Illustrator Resizes on File Open

I've got a fix for this that works perfectly, at least for me (Illustrator CS6, Windows 10). You create a shortcut to launch Illustrator maximized, and then associate .ai files to open through that shortcut. Only problem is, you can't associate a file type with a shortcut, but you can get around it by using an intermediate script or batch file.

Step 1: Shortcut

Create a shortcut to the Illustrator.exe somewhere, say C:\foo\Illustrator.lnk. Right-click on the shortcut, select Properties, go to the Shortcut tab and change Run to Maximized. (You could even just do this to the shortcut in the start menu or the one Illustrator has in its Program Files directory if you want.)

Step 2: Script

Create a VBScript file somewhere, say C:\foo\Illustrator.vbs, with the following contents (change C:\foo\Illustrator.lnk to the path to the shortcut you prepared in step 1):

CreateObject("Wscript.Shell").Run """C:\foo\Illustrator.lnk"" """ & WScript.Arguments(0) & """"

(Alternatively you can create a batch file, say C:\foo\Illustrator.bat, with the following contents:

start "" "C:\foo\Illustrator.lnk" "%1"

But that flashes an ugly command window on the screen for a split second so I prefer the VBScript approach.)

Step 3: File association

Open Registry Editor (Start > Run, type regedit, OK), navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Adobe.Illustrator.16\shell\open\command (note: this might be different if you're running a different version of Illustrator), double-click "(Default)" in the right pane and set the value to this (change C:\foo\Illustrator.vbs to the path to the script you prepared in step 2):

C:\Windows\System32\wscript.exe "C:\foo\Illustrator.vbs" "%1"

Done! Now double-clicking .ai files should not un-maximize the Illustrator window. On the contrary, it forces it to be maximized even if it wasn't before. This may or may not be a problem for you.

I cant believe the amount of time this question has been sitting on the forum unanswered.

Simple fix:

Resize the window to desired size as stated before. The step that was missing is this.... are you ready for it? Immediately quit the program by clicking close (the little X). Illustrator being the amazing program it is, remembers the last setting upon exit to include all preferences, rulers, guides, and measurement units etc This is very handy if used properly.

This problem presents itself when the Illustrator art board is accidently minimized and instead of clicking maximize the user on error clicks the close button and it now becomes the default size upon reopen.

That's all I got. Hope this helps...

Still an issue in CC2014 on a Windows 7 ThinkPad. Will check CC2015 when I get home. This is ridiculous. I can't believe this is still an issue.

Drag the bottom left corner(s) of the Illustrator window to the size you desire (in my case, full screen). It should solve the issue. Good luck!

With the latest AI CC 2014 update this issue has been fixed. Please update the AI CC 2014 application using the Creative Cloud application (to update quit & re-launch CC app).

Please update the thread with your findings.

-Rama

Illustrator Team

i just tried a window sizing/opening/location utility that i have been using for a while called Winsplit Revolution.

it fixes this problem.  At least so far....

Good tip from emil emil in this thread: forums.adobe.com/message/5640644#5640644 . Modify your AI shortcut properties to set window to maximized on start. That worked for me (Win7/CS6).

I just chatted with Adobe today - it's a known problem and they're working on it. As a workaround, they suggested opening files through the interface "File open" rather than double-clicking a document. Hope this helps.

This problem has been around as long as CS itself, which means it's over a decade and going strong. It's highly unlikely the programmers and/or test groups haven't noticed it themselves. It's a sad state of affairs when a reported bug spans a generation without being addressed. Don't hold your breath on Adobe taking action on it any time soon.

I accidentally fixed this yesterday by doing something which I now realise was similar to CarlosCanto suggestion:

"maximize" your window manually, that is, grab it by the corners and drag to fill up (almost) the screen, make sure you don't get to the actual maximum since the system will maximize the window for you, that should take care of the problem.

In addition to the original issue of the window going out of maximise mode on new file open I was getting another error message "Can't open the illustration. There is not enough room for the window; increase document area and try again".  So what I did to fix this issue I manually resized the window by grabbing the corners and filling the screen.  Then I think I clicked the maximise button and I say "think" as I was doing this without the intention of fixing the original problem, I just wanted to open my file, so I can't remember exactly. Then I opened a file and my window was maximised. Tried another file, and window stayed maximised. Shut down Illustrator and reopened and tested more files using double click on file in Windows Explorer to open or opening from Illustrator. Tested again today.  Window is staying maximised and I was not getting any error messages..... victory is mine!!