Can't cut compound path - 'Object-path-divide below' not working

[default9tpywek20uma]

Hi there

Having a real issue here, and not sure if I am just being stupid... I want to 'cut' the object on the screen at the points where it comes in at the sides, so that the top half is one colour and the bottom half is another colour.

I have tried everything, I know it's a compound path so the knife tool won't work, but I have even tried the drawing a line and then doing 'Object-Path-Divide Objects Below' technique which doesn't do anything.

Am I missing something completely obvious?!

Thank you wonderful team in advance!

[Monika Gause]

Check out the shapebuilder tool.

Most probably the compound path just needs to be released.

[default9tpywek20uma]

Thanks for the suggestion! How do I release it? Shapebuilder tool doesn't seem to allow me to get the results either.

[Monika Gause]

That would be weird. Shapebuilder should cut everything (need to be vector paths, of course).

To release a compound path: Object > Compound path > Release.

[Jacob Bugge]

default9,

Just to make sure: are you applying the 'Object-Path-Divide Objects Below' with only one of the cutting paths selected (at a time)?

If you select more than one path you ought to get an error message.

If it fails to work, it is possible that you have a corrupt document or corrupt preferences. Is the same happening in a new document (you can try with a simple rectangle under the cutting line)?