Skip to main content
F
Fresh Nunas
Participant
April 15, 2020
Answered

Error while opening PDFs: "This is an Adobe Illustrator File that was saved without PDF Content"

  • April 15, 2020
  • 4 replies
  • 33353 views

I need help on saving an illustrotor 3 artboard document with text, 1 photo and some pentool shapes. When I try to do the regular save as a pdf, illustrotor doesn't save my work, instead I folder I find a file that as  only this text: 

 

This is an Adobe Illustrator File that was saved without PDF Content. 

To Place or open this file in other applications, it should be re-saved from Adobe Illustrator with the 

"Create PDF Compatible File" option turned on. This option is in the Illustrotor Native Format Options dialog box, which appears when saving an Adobe Illustrator file using the Save As command. 

 

Please help me if you guys know something about this. I have to close a project and send by today. 

Thank you 

 

{Renamed by MOD}

Correct answer Srishti Bali

Hi there,

 

Thanks for reaching out. We have tried to address this issue in our latest build of 24.1.2. If you are not already on v 24.1.2, then we recommend you to update to latest version and let us know how it goes. 

 

Regards,

Srishti

4 replies

Srishti Bali
Community Manager
Srishti BaliCommunity ManagerCorrect answer
Community Manager
April 27, 2020

Hi there,

 

Thanks for reaching out. We have tried to address this issue in our latest build of 24.1.2. If you are not already on v 24.1.2, then we recommend you to update to latest version and let us know how it goes. 

 

Regards,

Srishti

    D
    defaultytxeeq9yvjnh
    Participant
    July 3, 2021

    Hi! I too am having this issue with the blank page and the "No pdf content..." message but, to to make matters worse, I already saved the file and closed Ai, assuming it would re-open in preview as it usually does and that I'd be ready to send via email to my teachers and deliver the project. But now I can't re-open it, and given that I saved my file once and with said settings, there are no copies.  I've tried opening the corrupted file back in Ai to try and change the settings and save again, but the same blank page and error message come up (even in the Ai artboards). Pleasee tell me not all hope is not lost and there's a way to re-cover the content!!! I'm so desperate! 

    Thanks so much in advance, 

    Natalia.

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    July 3, 2021

    Which version?

    Which system?

    Exactly what has been happening step by step since you created the file?

      M
      mariehenry
      Participant
      April 27, 2020

      Hi, 

      yesterday i created many Ai documents that I saved as PDF documents once they were finished. 

      I did - File > save as > selected pdf

      It worked for the firsts I did but then for the last one it juts creates i pdf document that is a white page where it's written "this file is a adobe illutrator file saved without any pdf content. For the importer or to open this file in other applications, it must be saved again from Adobe Illustrator with the Create option
      a PDF compatible file activated. This option is found in the Illustrator native format options dialog, which appears when saving an Adobe Illustrator file using the Save As command."

      I tried many things but it didn't worked...

      Bill Silbert
      Community Expert
      Bill SilbertCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      April 27, 2020

      Before trying to save the file as a pdf try saving it first as an Adobe Illustrator (.ai) file making sure that "Create PDF Compatible File" is checked in the Illustrator Options dialog that appears during the save. Then save the file again now choosing "Adobe PDF (PDF)" as the file format.

        Srishti Bali
        Community Manager
        Srishti BaliCommunity Manager
        Community Manager
        April 20, 2020

        Hi there,

         

        Thanks for reaching out. This has been reported by a few other users as well and we have tried to address this issue in our beta build of 24.1.2 .

        Please upvote this issue here (https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447-illustrator-bugs/suggestions/38961049-illustrator-save-as-pdf-bug-v24-0) and try the steps shared. 

         

        Let us know if this helps or if you have any questions.

         

        Regards,

        Srishti

          D
          DonKellyStudio
          Participant
          April 15, 2020

          Hey there! I've been saving PDFs from Illustrator for AGES... recently now when I do the PDF has the error message text in it that "this is an Illustrator AI file saved without PDF content".

          I've switched all settings I normally use to no avail. 

           

          Anyone else having this trouble?

          Ashutosh_Mishra
          Ashutosh_Mishra
          Inspiring
          April 15, 2020

          Hi there,

           

          Sorry to hear about your experience. Would you mind sharing version of OS and Illustrator?
          Few other users reported the similar issue and it was fixed by resetting the preferences. Please check if this helps you out as well. Follow the instructions on help article https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/setting-preferences.html#setting_illustrator_preferences 

           

          **Please note that resetting preferences will remove all the custom settings and Illustrator will launch with default settings. You can also take a backup of the folders in case you want to. Location is mentioned in the article. 
          Let us know how it goes.

           

          Regards,

          Ashutosh

          D
          DonKellyStudio
          Participant
          April 17, 2020

          Yeah, that's what I ended up doing. Reluctantly. ha.

          Right after I posted the issue I saw a link to a similar post. Found the answer there.

           

          But for the record I'm running Mac OS 10.13.6 High Sierra. Illustrator CC 2020.

          Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
          Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices