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lynnr6365150
Participant
June 16, 2017
Question

Can not edit text in Illustrator

  • June 16, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 31070 views

I have found that the text which was created in Illustrator no longer allows me to edit. It seems like they were converted to outlines, where I can drag individual letters, but does not recognize as text. The letters are now compound paths that are a part of a group. I know that I did not outline the text after it was created. Is this a problem with how the file was saved? Or an issue with different versions or opening with a newer version? It is a lot of text (in various languages) so I am really hoping it does not have to be retyped. I would appreciate if anyone knows of a possible solution (or if not why this problem occurs so it does not happen again)!

Thanks!

      This topic has been closed for replies.

      2 replies

      Bill Silbert
      Community Expert
      Bill SilbertCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      June 16, 2017

      I can think of two possible reasons why this might have happened. The first is that several years ago Illustrator started showing the following dialog when opening an older file (either an .ai or .eps) with a newer version of the program:

      My memory of when this first came in (more than ten years ago) was that if you clicked OK without using Update the type appeared on screen both in the preview and artwork mode but when I ran some tests using CC 2017 and a fifteen year old .ai file it no longer shows even outlined text in artwork mode. It only shows an empty frame as if it had been embedded into the file. In either case the text can be "reinstated" by going through the Type Menu to Legacy Text to Update All Legacy Text.

      The other possible reason for this might be that if the file you're opening in Illustrator was originally saved as a pdf and the fonts needed for the file are not open or installed on the computer then a warning should come up that text will be converted to outlines. If it didn't come up or you missed it then the only possible way to fix this is if the original pdf still exists. If it does then make sure that all fonts are loaded.

      Monika Gause
      Community Expert
      Monika GauseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      June 16, 2017

      The other possible reason for this might be that if the file you're opening in Illustrator was originally saved as a pdf and the fonts needed for the file are not open or installed on the computer then a warning should come up that text will be converted to outlines. If it didn't come up or you missed it then the only possible way to fix this is if the original pdf still exists. If it does then make sure that all fonts are loaded.

      When a PDF is opened, text might be converted to outlines if there are ligatures. But this won't hapen just because of a missing font.

      Bill Silbert
      Community Expert
      Bill SilbertCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      June 16, 2017

      It has happened to me in the past with a warning that certain fonts had to be outlined. If ligatures were the actual reason then so be it.

        Monika Gause
        Community Expert
        Monika GauseCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        June 16, 2017

        In which version exactly has the file been created?

        Did you apply effects to the text?

        Which font?

        What kind of file exactly did you save? Which options?

        In which version exactly did you open the file?

        L
        lynnr6365150Author
        Participant
        June 17, 2017

        I'm not sure the exact version the file was created in, but I do know that it was an older version.

        I did not apply effects to the text.

        Font was Ariel.

        I saved the illustrator file, but also saved as a pdf.

        And I opened the file in CC 2017.

        Monika Gause
        Community Expert
        Monika GauseCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        June 17, 2017

        Did you open the PDF or the AI?

        You wrote "it seems like it has been converted to outlines" - can you please check that? Is the text outlined or not?

        Can you upload those files to Dropbox and post a link so that one can take a look?

        Otherwise we would need to wipe our crystal balls.

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