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I am getting this error message on dozens of my files. I can't get any of them to open!
"Could not read the file because the plug-in could not understand this file."
I have Illustrator CC 2018 - The files are saved as CS6 with no PDF or attached files embedded. Only 2 linked files.
What can I do to fix my files?
You could try to move the file to a different folder to break the link to the linked files.
Or open the linked files in Photoshop and save them as .psd.
Accor ding to this thread it seems to be related to corrupted linked files.
CS4 error message: Could not read the file because the plug-in could not understand the file
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Hello, i tried this but im getting the same problem.
thank you!
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Thank you! It worked for me 🙂
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Was getting the same error and this fixed it for me, thanks!!
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BRILLLLIANT! THANK YOU!!
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mate you just literally saved my day! thank you so much for posting this answer, it worked a treat!
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This did the trick. Really annoying to have a new app and immediately have to spend all this time "repairing" a newly built file. Maybe add some instructions to the download?
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Thanks for the workaround and for the willingness to try to fix it in future. It should, however, be noted that this is a longstanding problem and has been for more than a decade. Even the workarounds are always changing with the version. I wish the embedding just 'worked'. All the time. I've learned to just vectorize pictures where possible just so as not to have broken links to rasterized versions at some point in future.
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This indeed turned out to be corrupted linked PNGs for me. Once I identified the PNGs and replaced them, I was able to open the AI files and resume work.
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Hello Everyone. I´m at a dead end here. Im a windows user, using latest illustrator 2020.
I tried :
-Ignoring the missing png´s
-replacing the missing png´s
-Reinstalling illustrator.
All to no success. Files are in a shared online folder. Help?
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None of these solutions worked for me. I tried EVERYTHING suggested. I did find a work-around though. I opened a new document and drug the ai. file to it. After expanding it, I was able to do with it what I wanted. It's not perfect (links were missing/broken and text was kinda split) but it saved me from typing a butt-load of text.
Illustrator 24.0.2
Windows 10
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I am in the same boat. I have a windows machine and struggling with files that opened fine in cc 2019 but will not in cc 2020. I am no longer getting the option to re-linked file (or IGNORE); just "cannot read the file because the plug-in cannot understand the file." How can I get into the file? I would like to open the file and embed my images (no more linking) into AI. ( I just did not expect that I could not even get into the files.) I will try your work-around.
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I tried everything listed here as well and none of the solutions worked.
The solution in my situation:
Updated Illustrator from 2019 to 2020
Now the files open without issue.
I'm just posting this for anyone else looking for solutions to this specific issue. Cheers
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This may happen bcz u must have downloaded files from the internet. Simply just follow the steps given below-
1. Open the image in paint and replace it with the corresponding image.
2. Open the image again in illustrator
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You should open your file in paint and then save it as JPEG or PNG.
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I've tried everything and only this worked for me. Thank you. But this is still a problem.. Why do we have to spend time with paint or something? Adobe should find a solutions for this.
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In case it's helpful: I use Dropbox, and often have files as "online-only" to save space on my laptop. In my case, the source of this issue are linked files which are "online-only". If I make sure all the linked files are "make available offline", then I can open the Illustrator file.
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i.e. the linked files should have the full green tick mark which shows they are synced/downloaded from your Dropbox cloud.