Graphics in SAVED file disappeared!

[shawnap38469327]

I completed a whole project with 22 pages in it and saved it (all other recommendations discuss what to do when the file wasn't saved).  I even have a copy of the file in pdf. format.  It was a major project that took a considerable amount of time.  I need to make amendments and when I opened the file, all 22 pages were blank.  Is there a way to fix this issue????

[Mike_Gondek]

Illustrator is not a .pdf editor, best to go back to the original application to make edits to ensure no loss of work. Was this checked when the file was saved.

What file size is your EQY18.ai file. Do you see anything in outline mode, command Y to toggle?

When saving .ai files I  recommend the opposite to turn this off. Will make your saves faster, smaller and less chance of corruption.

[shawnap38469327]

Yeah, I was not trying to make edits in pdf.  I was simply showing what the ai* file used to look like before it went blank. 

I was able to open the pdf. file in ai* and save as an ai. file, as well.  The problem remains...why did it go blank?  If I hadn't saved a copy via pdf., it would have been completely erased.

[Mike_Gondek]

What file size is your EQY18.ai file. Do you see anything in outline mode, command Y to toggle?

[tonyharmer]

Hey

Did you start the project from scratch in Illustrator, or were you actually editing a PDF?

The only thing that I can readily think of is that there is placed content in the file which has moved or been deleted—although you should get a "missing links" warning when the file is opened.

You should be able to open the PDF that you have in Illustrator and re-save that as an .ai file if necessary.

[Luke Jennings]

I assume you checked to see if a layer is turned off.

I suggest you start using Mac time machine, you already have it, it works great, and would have saved a version of your file.

[Monika Gause]

Please tell us step by step the history of the file.

Did you create a new file in Illustrator?

And then reated everything in Illustrator?

And then saved as exactly what?

And where did you save the file?

Any issues when saving? A crash?

Any error messages when opening the file?

Do you have a printer installed?

Use any third party plugins?

All fonts checked?

If this is an important project then why is there no backup?