" To join, you must select two open endpoints." Popup.

It's simple. The two endpoints are too close together. Move them apart slightly, then select them and they will join okay.

http://www.andreahall.co.uik

You might be selecting a third invisible endpoint.  If you select ONLY the two endpoints of the open curves then you will not have a problem.  No need to release compound paths if the path is open and it is in fact an open endpoint.

This thread is over 2.5 years old. The problem is moot in current version, because it is (finally) not necessary to select endpoints to join paths at their nearest endpoints.

JET

@JETalmage, This thread is still helpful, 1. Not everyone have latest versions. 2. This was helpful for me, since his situation was about trying to connect 2 compound paths together, which woin't work unless you right click and release the compound path, which he stated earlier in the thread.

This thread is over 5.5 years old and it is STILL helpful. I love that aljCharlie ended up finding the solution for himself. So to repeat, (and this is particularly pertinent when dealing with figures created by outlining type fonts) Before joining points you must select each object with the direct selection tool and release compound paths. Once both objects have been released you can proceed with joining points.

Absolutely.

The thread is still important because this has been and remains an interface nuisance since Adobe Illustrator 88 (yes, that's as in 1988).

It's crazily overdue to be cleaned up.

There are still situations when you want to select 2 endpoints and join them.

They're not in different groups; they're not in compound paths; and there are no errant loose points in play.

But the app still steadfastly refuses to join them and gives the age-old cryptic error message about groups and endpoints.

I'm sure there's a logical answer, but it's not self evident to users and results in many, many cases of confusion and frustration.

After 25 yrs of using Illustrator, this is still one of the most common problems I see people report.

I should add a bit of help here:

In some cases (for example when you convert type to paths), you'll get paths that are part of a compound path.

But, when you go to the menu:

Object > Compound Path,

the Release Compound Path option is grayed out.

However, if you try to Make a compound path with it, Illustrator will report that the path is already part of a compound path.

Regardless of the answer (I'm sure there is one), this is an unnecessarily confusing scenario and it would be good if Adobe would clean it up.

(I should also add that, most times this happens, it's actually something I've overlooked - here's my checklist for troubleshooting this issue:

1. Unlock all target paths.

2. Locate and remove stray points that are not part of the target path.
3. "Release compound paths" on target paths  (Object > Compound Path > Release)           

4. Ungroup target paths.

5. If Illustrator reports that the path is not compound, but you suspect it really is, make sure you're selecting all of the paths that might be part of the compound shape.

Hope this helps someone.)

Cheers

aljCharlie said: "Never mind. I found my answer by myself. I have to right click on the path itself with the black arrow head and choose release compound path. "

Yes!  December of 2015 and this answer helped me solve that most frustrating problem in Illustrator CS6.  I actually had to turn both into compound paths, then release compound path.  Then they joined no problem.

Thanks aljCharlie!

Thanks Nicole36880979, I did what you suggested (make compound path and then release again) and then it finally worked!

I just got this error.  It had nothing to do with compound paths as mine was a very simple shape.  The problem for me was invisible stray anchors floating in space at the same point as my two target points.  I only could see them by selecting each of my true anchor points and moving them out of the way (to the same spot) and joining them there.  By dragging the selection box over the original area I finally saw the "invisible" anchor.  Deleted that and then moved my joined corner back to exactly where it was by typing the coordinates in manually.

Object > Path > Clean Up... > Delete Stray Points

May save you some time in the future.

Thanks, Nicoleb36880979 and aljCharlie. I encountered this error in Ai CC 2015 release, and the only solution presented here that worked for me was making each into a compound path, and then releasing them.

Thank you bsabiston1 ! This was my problem. None of the above like compound path etc... And Thanks to Ton Frederiks for the easy way to delete stray points. (Object > Path > Clean Up... > Delete Stray Points)