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b_stokes
Participant
Mar 19, 2018 3:39 PM UTC
Answered

Open File - Can't see document, window/tab missing

Latest version of Illustrator (Mac)

I am a long time user of Illustrator but i have never had this issue before.

When i open a file I can see the layers window, etc but not the actual file.
There is no window or tab for the file, just the recent files window. I can actually double click the screen and i get an isolated view but can't see anything change but the layers window.If i close Illustrator and reopen the file it shows up fine.
Not a huge issue at all but just wanted to see if someone else had this problem and whether it was related to the recent files window or something else.
Since updating to 22.1 last week i have all kinds of graphics card and/or display issues. The beta 22.0.2 worked great and i should have stuck with it.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks.

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    RepulseMonkeyCorrect answer
    Participating Frequently
    Apr 9, 2018 8:21 AM UTC

    I have something similar, when I open AI first time, and click on a recent document to open – sometimes I don't see any tabs or the actual documents.  I have to go to 'Window', 'Arrange' and chnage the mode to 'Flaot in windows' to see the documents.  Then I have to 'Consilidate all in windows' to get back to a tabbed arrangement.  Never had it before.

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    58 replies

    krystall72219454
    krystall72219454
    Participant
    Jul 17, 2024 3:53 PM UTC

    2024 and still an issue - you can either just move the whole window a little by clicking up in the header and wiggle it around a little, makes it suddenly appear OR you can go into settings and under General, turn OFF "Show The Home Screen When No Documents Are Open" - that's what finally made it stop for me. Definitely some sort of glitch with the home screen; get on that, Adobe.

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    Anubhav M
    Community Manager
    Anubhav MCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    Jul 17, 2024 5:08 PM UTC

    Hello @krystall72219454,

    We understand that encountering technical issues can be frustrating. Would you mind sharing some more details, like the exact version of the OS/Illustrator and a screen recording of the problem (https://adobe.ly/4d0bFrm), so we can investigate this further?


    Looking forward to hearing from you.

     

    Thanks,

    Anubhav

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    Madman without a box
    Participant
    Nov 29, 2022 5:34 PM UTC

    Well, it's 2022 and this issue persists (:

     

    Not a big deal, but kind of annoying when it happens two or three times on a single day.

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    Vincent5FE2
    Participant
    Apr 4, 2021 5:47 AM UTC

    View/CPU preview 

    Try this, it's work for me. wishes you luck

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    jamiem15304448
    Participant
    Sep 12, 2019 9:58 AM UTC

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    delli72561720
    delli72561720
    Participating Frequently
    Feb 20, 2020 12:07 AM UTC

    Just update to 2020 yesterday and still see the problem.

    Float in Window partly work because it shows the working area but when try to dock it back to the UI, it disappeared again! Adobe, are you sure you are fixing this? it seems like your latest version just makes it worse.

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    elizabethl20354655
    elizabethl20354655
    Participant
    May 7, 2019 9:37 PM UTC

    Thank you so much!

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    charbutch
    Participant
    Mar 29, 2019 10:24 AM UTC

    Even when I 'arrange' > 'float in window' this does not solve the problem as everyone has already stated.

    I then choose 'consolidate all windows' and this brings me right back to the original problem, all my windows disappear again. Has this happened to anyone else?

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    Srishti_Bali
    Srishti_Bali
    Legend
    Apr 2, 2019 9:23 PM UTC

    Hi there,

    We are extremely sorry about this. As I mentioned above, I've forwarded it to the product team. I'd also request you and others to upvote this issue here: files not opening – Adobe Illustrator Feedback. Please stay tuned for updates, and thanks in advance for your patience.

    Regards,

    Srishti

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    DavidMatos
    DavidMatos
    Inspiring
    Mar 21, 2019 3:06 PM UTC

    Same here. Good thing Adobe cares with its users and is always so efficient in addressing all the time-consuming problems they create to everyone.

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    Srishti_Bali
    Srishti_Bali
    Legend
    Mar 28, 2019 5:00 PM UTC

    Hi David,

    We are extremely sorry to hear about this. This issue has already been reported to our engineering team. I would request you to please share feedback on Adobe Illustrator Feedback and if you have already reported it, please share the uservoice link.

    Regards,

    Srishti

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    Anonymous
    Jan 22, 2019 11:17 AM UTC

    Hi, I had the same problem whereby I open files but nothing is visible unless I go Windows > Arrange > Float in Window or switch viewer to Full-Screen Mode with Menu Bar.

    I found a more permanent workaround so it works like before without open documents "not visible".

    Go to Preferences > General and untick "Show the Home Screen When No Documents Are Open"

    It seems to reset everything and now illustrator works as before.

    Mac. OSX 10.13.6 | Illustrator 23.01

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    OwlBoyDotCom
    OwlBoyDotCom
    Participant
    Jan 15, 2019 12:11 AM UTC

    This is still happening.

    Why?

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      Ambrosial_discoverer5DE1
      Ambrosial_discoverer5DE1
      Participant
      Jan 2, 2019 6:10 PM UTC

      I have

      MacOS Mojave 10.14.2 (18C54) and the same issue with illustrator, the consolidate thing disappears again all windows, I used the:

      - Open Illustrator and uncheck Application frame(Window > Application Frame

      Is a good work around for this,

      Yiset

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        kwatson-RC
        kwatson-RC
        Participant
        Jan 3, 2019 2:32 PM UTC

        macOS Sierra v10.12.6 (16G1710) using Illustrator 23.0.1

        The float in windows options shows the file and consolidation makes it disappear again. The Application Frame uncheck works as well, but the Open File window is still open and floating over my file!

        Beyond frustrating. Saw on another chat that someone mention and update to Adobe Illustrator v23.0.2, but I don't have access to the update at this time.

        HELP!!

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        Monika Gause
        Community Expert
        Monika GauseCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        Jan 3, 2019 2:41 PM UTC

        kwatson-RC  schrieb

        macOS Sierra v10.12.6 (16G1710) using Illustrator 23.0.1

        The float in windows options shows the file and consolidation makes it disappear again. The Application Frame uncheck works as well, but the Open File window is still open and floating over my file!

        Beyond frustrating. Saw on another chat that someone mention and update to Adobe Illustrator v23.0.2, but I don't have access to the update at this time.

        HELP!!

        This shouldn't happen on Sierra.

        Did it ever work correctly?

        Have you already tried rebuilding the preferences?

        When was your last computer restart?

        Any specific additional hardware attached (second display, tablet ...)

        What else is currently running on your computer? Please list everything.

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