My ai Files have no paths or anchor points when i open them again!?

[kelsangk66]

Recently i've purchased some patterns and designs for adobe illustrator, so to free up some space i deleted a lot and now when i open ai files in  illustrator they dont have paths or anchor points!? they looks just like a jpeg files, can anyone tell me how i've messed this up? it will be a great help!

Thank you,

Kelsang.

[Sebastian Bleak]

Hi Kelsang

When opening the Ai Files, have you tried using the Direct Selection tool to select or move some of the elements?

You can switch to "Outline Mode" to view/confirm if the paths of your artwork are present.

Comm/Ctrl + Y = Outline Mode

I'd also make sure my edges were showing

Hope this helps!

[kelsangk66]

Hi Sebastian Bleak,

Thanks for the Help! yes i tried with direct selection and i also checked outline mode CMD+Y but they just dont have paths anymore! before i have no problem at all it all started yesterday after i deleted some files to free up space.

ah i also deactivated icloud, can this be the problem?

[John Mensinger]

You're not telling us everything.

Your first screen capture shows the file name "stars.ai," but the second one shows "untitled-6".

If you simply re-opened stars.ai, it would show "stars.ai" again, and you'd again have edit-able paths. As doug already rightly observed, you've started a new file and placed stars.ai on the artboard. Just open stars.ai.

[kelsangk66]

Sorry! my mistake! i have opened a different file with a  similar image. when i double click the file and opened it, it has no problem, before i was just dragging the file into illustrator and that was the result.

ThankS!

Kelsang.

[MBorowiec]

Could You provide screenshot's?

I assume, there is some clipping paths, or ju just have linked images/element's and not embed ones, that causes laking of elements.

[kelsangk66]

Hi MBoroviec, Thanks for the help!

For example i created this star shape in illustrator cc, as you can see this have paths.

then i saved it in downloads and opened it again and this is what i get.

[Doug A Roberts]

it looks there like you've placed the first AI file inside a new one.

[Ton Frederiks]

Are you sure it's the same file?

One is named stars.ai and the othe Unbenannt-6.

Did you place or open the stars file?

Have a look in the Links panel to see if it is placed.

[Monika Gause]

In case the patterns are applied to objects, you won't see their paths.

Please open the layers panel and the appearance panel to examine your files.

Do read the documentation about both panels. They are important and you need to know how they both work.

How to use layers in Illustrator

How to adjust appearance attributes in Illustrator