cant import my librarys! help!

[MimiF]

i tried to import a library to my librarys panel, and i got an error message "the library you're trying to import did'nt work. The file might be corrupted." but im sure it isnt.

so then i tried as a workaround to load them using windows>swatch libraries>other library, dragging and dropping into my swatches panel and choosing the "add selected Swatches and Color Groups to my current library."  but my library panel froze and only worked when i restarted illustrator.

is there a way to import my library directly into the library panel, or is there a workaround that will do it?

Please help!!😔

Thanks!

[MimiF]

im running illustrator v. 28.5 on a windows 11 pc

[Ton Frederiks]

I am not sure what you are exactly doing. Are you talking about libraries like Swatches, Brushes, Symbols or the Creative Cloud Libraries from Window > Libraries?

[MimiF]

im trying to load a swatch library someone sent me

[Bobby Henderson]

Is the file the person sent you a .ACB file? If so, you should be able to copy it into the following folder:
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator 2024\Presets\en_US\Swatches\Color Books

If it's a user-defined swatch (.ASE File), it might be better to put a copy in the following folder:
C:\Users\Your User Name\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator 28 Settings\en_US\x64\Swatches

[MimiF]

Im sorry i cant find that folder on my pc???😕

[MimiF]

its a .ase file

[Ton Frederiks]

If it is an .ase file, don't try to get it into a library, but try to load it from the Swatches panel.

Open Swatch Library > Other Library...

[MimiF]

monika, that wont work. ton, i can do that but i want to add it to my own cc library. as a workaround, ill make a shape, click on a color, and click the plus sign icon in the librarys panel, but it is sooo tedious, and there are a lot of items to add. 

any suggestions?

thanks.

[Ton Frederiks]

Mimi, 

as a workaround you can drag an object using a brush/pattern/gradient/global color to the CC Library

You can also drag multiple items using different brushes/patterns/gradients/global/spot colors together into a CC library to simulate a library. Text objects must be grouped before adding them as graphics.

The easiest way to add them to a new document is to hold down the Alt key when you drag them from the library and place them in a new document. The patterns/gradients/global colors automatically get added to your swatches panel.

You can hit escape before you click to place the object(s) or delete the dragged library items because the swatches and brushes are now part of the document.

[Bobby Henderson]

Im sorry i cant find that folder on my pc???😕

Are you using Windows File Explorer? It's possible folders like "AppData" may be hidden by default. That can be fixed in File Explorer by clicking the View drop-down menu, clicking "Show" and checking "Hidden Items." Everything in the file-folder tree should be visible then.

[MimiF]

ton, that isnt the problem since my objects are already regular color swatches, but to add them all to my library one by one would take hours. isnt there a way to add them all at once?

[Ton Frederiks]

Mimi, if you open your swatch library in Illustrator, add the colors to your swatches and while they are still selected, click the add selected Swatches  and Color Groups to my current Library.

Remember that they are not color managed.

[MimiF]

bobby,

im using file explorer, ive checked "hidden items" and i can find the appdata folder but in "adobe" i only see the folder "common"

[Bobby Henderson]

Under the folder C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData you should see three folders: Local, LocalLow and Roaming. Where are you seeing a "Commmon" folder? User defined swatches are going to be saved in the Roaming folder at Adobe\Adobe Illustrator 28 Settings\en_US\x64\Swatches.

[Monika Gause]

So someone sent that to you? Can they send it again? Maybe first ZIP it, then send?