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Narp
Participant
February 28, 2023
Answered

can't edit text after exporting as collected single asset

  • February 28, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 1036 views

Hi all-- I created an illustration in Illustrator, then in the Export for Screens dialog I chose to collect and export as a single asset in SVG format. Among other objects, the graphic has two separate lines of text, which are along a path.

 

Throughout the process, I've been able to triple-click anywhere on one of the lines of text to highlight the whole line (and only that) for editing text.

 

After the export, I can no longer triple-click or find any other way to highlight the line for text editing. The Properties panel indicates that the text is actually no longer recognized as text, but instead each letter is its own graphic object. I suspect that when it collected everything together to export as a single asset, it somehow turned type into objects. I tried selecting all the letters and grouping, but that doesn't make it editable text.

 

How do I restore the ability to highlight and edit text in the illustration after it's been "collected" for export?

 

Thanks so much for any help you can offer!

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Kurt Gold

I'm not quite sure about your actual workflows, but Illustrator provides an option called "Preserve Illustrator Editing Capabilities" in the SVG Export Options dialog.

 

You may want to turn that option on in order to retain proper editing when opening the exported .svg files in Illustrator.

 

2 replies

Kurt Gold
Community Expert
Kurt GoldCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
February 28, 2023

I'm not quite sure about your actual workflows, but Illustrator provides an option called "Preserve Illustrator Editing Capabilities" in the SVG Export Options dialog.

 

You may want to turn that option on in order to retain proper editing when opening the exported .svg files in Illustrator.

 

N
NarpAuthor
Participant
March 1, 2023

Excellent information, thanks very much.

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Monika GauseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 1, 2023

This saves an AI file as private data fork in your SVG.

So it makes your file twice as large.

Also: just incase you plan to edit the SVG in other apps and then move it back to Illustrator: that edit will not be present in the AI part of the file.

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Monika GauseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
February 28, 2023

After it's been outlined you can only create new text.

Don't ever bring yourself into the situation where you have to open SVG in Illustrator again. It's a one-way street.

 

Please show us the artwork

Which fonts did you use?

How did you set up the export options?

Do you still have the source file?

N
NarpAuthor
Participant
February 28, 2023

Monika, thanks so much for your reply. Sounds like I'm out of luck--bummer, but good to know so I don't keep trying to make it work! Gotcha on not opening SVG in AI--rookie mistake, I guess. Thanks again--

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