How to exclude stroke of text from a shape layer

[perk4]

Hello,

Learning Illustrator and still trying to figure this out. I only have trouble subtracting the overlapping layers when there is a stroke on the above layer. I have text with a stroke that I converted to a path. Under is a shape object from a ball (black) and I want to maintain different layers but subtract out the stoke and text from the ball. I'm attaching a picture. Any advice is appreciated.

thanks!

[Monika Gause]

You want to maintain layers means you want to keep that editable? The destructive way would be to have 2 objects: one with the fill and ne with the stroke of the text and then subtract the stroke thing from the black shape. You could use Object > path > Outline stroke to create that.

But you could also use knockout groups. That way everything would stay editable.