Illustrator (2021; v25) Not Batch Processing in Background - macOS Catalina (10.15)

[corysed]

Hi,

I'm looking for advice on batch processing files in Illustrator. I'm running Illustrator 2021 (v25) and MacOS Catalina (10.15.7).

I have a batch process for exporting print film scans and exporting them as TIFs. (They're scanned in a film descreening format that Photoshop cannot open; Illustrator can open and export them as TIFs.)

A recent Illustrator update seems to have changed how batch processing functions. Unless I am in Illustrator as the the front/active app, the batch processing stops. If I click over to Finder or Photoshop or any other app, Illustrator stops batch processing. This defeats the whole goal of batch processing. 

This action/batch process is something I've used for years. I'm stumped as to why it no longer works in the background/not as the "live" app. I batch thousands of files at a time, so I this puts a major hitch in my workflow.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

[corysed]

Here are the settings for my Export to TIF action.

When I run the action manually on open files, it kicks out of a TIF. When I choose "Batch" and select a folder to process a large number of files, Illustrator exports a TIF to the folder indicated—but also saves an .AI file.

It seems to be in this .AI process that Illustrator hangs up on the batch process and won't advance to batch the next file unless the Illustrator app is "clicked on"/the front app in use.

Any hunches as to how I can address this?

[corysed]

It's gotta be something about Illustrator 2021. Reverting to Illustrator 2020 (v24.3) and the same batch process chugs along in the background just fine. (Batch process still kicks out the .AI file for some reason…)

[Kurt Gold]

The issue has already been mentioned here:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator/when-using-the-action-to-batch-files-illustrator-stops-ru...

It still works for me fine (latest version of Illustrator on Mac OS 10.14.6).

At the moment I am not quite sure what may cause the problem.