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jessicar67402057
Participant
November 10, 2016
Answered

Illustrator error "An unknown error has occurred"

  • November 10, 2016
  • 45 replies
  • 190420 views

I am working in an .ai file that I have saved frequently before. Suddenly when I try to save the file, I get an error that reads "an unknown error has occurred" and the file won't save at all, anywhere. I have not seen this error message before and have had no issues opening or saving the file up until this point.

I need to have the file as an .ai file (not .eps or any other format). I am working in Illustrator CC (2015.3) and using macOS Sierra.

    Correct answer Ashutosh_Mishra

    Hi All,

     

    Sorry to hear about this experience. In addition to the suggestions given in earlier responses, we'd recommend you to update the app to the latest version. Steps are shared here.

     

    If the issue still persist, you could check a few more things:

    1. Is the file being saved on network drive/shared folder/external HDD? If yes, try saving it locally & see if it helps.
    2. Is the issue related to a specific file? If yes, please follow the steps shared in this help article (https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/kb/troubleshoot-file-issues.html) to troubleshoot file related issues. You may also try copy-pasting the content to a new file & see if that works.

     

    If nothing works, please try the suggestions given in this community post (https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator/resolve-slow-performance-and-unexpected-behaviors-in-illustrator/td-p/11561981) & let us know how it goes.

     

    Regards,

    Ashutosh

    45 replies

    Show previous replies
    cmealo17
    cmealo17
    Participant
    January 24, 2017

    i have windows 10 surface book and there is one layer that, when I include it in the file, I can't save 'Unknown Error'. I need to check if it is only when locked, not sure if unlocking will fix it. I even redrew a whole new vector and brought it in and it had the problem again! But none of the other layers cause issue. Its super bizarre.

    I tried updating to the new update that came out but that just broke AI completely. Idk what the issue is as the file opens and save fine on my mac and my windows 7 desktop thought they both have earlier cc versions.

    G
    GHM-Prop
    Participant
    January 10, 2017

    I just ran the 2017.0.1 update and it appears my issue is fixed. YMMV.

    null.
    null.
    Participant
    January 13, 2017

    Confirmed. The 2017.0.1 update fixed the issue for me too.

    saras38277090
    saras38277090
    Participant
    January 10, 2017

    I'm also having this issue, and it also seems to have something to do with hidden/locked layers for me.  Issue started happening when I upgraded to CC2017.  I'm on a Mac, running El Capitan.

    G
    GHM-Prop
    Participant
    January 9, 2017

    I've got the same issue and although I can't identify why it's happening, I can say it is definitely due to a specific object. If I delete the object, the problem goes away. I've been playing with spot colors and changing other aspects to see what could be the offending attribute, but no luck yet. The object is just a simple group of vector shapes, nothing linked, no overlapping spot colors with transparency or anything. Haven't figured it out yet. Will update this if I figure it out.

    cmealo17
    cmealo17
    Participant
    January 24, 2017

    I am wondering if the issue is being caused by objects created via shape builder... I have 100 layers with other objects and I am only having the 'Unknown Error' issue if I include this one layer... The only thing I can think is that its a shape builder shape because I believe its the only layer I used shape builder for anything... I even created a new file, redrew the whole object and pasted it to an entirely new layer in a different version of the file and somehow it still said 'Unknown Error' I was beyond POed... I redrew the whole thing lol. The only unique thing about that layer that comes to mind is that i used shape builder... I tried updating to the newest AI 2017 patch but that broke the software entirely and I had to role back. Extremely frustrating but I'm going to test the shape builder theory out tonight after work.

    Vonster
    Community Expert
    VonsterCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 31, 2017

    I ran into this tonight at 11:06 pm it's now 1:14 am and I figured out what is causing it but not how to resolve or fix it.

    I go to save and get the message 'An unknown error has occurred.'

    I tried to save as. Same thing happened. Copied artwork out into new file. Same thing happened. Tried to rebuild file and same thing happened.

    I selected all my paths which had a graphic style applied to them and make them no fill no stroke, than just manually colored the stroke instead of using my graphic style and the file saved and didn't give me the error.

    So I tried all my other graphic styles (Which I've been using for years just fine) and even if it wasn't the new style but my old dependable ones the file would error out and not save.

    So I think Graphic Styles has become corrupt? I think? I don't know, I can't get any Adobe engineer to help me. The moderators on the forum won't be able to address it, it's clearly a new bug. I'm using 21.0.0 CC 2017.

    So now I can't use Graphic Styles, great. And I pay for this type of creative experience. Wonderful.

    I've wasted three hours tonight, at my studio rate that is six months CC subscription I should get comped by Adobe. Hell they don't even pay their beta testers and I isolated the problem for them.

    Here endeth my rant.

    Creative Director / IllustratorPPLLUVProcess.com
      I
      isabellaw51576910
      Participating Frequently
      January 8, 2017

      I'm having the same problem and it is soo frustrating..

      running illustrator cc 2017 on a 2015 macbook pro, Sierra 10.12.2

      Everytime i go to save it come up with 'an unknown error has occured' and there seems to be no particular cause-effect correlation..

      I've only recently gotten back into working with illustrator and the first time it didn't work i managed to fix it by making everything 100% opacity (which sucks because thats a whole heap of work i now have to redo), which worked even while some layers were locked or hidden.. The second time it only worked after i deleted a jpg that was in there for reference and the third time neither fix would work and it only saved after i unlocked and unhid everything.

      It seems like a completely random problem but possibly the most annoying and frustrating one...

      C'mon adobe - how haven't you fixed this yet?

      K
      kcrossley
      Inspiring
      January 8, 2017

      I too am having this problem with Adobe Illustrator CC 2017 v21.0.0 running on El Capitan 10.11.6. For me, the problem is not locked layers, but hidden layers. The ONLY way I've been able to save my Illustrator document is by unhiding ALL the layers.

      [UPDATE]

      It appears that there was an issue with one of my layers. Once I deleted that layer everything saved fine. Not sure what was triggering the layer problem, unless there were linked items, which was mentioned previously, that I was unaware of.

      F
      FocolPoint
      Participant
      December 22, 2016

      I have only one layer. I created a new document and moved all the elements and that didn't save either. HELP

      G
      Gracesumm
      Participant
      December 16, 2016

      Same issue was happening to me. I just coped all of the work in my file (command A) and then pasted it in a new document and then it would save. Works well only if you didnt have your own guides.

        null.
        null.
        Participant
        December 6, 2016

        I'm having the same exact issue, only with CC2017 on Windows 7. In my case, when a certain layer is locked, it throws the unknown error when saving. Once that layer is unlocked, save works ok. Also, I've found the behavior is consistent no matter where that layer is in the stack. In my sample file, the suspect layer only has 2 polygons. I hope Adobe can fix this quickly.

        johnt1381938
        johnt1381938
        Participant
        December 2, 2016

        The same issue happened to me when I tried to save with Illustrator CC 2017.

        After testing, it seemed to be an issue with locked or hidden layers.

        Just unlock and make all layers visible and then it'll save for you like normal.

          C
          caryst84992742
          Participating Frequently
          December 2, 2016

          Thanks for this, useful to know

          C
          caryst84992742
          Participating Frequently
          November 15, 2016

          I am having this problem too, running AI CC2017 / El Capitain 10.11.6.

          I was able to save the file if saved down as CS6, which seemed preferable to losing my work... but not ideal!

          Monika Gause
          Community Expert
          Monika GauseCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          November 15, 2016

          caryst84992742 schrieb:

          I am having this problem too, running AI CC2017 / El Capitain 10.11.6.

          I was able to save the file if saved down as CS6, which seemed preferable to losing my work... but not ideal!

          What about hidden/locked layers?

          C
          caryst84992742
          Participating Frequently
          November 15, 2016

          I'm not sure to be honest. The image potentially did have some layers turned off, but I didn't test this as hadn't known it was the probable cause

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