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akt77
Participating Frequently
April 16, 2013
Question

Illustrator CS6 will not save files. Unknown Error has occured

  • April 16, 2013
  • 38 replies
  • 198625 views

I am not able to save my files and illustrator gives the message 'An Unknown Error has occured'. In a previous discussion transparency is called out as the culprit however I am not using transparency in my document and have checked all the items. I have also tried copying the work into a new ai file however this also will not save. This is has happened to me about 5 times since I updated to CS6. Anyone else having this issue?

Update - I just closed Illustrator and lost all my work and then an Adobe update window showed up asking me to update Adobe Air. I recall an Adobe Update window appearing once before when I had problems solving. Could the Adobe update window interfere or prevent me from saving my documents?

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    38 replies

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    A
    AMCLLC
    Participant
    November 17, 2014

    I am having this same issue. Adobe Illustrator CC 17 (the most recent update) will not allow me to save. I have attempted to change the file name, revert to various legacy versions, save to my desktop or hard drive versus my external, export an EPS, etc. I have finally been able to save by expanding everything, but that is not at all helpful for an in-progress document. I do not consider it a work around in the slightest, only a solution that's better than losing your work.

    I am running 10.7.5 on a MacPro 2 x 2 GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon. All applications are up to date. I am having the same problem on my MacBook Pro, running Yosemite. Again, all applications up to date.

    Please help.

    ursuss
    ursuss
    Participant
    September 23, 2014

    I had the same problem. As it was said in some posts above, this error will happen if the document it's too complex (I had 8 big art boards that had masked images, a lot of boxes with transparency and a lot of texts). The only solution I found was to copy the objects I didn't really needed to edit in that moment, to bring them in Photoshop as smart object trough copy and paste and save the resulting file as a layered tiff (to be able to edit the smart objects later, if needed).

    Afterwards import the tiff file in illustrator and, there you go, you have a little monster that should save your work.

    Actually transforming objects from illustrator into smart object in Photoshop saved my life in many moments when I had problems with the program.

    Hope I was clear enough Good luck!

    nielc_john
    nielc_john
    Participant
    June 6, 2014

    Hi akt77,

    Newbie here in Adobe AI, also i am so embarrassed where to find that solution but based on my instincts  i didn't give up to fix this problem. Now i want to share what's going on through that particular error. Actually it's not an error, it's just a warning that you can't be able to save files because of your fonts and image that you have embedded through it Ok now, Go to Object > Expand that's all i can help you. email me when you are available

    -Nielc John

      C
      creatifolio
      Participant
      May 24, 2014

      Hello everyone. I've been having this same problem. I tried to edit a CS4 file in CS6 and save, and CS6 kept crashing and giving me this "Unknown Error." I eventually had to rebuilt the file, artboard by artboard (and save in between.) I chose not to include two layers (with either locked or hidden components) and this seemed to fix the problem. My file is now saving with no problems.

      M
      Maria1987
      Participant
      October 24, 2013

      Hi,

      Has anyone checked their links? (Window>Links) I encountered this error a lot of times within one day. Only to find out that I had this corrupted jpeg copied from a previous file. It was big to the point that it became invisible in my artboard. The only way I got to see it was through the Links side window. I remembered how corrupt the jpeg was and deleted it right away. Afterwards, Illustrator didn't have any issues! Worked like it was from Day 1.

      Have a look and see if there's something in or out of the artboard through the Links window.

      God bless.

      maddog4u
      maddog4u
      Participating Frequently
      October 9, 2013

      Recieve the unkown error, during save,

      Dont panic

      Initiate Save again but

      Save the file by turning off the Create PDF Compatible File,  feature and it saves just fine and you dont loose your work.

        egypturnash
        Community Expert
        egypturnashCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        December 3, 2013

        > Save the file by turning off the Create PDF Compatible File

        +1.

        I started getting 'unknown errors' while saving some PDF-compatible versions of files I'd created with that switch off.

        I ended up tracking it down to a path deep inside a distortion mesh that had no fill, no stroke, and nothing showing up in the appearance palette, yet was still marked as having some appearance effects applied to it; I hit the 'clear appearance' button in the appearance palette and was able to save just fine.

        Tracking method: Delete half your layers, try to save. Does it save? If yes, then undo, and delete half of the layers you just got back via the undo. If no, undo and delete half of the layers you didn't delete the first time. Repeat until it's down to one layer; open that layer up and start deleting half its objects until you're down to one object.

          J
          Jace_R
          Participant
          April 8, 2014

          I have been getting the same problem with Illustrator not letting me save .ai files (very simple files with no text or complex paths and minimal transparencies).

          After looking into this, I have figured out that it is not actually an Adobe issue, it is a problem with the printer driver, try changing the default printer on your PC/Mac and try and resave the files - I know it sounds odd, but I believe illustrator refers to your default printer and driver when saving .ai files (probably for postscript reasons especially if making the .ai files PDF compatible).

          If this works, you could then try re-installing your printer driver, but I would first try changing the defaiult printer.

          I currently work on a PC, we seem to have a problem occuring with the PPD (printer driver) after a windows update sometimes, the problem with illustrator files occurred the same time I encountered printing problems (files not sending to the printer or the app crashing), we have 9 PC's all running CS6 and only 3 were affected which use the same printer as the default, the others were not affected when trying to save files.

          I tried changing the default printer, it worked for me, so hopefully it also works for everyone else.

          I look forward to hearing how it goes for you.

          D
          dreamycreamy
          Participant
          October 8, 2013

          there's something that cant be saved or copied (i dont know why unfortunately)

          try copying the elements one by one and try saving after each design elements are copied to other page.

          You'll get to the point where, after you copied something, you can't save anymore, that's the corrupted thing. I don't know how to fix it, maybe re-do, idk.

          sorry for my english

          A
          akt77Author
          Participating Frequently
          October 8, 2013

          Thanks I will try moving pieces of the artboard over 1 by 1 the next time this happens.

          The last time I could not save in illustrator I turned off my back up harddrive and then was able to save the file. I really think there is a connection to having external devices plugged into the computer. I run my itunes through my back up harddrive and when I turn this off illustrator usually behaves.

          A
          akt77Author
          Participating Frequently
          April 16, 2013

          I've found a solution that temporarily worked.

          Reset the settings, workspace and preferences in illustrator to the defaults. This worked for a few saves but then the Unknown Error returned.

          http://digital.community-journalism.net/askanexpert/answers/my-adobe-illustrator-program-will-not-le

            A
            akt77Author
            Participating Frequently
            April 25, 2013

            Again I think I have found a temporary solution. I have a lot of image files that i've dropped/linked into my illustrator file for inspiration.  If i cut those images out then I can save. If i paste them back in then I cannot. I am sure there is a better explanation for why this is happening I just wish it didn't eat into my work time as much as it has been. This seems to happen at least once a week in different files. Anyone else have any thoughts on this issue?

            Mylenium
            Mylenium
            Legend
            April 26, 2013

            You are not providing any system info or other details. File saving errors can have all sorts of causes, including genuine technical issues with your hardware and external influences from your operating system.

            Mylenium

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