Can't delete the anchor-point...?

[Nathan Winder]

I keep getting this message on ceratin anchors, "Can't delete the anchor-point. Please use the delete anchor-point tool on an anchor of a path." I am useing the delete anchor tool (pen with a - sign) and I am clicking on an ancor point, I know because I enabled smart guides (ctrl+u). It appears that it is not letting me remove anchors that will dramaticaly change the shape, it is allowing me to delete less altering anchors. I am not changeing the shape in a way that would casue overlaping or anything of that nature, and even if I was I don't understand why Illustrator would stop me. Please someone help me out, this is getting very frustrating. Also I am havein a lot of trouble with the conversion tool, most the time it just wont convert anything.

Im running Win XP if that might have anything to do with it.

Thanks for your help, Nathan

[Nathan Winder]

After wading through the layers and component parts I discovered the problem. The object I was trying to edit was not a path point, it was a mesh point. I had applied a mesh which I latter removed, however some of the mesh points remained. This leads me to another question, once I mesh is applied how do you remove it. Also why do meshes cause so much trouble.

Forever learning, Nathan

[BobHill]

Nathan,

You can delete a Mesh point by clicking on it with the Mesh tool curser and hitting Delete. Of course the Mesh grid line will also delete as will all Mesh points along that Mesh grid line, but you can do it. You can also use the Direct Selection tool to click on a Mesh point. It'll select the point and you can manipulate it or delete it using that as well, but the whole line again will delete, as it does with the mesh tool.

Bob Bob

[B. Philippus]

Nathan:

How about breaking the mesh out originally onto its own layer, then deleting the whole layer if need be...

Bert