Participant

Question

Can I prevent Illustrator from saving two versions of an eps file when I check "use artboards"?

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
July 24, 2018
3 replies
7124 views

When I check the "use artboards" and save as an eps, Illustrator saves two copies the file – eg. "name.eps" and "name-01.eps". I want to be able to use the artboards feature without having to delete an extra file every time. Is there a way to disable or turn off this feature? And please don't tell me not to check the "use artboards" box--that's the method I need to use.

(And out of curiosity, why is this a feature in the first place? What is the benefit of two identical files? I'd love to be enlightened!)

S

Sasha26962947og5t

Participant

Place an additional checkmark in the "range" and then you will only have 1 file 🙂

Shadowwraith

Participant

I had this problem too, but I might have a solution. When you go to save an EPS file and you check "Use Artboards" you will also notice another radio button that says "All" or "Range" where you can specify a number. The Default is "All". If you instead select "Range" and leave the default answer of "1" or whatever Artboard you want, then you will only get one file and not 2. When you select "All", even though there is only one Artboard, the first file is significantly larger. I am not clear on the extra data that is included in the first file other than what might be outside the artboard and might comprise a pseudo-Artboard...? I don't know, all I know is that if you select Range, you get one .eps file not two.

Hopefully that helps...good luck. 😛

N

NerveBag

Participating Frequently

I mean, the poster is correct that it saves only one file -- IF you do a 'save as' and not a 'save' (and even that's not consistent, because sometimes when I do a 'save,' it does a 'replace existing file,' and sometimes it does a 'save as.' I never know which it's going to do). AND it still puts a stupid '01' at the end, so if you already have a file (like a logo, in my case) that you're saving over, the original one stays, and it makes a new one with '01' at the end. Massively confusing.

I genuinely appreciate the tip, but for me, personally, it's just as bad as the original problem. 🙂

Monika Gause

Community Expert

It does that so you don't lose anything.

When you save only one artboard, all other artboards are gone and so is everything outside artboards. Illustrator wants to prevent you from losing something accidentally.

You might argue that you are already grown up and you don't need anyone looking after you. You won't believe how many people don't save their artwork at all for days.

So you might want to set up a feature request to include a checkbox when saving an EPS with the option to not save double files.

Are you sure you actually really need an EPS? Just asking, because that file format is last century's dinosaur.

A

adelaide1977Author

Participant

It does that so you don't lose anything.

Huh. Thanks for the info. When I'm saving an eps, I already have an Illustrator file saved also. I don't use it to replace my Illustrator file. Either way, I wish it was a feature I could turn off.

And yes, I need an eps. That is what's being requested by a client who lives in another country and doesn't speak my language, so I'm not going to argue with them about it.

Monika Gause

Community Expert

Please ask for that option on: http://illustrator.uservoice.com

The engineers read it over there.

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