE;.BAT;.CMD;.VBS;.VBE;.JS;.JSE;.WSF;.WS
;.pyo;.pyc;.py;.pyw
It did not seem to help. The path variable that cmd
uses remained the same.In Reply #2, you said the set path shows "Path=C:\WINDOWS\System32" Now you say "Path=C:\JAVA\j2sdk1.4.0\bin" That makes it look like changed the path. If you enter "javac" it should run. However, I recommend that you go back into the Environmental Variables and change the Path you added so it says "C:\JAVA\j2sdk1.4.0\bin;C:\WINDOWS\System32"

Knife tool with compound paths

Okay this is probably easy, but I haven't encountered it before. I could do this is Illustrator, but I'm betting it's easy to accomplish in InDesign.
I've taken a word that I've converted to outlines. Now I want to remove the dot off the "i" in the word. I can't seem to do it. The letters are all stuck together (regardless of whether I use the direct select tool or not) unless I release the compound paths which messes up all the other letters. Can I use the knife tool to cut the dot off the eye? If so, I can't really figure out how to use it. Come to think of it, I never use that knife tool and am not really sure what to do with it.
Allright let me know if you have any suggestions.
Thanks, Phyllis

Hm, it still selects the stroke on all of them. No matter how far in I zoom they're still stuck together. So it's something to do with the compound paths. I'd release them, delete the dot and put the paths back together -- only I can't figure out how to put the lower-case "g" back together as it has 2 holes in it. That's annoying. I guess I could put each letter in a separate box so that I'm only creating outlines for an individual letter. But in that case I might as well switch to Illustrator. I must be missing something....
Thanks, Phyllis

I'm having trouble finishing up with Compound Paths

OK, I'm a novice here so here's my script. It works really well like it sits. It basically takes two objects in a large group and aligns them. I want to make each two objects combinded into a single compound path. I have tried multiple things and they all just kick out errors and what not. I can't seem to get my head around the vocabulary for the scripting but the darkness is starting to fade the more I do.
#target Illustrator
 var idoc = app.activeDocument;
 var pi =idoc.compoundPathItems;
 var numn = prompt ("How Many Names?", "Enter Number of Names");
 var dd = prompt ("How far below name is the number?", "Enter Drop Distance");
 var nH = prompt ("How tall are the names?", "Enter Name Height in Inches");
 dd = parseFloat (dd);
 numn = parseInt (numn);
 nH = parseFloat (nH);
for (j=0; j<numn; j++) {
 var num = j + numn;
 var numpath = pi[num];
 var npath = pi[j];
 var nName = 'name' + j;
 var numName = 'number' + j;
 var centWidth = pi[j].width / 72;
 var centN = pi[num].width / 72;
 var adjNum = (centWidth - centN) / 2;
 var fhp = j*9.5*72;
 var fvp = 0;
 var nhp = (j*9.5*72) + (adjNum * 72);
 var nvp = ((dd*72) + (nH * 72))*-1;
 pi[j].name = nName;
 pi[num].name = numName;
 npath.position = [fhp,fvp];
 numpath.position = [nhp,nvp];
// Would Like to combine the aligned items into a single compound item.

select few objects and try this to build up a new compound path.
#target illustrator
var doc = activeDocument;
var sel = doc.selection;
var newCompPath = doc.activeLayer.compoundPathItems.add()
if (sel.length > 0) {
 for (var i=0; i<sel.length; i++) {
 sel[i].evenodd = true;
 sel[i].move(newCompPath, ElementPlacement.INSIDE);

Need help with setting PATH in Windows 98

Hi
Can anyone please help me!!!
I am new to java and I am confuse how to set the path in my pc. I have a windows 98, I downloaded the Java 2 SDK Standard Edition v 1.4.1 from the CD that came with the fifth edition "Java How to Program" book. I followed the instruction in how to set PATH permanently but it is not working. When I open my AUTOEXEC.BAT this is what I have:
@ECHO OFF
rem
rem *** DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE! ***
rem
rem This file was created by the System Configuration Utility as
rem a placeholder for your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Your actual
rem AUTOEXEC.BAT file has been saved under the name AUTOEXEC.TSH.
rem
SET PATH=%PATH%;C:\PROGRA~1\BORLAND\CBUILD~1\BIN;C:\PROGRA~1\BORLAND\CBUILD~1\PROJECTS\BPL
@REM Added by MATLAB installer
SET PATH="%PATH%;c:\matlab_sv12\bin\win32"
PATH=%PATH%;C:\PROGRA~1\SSHCOM~1\SSHSEC~1
REM >>>CS ChemOffice: Do Not Edit!
path="c:\PROGRA~1\CHEMOF~1\COMMON\dlls";%PATH%
REM <<<CS ChemOffice: Do Not Edit!
I added the C:\J2SDK1.4.1\BIN and the end of PATH=%PATH%;C:\PROGRA~1\SSHCOM~1\SSHSEC~1 but it is not working. When I try to compile javac HelloWorldApp.java in MS-DOS Prompt I get "Bad command or file name".
If anybody can please help, I'd greatly appreciate it...
Thank you
Gem

I added the C:\J2SDK1.4.1\BIN and the end of
PATH=%PATH%;C:\PROGRA~1\SSHCOM~1\SSHSEC~1 but it iswell, you could have written that directory wrong...
are you sure that your java is in J2SDK1.4.1 ? for me
that directory has _02 at the end of it as well...
it also might be that you didn't separate your path
element with ';'
that's important too.
you could try it from dos-prompt like that:
set PATH=%PATH%;c:\j2sdk1.4.1\bin
if it works from dos-prompt, then it should work in
autoexec as well...
HTHThank you very much for your help!!!
I tried what you suggest set PATH=%PATH%;c:\j2sdk1.4.1\bin in the dos-prompt and it worked, but it didn't work in the autoexec.bat. I am getting "Out of environment space".
Gem

Need help with compound query

I have a group of four tables that I need to query. Here are the 4 tables:
 
CREATE TABLE "APP_ATS"."BOX_INFORMATION" 
( "REC_COUNT_PK" NUMBER(7,0), 
 "BOX_ID" NUMBER(5,0), 
 "CUSTODIAN_SAP_NUMBER" VARCHAR2(5), 
 "FACILITY_KEY_FK" NUMBER(3,0), 
 CONSTRAINT "APP_ATS__BOX_INFORMATION__PK" PRIMARY KEY ("REC_COUNT_PK"), 
 CONSTRAINT "APP_ATS__BOX_INFO__FACIL__FK" FOREIGN KEY ("FACILITY_KEY_FK") 
 REFERENCES "APP_ATS"."FACILITY_DATA" ("FACILITY_KEY_PK") ENABLE) 
 
CREATE TABLE "APP_ATS"."FACILITY_DATA" 
( "FACILITY_KEY_PK" NUMBER(3,0), 
 "FACILITY_NAME" VARCHAR2(100), 
 CONSTRAINT "APP_ATS__FACILITY_DATA__PK" PRIMARY KEY ("FACILITY_KEY_PK")) 
 
CREATE TABLE "APP_ATS"."EMP_WORK_INFO" 
( "EMPLOYEE_NUMBER" varchar2(5), 
 "LAST_NAME" varchar2(50), 
 "PREFERRED_NAME" varchar2(50)) 
 
CREATE TABLE "APP_ATS"."BOX_CONTENT_GROUP_INFORMATION" 
( "CONTENT_KEY_PK" NUMBER(6,0), 
 "REC_COUNT_FK" NUMBER(7,0), 
 "BOX_ID_FK" NUMBER(5,0), 
 "GROUP_DESCRIPTION" VARCHAR2(1999 BYTE), 
 "GROUP_COUNTER" NUMBER(4,0), 
 CONSTRAINT "APP_ATS__BOX_CONT_GRP_INFO__PK" PRIMARY KEY ("CONTENT_KEY_PK"), 
 CONSTRAINT "APP_ATS__BX_C_G_INF__BX_ID__FK" FOREIGN KEY ("REC_COUNT_FK") 
 REFERENCES "APP_ATS"."BOX_INFORMATION" ("REC_COUNT_PK") ENABLE) 
 
If the box_information table has these records: 
1,1,'00001',1 
2,4,'00002',1 
3,2,'00003',2 
 
The facility_data table has these records: 
1,'County Records' 
2,'DataStor' 
 
The Emp_Work_Info table has: 
'00001','Jones','Fred' 
'00002','Grobnik','Igor' 
'00003','Marley','Bob' 
 
The box_content_group_information has: 
1,1,1,'first box group 1',1 
2,1,1,'first box group 2',2 
3,2,4,'fourth box group 1',1 
4,3,2,'second box group 1',1 
 
I need a query that returns a record set that looks like this: 
BoxID,Preferred_Name,last_name,facility_name,descriptions 
1,Fred,Jones,County Records,first box group 1|-|first box group 2 
2,Bob,Marley,DataStor,second box group 1 
4,Igor,Grobnik,County Records,fourth box group 1 
 
Since the first 3 tables have a 1 to 1 relationship I can get that part working fine with this: 
 
select Box_ID, EMDS_PREFERRED_NAME, EMDS_LAST_NAME, FACILITY_NAME 
FROM App_ATS.Facility_Data, App_ATS.Box_Information, EMP_WORK_INFO 
WHERE App_ATS.Facility_Data.Facility_key_PK = App_ATS.Box_Information.Facility_key_fk 
AND App_ATS.Box_Information.CUSTODIAN_SAP_NUMBER = EMP_WORK_INFO.EMPLOYEE_NUMBER; 
 
The problem is that for each box_information row I may have multiple BOX_CONTENT_GROUP_INFORMATION rows and I need the record set to
return only one row per box_information row. 
 
I found a function that concatenates a single field from multiple rows into a single string but it isn't designed to group on any particular field so if I use it each record has all of the descriptions instead of only those for that box_ID. The function: 
 
create or replace function glue 
( p_cursor sys_refcursor, 
p_delimiter varchar2 := '|-|') 
return varchar2 
is 
l_value varchar2(32000); 
l_result varchar2(32000); 
begin 
loop 
fetch p_cursor into l_value; 
exit when p_cursor%notfound; 
if l_result is not null then 
l_result := l_result || p_delimiter; 
end if; 
l_result := l_result || l_value; 
end loop; 
return l_result; 
end glue; 
 
**It was called join but I like glue better, join is a key word. Thanks to whomsoever came up with it. 
 
Please help me figure out how to do this! 

Right. Listing the table creation scripts, each row of data for each table and then the snapshot of what I expect isn't enough, it has to be an actual set of insert statements? Here they are then:
Insert into app_ats.box_information (REC_COUNT_PK, BOX_ID, CUSTODIAN_SAP_NUMBER, FACILITY_KEY_FK) Values (1,1,'00001',1);
Insert into app_ats.box_information (REC_COUNT_PK, BOX_ID, CUSTODIAN_SAP_NUMBER, FACILITY_KEY_FK) Values (2,4,'00002',1);
Insert into app_ats.box_information (REC_COUNT_PK, BOX_ID, CUSTODIAN_SAP_NUMBER, FACILITY_KEY_FK) Values (3,2,'00003',2);
Insert into app_ats.facility_data (FACILITY_KEY_PK, FACILITY_NAME) values (1,'County Records');
Insert into app_ats.facility_data (FACILITY_KEY_PK, FACILITY_NAME) values (2,'DataStor');
Insert into app_ats.Emp_Work_Info (EMPLOYEE_NUMBER, LAST_NAME, PREFERRED_NAME) values ('00001','Jones','Fred');
Insert into app_ats.Emp_Work_Info (EMPLOYEE_NUMBER, LAST_NAME, PREFERRED_NAME) values ('00002','Grobnik','Igor');
Insert into app_ats.Emp_Work_Info (EMPLOYEE_NUMBER, LAST_NAME, PREFERRED_NAME) values ('00003','Marley','Bob');
Insert into app_ats.box_content_group_information (CONTENT_KEY_PK, REC_COUNT_FK, BOX_ID_FK, GROUP_DESCRIPTION, GROUP_COUNTER) values (1,1,1,'first box group 1',1);
Insert into app_ats.box_content_group_information (CONTENT_KEY_PK, REC_COUNT_FK, BOX_ID_FK, GROUP_DESCRIPTION, GROUP_COUNTER) values (2,1,1,'first box group 2',2);
Insert into app_ats.box_content_group_information (CONTENT_KEY_PK, REC_COUNT_FK, BOX_ID_FK, GROUP_DESCRIPTION, GROUP_COUNTER) values (3,2,4,'fourth box group 1',1);
Insert into app_ats.box_content_group_information (CONTENT_KEY_PK, REC_COUNT_FK, BOX_ID_FK, GROUP_DESCRIPTION, GROUP_COUNTER) values (4,3,2,'second box group 1',1);
There you go! Now everyone has the full set of scripts as well as the expected output. I anxiously await your brilliant solution.

Need help with Class-Path and NCDFE

This isn't a new issue, but I'm getting a variation of a problem a lot of people seem to have had. I was hoping someone out there can help me out.
I have a jar file (imex.jar) sitting in c:\temp\imextest. I also have another jar file, commons-cli-1.0.jar sitting in c:\temp\imextest\lib.
I want to run the jar in a standalone manner. My manifest has the following entries.
Manifest-Version: 1.0
Ant-Version: Apache Ant 1.5.3
Created-By: 1.4.2_01-b06 (Sun Microsystems Inc.)
Main-Class: com.foo.imex.DirectoryImportExport
Class-Path: lib/commons-cli-1.0.jar
I am invoking it using the following command (from c:\temp\imextest)
java -jar imex.jar -i -f c:\matt\RRBus\jiyun.xml -v
I get this result:
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: org/apache/commons/cli/ParseException
It seems to me that I have my directory structure and manifest set up correctly, but maybe I don't (as it's not working). Does anyone see what I'm doing wrong here? (the "missing" class is in commons-cli-1.0.jar).
Thanks,
Matt

perhaps jar file needed for parsing is not there in classpath...set it...in the classpath..

Need help with XML Path syntax

Consider the following xml document below:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1" ?>
<CALLINGNUMBERBERS>
 <CALLINGNUMBER ID='1'>
 <NUMBER>1234567890</NUMBER>
 <NAME>JONNY</NAME.
 </CALLINGNUMBER>
 <CALLINGNUMBER ID='2'>
 <NUMBER>8991234567</NUMBER>
 <NAME>JONNYHOME</NAME>
 </CALLINGNUMBER>
 <CALLINGNUMBER ID='3'>""</CALLINGNUMBER>
 <CALLINGNUMBER ID='4'>""</CALLINGNUMBER>
 <CALLINGNUMBER ID='5'>""</CALLINGNUMBER>
 <CALLINGNUMBER ID='6'>""</CALLINGNUMBER>
 <CALLINGNUMBER ID='7'>""</CALLINGNUMBER>
 <CALLINGNUMBER ID='8'>""</CALLINGNUMBER>
 <CALLINGNUMBER ID='9'>""</CALLINGNUMBER>
 <CALLINGNUMBER ID='10'>""</CALLINGNUMBER>
 <CALLINGNUMBER ID='11'>""</CALLINGNUMBER>
 <CALLINGNUMBER ID='12'>""</CALLINGNUMBER>
 <CALLINGNUMBER ID='13'>""</CALLINGNUMBER>
 <CALLINGNUMBER ID='14'>""</CALLINGNUMBER>
 <CALLINGNUMBER ID='15'>""</CALLINGNUMBER>
</CALLINGNUMBERBS>
I need to use the Get XML Document Data function to retrieve the following the number value and the name value as a string. I understand that this has to be two separate requests. It should be something like below.
"/descendant::CALLINGNUMBERS/child::CALLINGNUMBER[attribute::ID='" + callingNumberID.toString() + "']"

So I found this great tool that let's me evaluate XPATH expressions against an XML doc. The tool is here http://www.xmlme.com/XpathTool.aspx
Now using this tool and the following XPATH expression
"descendant::SOBERSTAFF/child::CALLINGNUMBERS/child::CALLINGNUMBER[attribute::ID=1]/child::NUMBER"
against the following XML DOC...
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1" ?>
 1234567890
 JONNY
 8991234567
 JONNYHOME
 6412
 5551212
I'm able to get back the result that I want namely the value 1234567890 using the xpath query expression tool so my path is correct for the tool. Now I can put this same expression into UCCX in the Get XML Document Data step and it accepts it. But the value I get back is NULL when i run the script. Very confused.
Message was edited by: WSonnylal

Making a clipping group with a compound path

So, as of today I'm new to scripting for Illustrator, I'm using the ExtendScript Toolkit. However I'm not new to scripting my own solutions and I do have some experience with JavaScript already.
What I'm trying to do is this: For all selected Items->Duplicate selected item and make a simple clipping group with it
What I end up with visually doesn't change the picture, but gives me a lot of clipped colored areas which I then can edit in the isolated mode, allowing me far faster and better shading. Doing that by hand takes hours on some pictures, it'd take a second with a script.
The script itself already perfectly works for normal PathItems. As obvious in the title, as soon as I have to apply the same to CompundPathItems things stop working. My issue is somewhat similar to this old thread [Problem with compound path clipping], but I couldn't find a solution there because I get different behavior.
When I run the very same script that perfectly works with the normal PathItems with CompoundPathItems I get this: Error 9046: The top item in the group must be a path item to create a mask
Well that's a problem. In the GUI there is absolutely no difference between making a clipping mask with a simple path and a compound path. The reference guide has frankly not helped me with this issue at all, the only thing I learned from that is that the CompoundPathItem object doesn't have a clipping attribute, but those included PathItems do.
Here's what I have so far:
if ( selected[i].typename == "PathItem" ) {
var newGroup = doc.groupItems.add();
copy = selected[i].duplicate(newGroup,ElementPlacement.PLACEATEND);
selected[i].moveToBeginning(newGroup);
newGroup.clipped = true;
As I said, this part perfectly does what it's supposed to do for normal Paths.
For CompoundPaths I use this workaround.
if ( selected[i].typename == "CompoundPathItem" ) {
var newGroup = doc.groupItems.add();
copy = selected[i].duplicate(newGroup,ElementPlacement.PLACEATEND);
selected[i].moveToBeginning(newGroup);
compoundItems = selected[i].pathItems;
compoundIndex = compoundItems.length;
for ( f = 0; f < compoundIndex; f++ ) {compoundItems[f].clipping=true;}
var lineList = new Array(10);
for ( l = 0; l < lineList.length; l++ ) {lineList[l] = new Array( i * 10 + 50, ((i - 5) ^ 2) * 5 +50);}
newPath = app.activeDocument.pathItems.add();
newPath.setEntirePath(lineList);
newPath.moveToBeginning(newGroup);
newGroup.clipped = true;
newPath.remove();
Mind you, this workaround does work in so far that it bypasses that annoying and wrong error, and the Compound Clipping Path also works, with the only problem being that the Compound Clipping Path created like this is still displayed in its original colors in the Layers section, and is still selectable. When I lock the Compound Clipping Path I can work with it but still...
So the question is, what am I missing here? Surely there must be a proper way to do this.

app.executeMenuCommand()? That one eluded me so far, might be just the right thing. I'll definitely take a look, now just to find a ref on that, as unfortunately the official ref documents I have don't mention that command. Any place with a list of possible commands?
Ah, also of course I'm not only doing it for the isolation mode. If you care to hear the background, here is it:
As I said it's for shading the pictures I'm working on. I've iterated and tried through a bunch of techniques. For example gradient meshes on my first few real works. Now those meshes don't do well with complex shapes, which previously I alleviated by using a simple square or rectangle gradient mesh and using the original colored shape as a clipping mask. That did work, but it was a huge lot of work.
After a bunch of attempts at that I went over to using simple gradients as a background for the shape and then I'm doing the shading freehand with the blob brush tool, using a graphic style and filters to make it look right. That's better, but properly making all the clipping masks takes me much longer than anything else.
Now the problem is that the shading is not supposed to go over the lines, which is impossible to do properly without either messing up the order, or using clipping masks, hence the script. Because you know, if you use a blob brush with a strong Gaussian blur close to the lines you'll end up with stuff on both sides. If you don't start close to the line the shading won't look right if the darkest part of the shade needs to be close to the line. And that's where clipping masks do magic.
And finally here's an example how I work with the script and the result:
After I have traced a sketch, adjusted the line widths and everything to look neat I turn the paths to outline strokes and then make them into a live paint group (which would mess up the line widths, unless you turn the paths into outline strokes first).
With that live paint group it takes me just a few minutes to flat color my piece. Then I expand the live paint group, in case of doubt spend some more minutes to make compound paths from all areas I need to shade in one piece, then I select all the areas and use my script to turn them into neat clipping masks. Then I can click any area, enter the isolation mode and go up one level so I'm in the appropriate group, where I can shade freely without the problem of going over the lines.
At the end that allows me to apply a complex and in-depth shading, without wasting any time to get there.
PS: Well, I just found out that Draw Inside is pretty darn close to what I want to do, and oddly enough it produces the same visual discrepancy with compound paths that my script produces. I'll be taking a closer look at that, though my script does a little more than just the clipping mask stuff, so maybe I'll go for a hybrid solution. Whatever makes for a better workflow.

Help with linked files/ compound paths please

Hi - I am working with an illustrator file from another designer which has a compound path with linked files - when you link a new file the image is automatically resized and clipped to the path. I am able to edit it but i want to make my own from scratch and can't figure it out. I'm working with Illustrator CS6. Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks

Hi Steve - thanks for the reply - my question was a bit vague as I wasn't entirely sure what I was working with but I think your point about the new linked image scaling to the same size as the existing file has helped me understand it a bit more. What I want to know how to do is to make an entirely new file with a clipping mask that I then link an image to. I made a file with a clipping mask on the page and then chose file>place but the image I import is not being clipped (I ticked the link option when importing it) I see it working with the existing file I'm working with but I need to know how to make a new one myself.
If this makes it clearer here's what I want to do ...
I am making a banner, I have 3 flat jpegs of t-shirts that I want to place on the banner without their white background. I made a clipping mask the same shape as the outline of the t-shirt and now I want to import the jpeg so it is a linked file and is clipped by the clipping mask and so I can use it in future to import different t-shirt image in without scaling and clipping them each time.
REally appreciate your help, thanks.

Hello Creative Cloud Illustrator Community. Help Please! This is with regard to compound paths and transparencies. I have set some type on a circle and then created outlines. I then placed the outlined type on a black stroked ring which I then selected "o

Hello Creative Cloud Illustrator Community:
Help Please!
This is with regard to creating a compound path:
I have set some white type on a circle and then created outlines. I then placed the outlined type on a black stroked ring which I then selected "outlined stroke." I then put both "outlined" graphical elements on a separate solid bkg. (all 3 are on the same layer). Lastly, I then selected the top two elements and went to "make" a "compound path" (because I want the type to be the "holes" so I can see through to the background). However, the only effect I get is the white outlined type turning black (the same color as the black ring). What am i doing wrong? I can achieve the desired result with simple boxes but it won't work with a circular type path, a stroked ring and a solid bkg.
Any help on this would be greatly appreciated!
Thank You!

Thanks for the response Jacob.
Unfortunately, I tried your suggestion with no success. BTW, minus front is now Subtract. Apparently, by clicking option>subtract, it works in the same way as minus front. I tried this to no avail.
Let me reiterate please.
I have 3 graphic elements-all on the same layer:
1. Background: Gold circle with a fill and no stroke.
2. Middle: Black ring (Stroked) inside gold background circle.
3. Top: White copy set on a circular type path and placed directly on top of middle black ring.
Both the middle black ring and top type path HAVE BEEN CONVERTED TO OUTLINES.
LASTLY, I select the Middle and Top, go to Compound Paths and choose "Make" and my white copy turns to black. Wrong!
WHAT I WANT TO HAPPEN: I want the white copy to become HOLES, so the GOLD background shows through.
Any solutions would be very much appreciated!

Compound path envelope disort - urgent - please help!

So, I really need to do a "car of the year" type of badge in illustrator.
I have the flags vector (grouped) and the hallow circle created whith the shape builder tool as a compound path. (see image).
And now, the obvoius problem. The only thing I could think of to achieve this result wast the envelope disort tool - make with top object. But then, ctrl-alt-c, bag!, error:
Now, obviously I understand why I get the error, my "hallow circle" is a compound path, but how do I convert it into a compatible shape?
Or is it an other way to get the same effect? I've tried the warp option but it just doesn't have a circle, just arch and it doesn't suit my needs. It looks crapy with warp.
Please help me! I've tryed everyting I could've think of, even importing photoshop paths... how can I make this badge work? I just couln't find a way to transform the compound path into an admitted shape. And my client really needs this badge for a franchise event at the end of the month.
This is where I got by using the warp tool but it looks bad, I want lager flags and I can't do that whitout screwing the arch meshed into a crappy circle... plese help me

Art brushes won't repeat.
Look for the element that's not allowed, because brushes are an ideal way to do this.
Look for gradients, pixel art or type.
Try this art:
http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/exchange/index.cfm?event=extensionDetail&extid=1045620

Help with creating compound/Clipping Mask

Hello,
This is going to be quite hard to explain so bear with me!
I recently live traced a hand drawn pattern into illustrator pressing 'Ignore white', Underneath this I have a jpg with a texture I want to use. My aim is to cut out the shape of two letters into this pattern/texture.
My problem is that creating a compound mask on my pattern will not work because live trace has created a group with hundred of paths and compound paths from my live trace, is there anyway create a mask so that the pattern just shows up as the two letters and deletes everything around it?
I want to use this method because although I can cut the letters out of a white square covering everything in the background, the design is for a logo and I would like to export as a PNG with a transparent background.
I know there are often a few was to get a desired effect with illustrator but I just can't get my head around this one!
Thanks for any help,
Laltoofan4

Place the outline of the letters on top of the pattern. Select the pattern and the letters and choose Object > Clipping Mask > Make.

Help needed to make a compound path of text in rectangle

Hello, I hope some one will really solve my problem.
Im trying to make a compound path (text inside a rectangle). I had done this previously with success but now the whole shape and text is showing same color. Although text should be transparent! And now due to the similarity in colors i cannot see any font.
I don't know why this is happening?
I made outlines of text, ungrouped it, released their compound paths, placed all fonts and rectangle in seperated layer and then made it a compound path.
Please let me know if im following all the steps.
Also, please forgive my bad English as im not native.

adobied,
As you know now, Larry answered the Compound question while you were still typing.
We do have quite a few cross postings in this busy forum, especially at this time of day with natives present both over there and over here.
You can use Opacity Masks for a whole range of purposes, and they can act as (inverted) Clipping Masks, and also for partial/varying transparency.
In this case, the suggested use corresponds to an inverted Clipping Mask.
I quite understand your wish to have the Compound under control, and I believe that is sorted with the advice from Larry.

Help with mapping the mod_plsql path with Apache

Hi,
I need help with mapping my pl/SQL Handler path.
Currently i have an URL like this :
http://myhost.com/pls/DADUSER/PLSQLPROC?param1=123
But I need something like :
http://myhost.com/d/PLSQLPROC?param1=123
I tried to rename the "Location Handler" from "pls" to "d", works great, but it always appends my Default DAD User to the URL.
And I tried to map my PL/SQL Handler to "/" and create a DAD User called "d" and set it to default. Didn't worked...
Any help is appreciated....
Bye,
Oliver
null

Oliver,
try to use the rewrite directive or the
rewrite engine (mod_rewrite).
Please see the Online documentation for how
to do this:
http://technet.oracle.com/docs/products/ias/doc_library/1021doc_otn/comm.102/a87562/apptroub.htm
Hope it helps
-Stefan

Help with Compound Paths

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