Need help with 3D repousee (path/sub path help)

Question

i've ran out of options.  i've looked and searched everywhere so i'm publicly begging for help.  ok, here's the situation... my parents went away on a weeks vacation   (just a joke for those of us in our 30's).
i made 2 text layers.  on a capital B and on the left side is a P (flipped horizontally).  i created a work path for each of the letters and then combined them both so that the stem of the B and P are shared (the whole object is one item-- it's all continuous.  no gaps, just 3 holes that need to be punched out.
so, i managed to create the work path, but most of the time the "internal constraints" option isn't available.  i read everywhere about how "sub paths" are used to signify where the object is to be punched through; however, i haven't found a link anywhere that says how to create a sub path in Photoshop (i found a couple of links on how to do this in Illustrator, but i don't have Illustrator).  i did finally manage to create the outer path as a single path and then combined the 3 separate holes as one object and pasted it inside this same path (i copied the inner holes into the outer path layer of this object).
FYI, in case you need to know this, the 3 holes where not physically connected, but they were all in on path layer (so i guess you could call them grouped together).  i tried every combination i could think of-- copying one path to a new path layer with each hole on their own path layer (and many other probably ridiculous combinations) with no luck.
i am extremely comfortable in Photoshop and know my way around it well; but, i'm not that proficient in using Adobe's vector options (i learned my vector graphics in Macromedia Freehand and haven't yet converted to Illustrator; nor do i have Freehand installed either).  i even used to create 3D solid models in ACAD and 3D Studio Max and others, but alas, don't have it.  so, i would like to start improving my Adobe path skills so that i can quit yelling and picking fights with my computer (she wins everytime).  a special thanks to anyone who made it this far; you are indeed a gentleman/woman and a scholar!

Answer 1

i forgot to mention, i also tried to convert the object (the outer path and the 3 separate holes) to a shape layer, but once again after going to "repousee" the "internal constraints" option is grayed (greyed) out.