Error while using scissors tool

[ajitgeorge12]

Hi, I have drawn an image having concentric circles and divided the circle into a number parts using radaii. Now I need to delete portions of the concentric circles that fall between some of the radaii. When I try using the Scissors tool and mark a point I get the error message "how to manage error "Please use sissors on a segment or an anchor point (but not on an endpoint) of a path".

Is there any setting I need to change? If so, how do I do it?

Can someone please guide me on how to use the Sissors tool or any other tool to achieve this?
I've uploaded the file I was working on.

Thanks. 

[Jacob Bugge]

George,

How were the circles divided?

Have you View>Smart Guides ticked?

Is it Sunday where you are?

A screenshot with the circle part in question selected, also showing it in the expanded Layers palette, and maybe the Appearance palette, might help helpers help you.

[ajitgeorge12]

Hi Jacob,

Thanks for responding. 

The radial lines were drawn by keeping the same angle from the previous line. 

I first drew one line offset from the 90 degree line at an offset of about 2.5 degrees and then using the copy function and repeated the operation. 

Yes, Smart Guides is ticked. 

It’s Sunday here. 

There is only one layer. I'm unable to select part of the circle. It tends to select a box and clears everything within it. And that too is not consistant. Sometimes I get an error message saying "Please use sissors on a segment or an anchor point (but not on an endpoint) of a path" and I'm unable to select anything.

Regards,

Ajit

[Jacob Bugge]

Ajit,

I meant the actual dividing. If you used Object>Path>Divide Objects Below or Pathfinder>Divide or something similer, you would get closed paths (Grouped in the latter case).

I believe a screenshot may be needed.

[ajitgeorge12]

Jacob, I used the line tool to draw the radial lines. I drew a line and then set it's length and angle under properties.

I have not grouped any lines.

How do I send you a screenshot? I don't see an option anymore to attach one. I did find an option when I first posted and had attached a screenshot.

Thanks for your help.

Ajit

[federico platon]

When you write a reply, on the top bar there are 14 icons, the fourth from right allows attaching a screenshot, an image or graphic to your message. 

[federico platon]

If you have used Pathfinder>Divide on selected circles and radii. as Jacob suggests, you have divided them in closed paths, small areas, that are grouped. 

Ungroup them and use the Direct Selection tool to remove those segments you wish. (Ungroup before is not required then)

Keep in mind, lines shared by two touching small portions are double, one is the left, yop,...side of a portion and another is the right, bottom,... side of the next portion or area.

[ajitgeorge12]

Thanks Federico. I used the line tool to draw the radii and not the Pathfinder tool.

I'll nevertheless try to Ungroup and see if it works.

Attaching a screenshot of the error message I'm getting.

Ajit

[federico platon]

That's not what I, we, are telling you. Of course radii are drawn using the Line tool (or the Pen tool).

(Scissor tool just cuts, splits a path by half leaving two end points overlapping, one is kept seleected).

I thought you were selecting BOTH, the circles and radii to split the circles into sectors, using Pathfinder>Divide, and then you were removing some sectors.

If you do not divide the circles, you have to use the scissors, eye-sharped on the circunferences (circle paths).

You could also select the radii and lock them, or selct them and Convert to guides.

BUT unless you have to cut just a few sectors, it's better, more precise, and faster to divide the circles as explained and them remove those sectors you wish.

Other very good option is Jacob's suggestion of using the Shape Builder tool.

[Jacob Bugge]

Ajit,

How about your just using the Shape Builder Tool for everything after drawing the circles/lines?

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/creating-shapes-shape-builder-tool.html
https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/atv/cs5-tutorials/creating-complex-art-with-the-shape-builder-to...

[ajitgeorge12]

Thanks Jacob. I'll try that.

Appreciate your being so helpful to all who post queries!

[Jacob Bugge]

You are welcome, Ajit.

I hope you will post your findings.