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jwells63
jwells63
Participant
May 9, 2017
Question

Editting an existing .AI file

  • May 9, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 2209 views

I am very new to AI and have an existing restaurant flyer in .AI of which I want to modify it.  I am an expert in many MS products but need some quick tips to get me started with modification of this AI file using AI.

When I open the file it shows as an 'image' and embedded.  I want to selection the hours of operation and revise it, how do I do that?

Thanks, so much!

Judy

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    2 replies

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 9, 2017

    You are writing "image" in quotes.

    Did you do that because there's "image" in one of Illustrator's panels or boxes? Or because you can't describe it in a different way.

    This is important, because perhaps the content of the file is a clipping mask or the like.

    jwells63
    jwells63Author
    Participant
    May 9, 2017

    When I open the .AI file is goes into isolation mode showing the whole page as one image that if I try to select something it is the whole page.

    If I exit out of isolation 22 layers show which are unlocked but the page is still shown as one image.

    Nothing is editable it is still showing the one layer as an image

    At the top there are two boxes with one showing image and one showing embed.

    I need to edit a lot of prices and content on the page but can't seem to select anything individually to edit.

    In other tools (MS tools or Visio) and files I know to use the selector arrow to highlight an item and then use the text/type to edit it but I can't get this file in AI to allow me to do that. Is there someone I can call to help me? Once it is editable I will be fine.

    Thanks, Judy

    J
    jdanek
    Inspiring
    May 9, 2017

    Make sure the Layers are unlocked.  Use the selection tools in the tools palette ( black or white arrow ) to "select" the text.  To revise text, use the Text tool ( looks like a "T" ) to highlight the text and just type away.  Unless the artwork and text are locked, unlock all ( Object > Unlock All ).  Post a screen shot of the file here.  Also, do a "Select All" ( command or control "a" ).  Then take a screen shot and post it here.  I'd be interested to see what type of file you are dealing with.

    jwells63
    jwells63Author
    Participant
    May 9, 2017

    Layers not locked.

    Objects not locked

    It seems as though the previous person made the page one image?

    Thanks, Judy

    Larry G. Schneider
    Community Expert
    Larry G. SchneiderCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 9, 2017

    Sounds like you will have to make a rectangle using the background color; place it over the already set hours of operation and then with the Type tool make a new piece of text with the revisions you want to make.

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