[JonoMarshall]

System: Dual 2.0ghz G5, OS X 10.4.8, only Illustrator CS 2 running.

I'm having an issue with Illustrator that I can re-create over and over, I was just wondering if anyone else can, or if you have any advice?

If I create two shapes and use pathfinder to subtract one shape from the other (so a square with a circle in it or similar..), then use the direct selection tool to select the inner (cut away part) shape and finally try to copy and paste this shape, the app crashes.

The crash occurs on the paste, my issue is that I'm certain I've always been able to do this before now (?!?), where the inner cut away element is copied out as a regular shape.

I'm either going mad, or somethings not quite right here. I install all OS X updates when available, but haven't changed anything else on this system for a while now!

Any help would be much appreciated!

[JonoMarshall]

More info:

If I start a new document and re-create the same kind of shape everything's fine, so I'm not going mad..!

If I direct select the cut-away part I can drag-duplicate it within the same shape, as soon as I try to copy and paste the inner part or even the whole shape (outer and inner part), the app crashes... what gives?!

Ok, also if I delete everything else from within this bit of work so I'm left with my filled shape only, no stroke/effects/etc, and try to copy and paste it, it crashes, grrrr.

I'm so confused, help!

[JonoMarshall]

Yet more info *yawn*:

I've found a simple work around, where I'm just drag-duplicating the shape then direct selecting the outer part of the shape and deleting it, to get to where I want to be, but any info on why my problem is occuring would be extrmely appreciated..!

[headbirth]

You might want to uncheck the Copy As PDF item in your preferences ... I use to occasionally have trouble with that in Illustrator. At least toy with the different settings.

[JonoMarshall]

Nope no change after playing wih the copy-options, it's bizarre, I only have basic paths/fill listed for it under layers/appearance and every new same-shape created within the same workspace works just fine, aaaargh!

I hate being in the dark...

[Chuckit]

It's hardly the most clever piece of advice I've ever offered, but have you tried reinstalling Illustrator? If something used to work and now it doesn't, it sounds like Illustrator might have junked one of its files. Kind of a shot in the dark.

[JonoMarshall]

Well, perhaps, but I'm at work, so re-installing equals time & hassle.

This is such a weird problem though as like I said, the same shape can be created in a new file and it's not a problem... I can even create a new 'similar' shape in the same workspace and cutting/copying the inner section is no problem at all..?

It seems to me that there aren't enough factors involved for this to make any sense? I can only assume that the actual pre-exisiting shape I generated managed to get corrupt somehow and is now behaving in this curious way?

I've now recreated the visuals and transplanted them across as it's time to move on, but I hate not knowing what the problem initially was?!? (Here's hoping it doesn't crop up again when such a step isn't so easy, etc.)

My next step is to open the original file on a different machine and see if there's a problem.. if there's no problem I'm re-installing, if the same porblem persists then I'm confounded and moving on/forgetting about it!