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J
Jared.com
Participant
August 14, 2020
Answered

How to convert sublayers to layers in illustrator and keep the name

  • August 14, 2020
  • 6 replies
  • 22742 views

I am working in illustrator and have files that have 20+ layers all named specifically.  I am working with another piece of software that is integrated with illustrator that sends me back an illustrtator file.  When I open that file the layers have been compressed.

 

Instead of there being 20+ layers, there is only Layer 1.  All of my 20+ layers have been converted to sublayers.

 

Is there a way to convert Sublayers to Layers without loosing the layer names.  I need to keep all layer names the same.  That is key.  

 

Release to layers does do the conversion, but the names are lost.  They come out as layer 1, layer 2, etc.

 

Any thoughts ?

 

 

 

Correct answer brianj5208620

Don't forget to select the Parent Layer, go to the menu and click RELEASE LAYERS (SEQUENCE).  Then you can select the sublayers and drag them above the parent line.

6 replies

B
brianj5208620Correct answer
Participant
January 13, 2021

Don't forget to select the Parent Layer, go to the menu and click RELEASE LAYERS (SEQUENCE).  Then you can select the sublayers and drag them above the parent line.

    D
    Drea23306650ro5b
    Participant
    February 23, 2022

    Is there any way to keep the sublayer names in the new main layers?

      Kurt Gold
      Community Expert
      Kurt GoldCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      August 15, 2020

      It would have been pretty useful if you had mentioned your saving to .svg at the beginning of your request.

       

      However, I guess you already know that in the Save as SVG Options dialog there is an option called Preserve Illustrator Editing Capabilities.

       

      You may check that and do some tests.

      Kurt Gold
      Community Expert
      Kurt GoldCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      August 14, 2020

      Selected or highlighted main layers and sublayers are marked with a tiny triangle at the top-right corner of the layer entry. Groups and single objects don't have that label. You may check that.

       

        J
        Jared.comAuthor
        Participant
        August 14, 2020

        Thanks for showing that.  I think the issue is that I am saving my illustrator file as an .svg format.  The .svg format is what is allows me to share the file in the other collaboration software.  I can't leave it as an .ai.  What you showed me with sublayers works in .ai, but not in .svg.  It's very strange.

        Doug A Roberts
        Community Expert
        Doug A RobertsCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        August 15, 2020

        I think perhaps SVG doesn't support sublayers. If you create sublayers, save as SVG, close and reopen the file, they become groups.

          Kurt Gold
          Community Expert
          Kurt GoldCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          August 14, 2020

          They are real sublayers and dragging them above Layer 1 should definitely work.

           

          You will have to be a bit careful. Just drag until a blue horizontal line appears above Layer 1. Then release the mouse button.

          Doug A Roberts
          Community Expert
          Doug A RobertsCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          August 14, 2020

          They might be renamed groups. I don't see anything to differentiate the two in the layers panel.

          J
          Jared.comAuthor
          Participant
          August 14, 2020

          No luck with dragging those sublayers to make them into layers.  Illustrator won't allow, I keep getting the cirle with a cross through.  I don't think these are groups either.  I created a super simple new file with only 4 shapes just to test this out.  No groups.

           

          Any other thoughts

          Kurt Gold
          Community Expert
          Kurt GoldCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          August 14, 2020

          Well, then you are probably not talking about real sublayers (technically speaking).

           

          You are talking about single objects inside the main layer, aren't you?

          J
          Jared.comAuthor
          Participant
          August 14, 2020

          Here is a quick screen shot of my layers panel. I set up a quick test layout.  Layer 1 is there and then Test 1, 2, 3, 4 are all sublayers or atleast I thought they were.  Again, I want to keep the names Test 1, 2, 3, 4 and make them layers.

          or

          The other option would be if I could past into these sublayer from a another .ai drawing that is in layers.  Either would work.

           

          Kurt Gold
          Community Expert
          Kurt GoldCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          August 14, 2020

          You may select (highlight) all sublayers in the Layers palette and drag them above the main (parent) Layer 1.

            J
            Jared.comAuthor
            Participant
            August 14, 2020

            Thanks for the suggestion.  I am not able to drag them above the main parent layer.  I get a circle with a cross through it as I drag above the layer.  That would be an easy solution but it doesn't seem to work.

             

            Am I doing something wrong ? Any other idea's

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