Error: file is already open and has unsaved changes. Do you wish to continue place operation?

[JudPrattOSU]

I am mysteriously getting this error message when trying to open AI files a coworker was working on. The files are definitely not still open on her machine as she's logged out and machine has been rebooted. The files are saved on a server on the university network that we all have access to.

"File is already open and has unsaved changes. Do you wish to continue place operation?"

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

Adobe does not recommend working directly form and to a server. And your issue is one of the reasons why.

https://helpx.adobe.com/be_en/illustrator/kb/illustrator-support-networks-removable-media.html

[JudPrattOSU · Accepted solution]

Thanks! That's probably some of the issue. 

The other part of the problem was that the illustration being worked on was essentially a black and white line drawing based on a still frame from a video clip (that's not the problem part). The "base" layer to be illustrated over was a .psd Photoshop file.

When my coworked was opening the files, if she got the "replace or ignore" dialog on the .psd file, she would ignore it rather than relink it back to the .psd file. Then, when she would later get the error message above, she didn't mention it to me. It wasn't until I had to work with the files that I discovered the error message I posted above.

The way I ended up fixing it was to open the "Links" pane and then relinking that base layer back to the "missing" .psd file. Once I did that, no more error.

Thanks!