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Stella1251
Known Participant
May 31, 2011
Answered

the file is an unknown format and cannot be opened (.ai file)

  • May 31, 2011
  • 12 replies
  • 157312 views

Hi. I am on XP and working with AI CS4.

I cannot open an Illustrator file that I created last year. I did NOT have this file emailed to me. I just need to make a couple edits and reprint it.

This is what I have tried to do:

I tried zipping the file and opening it.

I tried Ctrl + Shift + Alt clicking on Open when trying to open the file fro the Open dialog box.

I tried copying & pasting the file to another directory to open it.

I tried using another version of Illustrator, 10.

I tried right clicking and selecting Open With Illustrator.

I found another post on this topic that mentions to enable content recovery mode:

http://forums.adobe.com/message/2560449#2560449

It is just here, http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/500/cpsid_50031.html it says it can be risky and I am afraid to damage other Illustrator files. There are a lot on the system.

I was just wondering if there was another way. I do not have a backup of this file (didn't think it was important). I may have a jpg, but I'd like the actual Illustrator file to work with if possible.

Thank you.

    Correct answer tates92077876

    I found this thread in 2022 for this same issue, the "correct answer" of putting into InDesign did not work for me.

    What DID  work, was (with a copy of the file) I simply changed it from a .ai to a .svg in file explorer, accepted the warning, then the new .svg file opened up in illustrator for me. Even the layers were preserved under a parent layer. Hope this helps if anyone else encounters this again.

    12 replies

    Show previous replies
    suvashk62237996
    suvashk62237996
    New Participant
    November 16, 2016

    Hello Everyone+Stella,

    I faced the same problem.  At first I saved in AI format and when I was trying to open it that was showing the problem.

    The solution is: Just save the file in EPS format and it is done !  Now it is opening smoothly. Thanks everyone.

    Jacob Bugge
    Community Expert
    Jacob BuggeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 31, 2011

    Stella,

    Did you try to create a new document and File>Place the damamged file in it, to see what may be recovered that way?

    Any risk only applies to the file you are changing; you may work on a copy.

      S
      Stella1251Author
      Known Participant
      May 31, 2011

      Hi Jacob - actually yes I did try that one too. I knew I was missing one! It said it is in a format in which the file cannot be placed.

      And thanks I will try to work on a copy from my C drive. I normally work on another drive for artwork like this. I'll see what happens.....ahh

      S
      Stella1251Author
      Known Participant
      May 31, 2011

      Thank you for your reply too, Jacob. I changed the AI Prefs file and enabled content recovery. I then tried to open the file by starting up Illustrator, going to File>Open>path to file> Select file> Ctrl + Shift + Alt click Open. It still would not open the file, it said the same thing about being an unknown format.

      In the Prefs file I have this now:

      }
      /aiFileFormat {
      /enableATEReadRecovery 0
      /enableContentRecovery 1
      /clipboardPSLevel 3
      /enableATEWriteRecovery 0
      /PDFCompatibility 1
      /cmykPostScript 1
      }

      I saved the file, but took the extension out.

      I was not able to do Step 2 from this link: http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/500/cpsid_50032.html

      I do not see a recovered file.

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