Participating Frequently

Answered

"You must click on a non-compound, non masking path to create text along a path" while using Type

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
August 17, 2020
7 replies
126981 views

Hey. I've already created a shape in illustrator, then I went to select the type along a path tool and the message "You must click on a non-compound, non masking path to create text along a path" I'm not sure what else I should be clicking on so that I can use the tool.

Correct answer aaprtclr

I found this thread while experiencing this issue. Discovered solution and hope this helps:

It is counterintuitive to me when you are trying to fill a shape with text but ...

rather than in the shape area, click on the path itself

and you will get what you want – placeholder text inside your shape/path

G

Girish36650059hkok

Participant

you can check this : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbtZ9yCD-cg&ab_channel=MikePickettDesignCo.

Monika Gause

Community Expert

The video does not really answer the question (which has been answered 4 years ago anyway)

D

drotar

Inspiring

Simple fix. When you add the Area Type Tool to the shape you created simply TOUCH the anchor point of the shape and the text will automatically fill in. I promise!

Monika Gause

Community Expert

Simple fix. When you add the Area Type Tool to the shape you created simply TOUCH the anchor point of the shape and the text will automatically fill in. I promise!

By @drotar

This thread is about compound paths. And no, they won't magically fill when touched with the area text tool.

esthedik

Participating Frequently

If anyone is still having issues, I just figured out why it wasn't working for me. I used the "line" tool rather than the "pen" tool and illustrator will make "lines" or "paths" depending on the respective tool used. This will affect the ability of the "type on path" tool.

I had to select the "pen" tool and click an anchor point on the "line" then make another anchor point somewhere else. I then deleted the new anchor point I just made to revert back to my original design. This will convert your "lines" to "paths".

I'm sure there is a better way to do this but this was a quick fix and it worked for me so hopefully it will help.

Good luck!

Monika Gause

Community Expert

If anyone is still having issues, I just figured out why it wasn't working for me. I used the "line" tool rather than the "pen" tool

I had to select the "pen" tool and click an anchor point on the "line" then make another anchor point somewhere else. I then deleted the new anchor point I just made to revert back to my original design. This will convert your "lines" to "paths".

By @esthedik

The text on a path tool as well as the text tool does not care whether the line is a live shape or a path.

Converting them works with Object > Shape > Convert to path

G

GraceBedford

Participant

I found I was clicking the shape with the type area tool, however after trying these suggestions nothing worked even for a simple circle. It was just a case of clicking on the path not overall shape.

Ashutosh_Mishra

Inspiring

Hi Jordan,

Thanks for reaching out. In addition to the suggestions given above by Ton & Peter, I'd request checking out this help article to know more about compound path. Hope it helps.

Regards,

Ashutosh

tromboniator

Community Expert

With the path selected, go to the Object menu at the top of the screen. Click on that, then drop down near the bottom to Compound Path. "Release" will be one of the options that appears. Click on that.

Peter