Illustrator could partially read this file

[MartinBelfast]

Hi, I have been experiencing issues when opening .ai files. I think the problems started after the last update. I get a message saying 'Illustrator could partially read this file'. When the file opens I only see one artboard with the content broken apart, similar to what you would see if you opened a .pdf in Illustrator.

I have tried installing a previous version and then going back to the latest version but it does not correct the problem. I have copied files to my hard drive and tried to place files into a new file but nothing gets me back my full file.

There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with the file as I have just installed a trial version of Affinity Designer and my .ai files open without any issues. I really need to find a solution otherwwise I will probably have to go with Affinity Designer to open my files. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[quatroquattro]

Having the same issue. All adobe recommends is to downgrade my program but I can't see how this would solve the issue if the original file was created in the current version of illustrator?

Not sure what's worse, the fact that Adobe has never provided a consistently working program or the fact that I still pay them $400+ every year.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

>>All adobe recommends is to downgrade my program but I can't see how this would solve the issue if the original file was created in the current version of illustrator?

Illustrator will "complain" but it will usually open newer file versions.

[gilderpants]

This is ridiculous. Adobe, you should be ashamed. When doing updates, stop trying to fix things that aren't problems and focus instead on making illustator stable and fast.

It seems like irresponsible updates are rushed out the door by you guys without proper vetting and testing to ensure their stability. Every update it seems theres some innane new altering of the workflow that gets in the way of progress and efficiency. On one occasion a couple years ago, a basic copy keystroke was changed to be the opposite of what it has been for years!!

Come on guys. You're hurting our efficency and negatively affecting our income becasue we have to spend time here trying to figure out a work-around to things you've screwed up. 

[puresprings]

I'm having the same issue with larger files, I'm getting hit very often with "this file will only partially open". Just started over the last few days. It's killing my productivity. 

[Anshul_Saini]

Hi @quatroquattro @puresprings @gilderpants,

We are sorry about the trouble. I would request you to update Illustrator to v26.0.2. We have tried to address this issue in this release. If you don't see this update, you may manually check for updates in the Creative Cloud desktop app.

If, after updating to v26.0.2, you are still facing this issue, then I would request you to leave a comment on this UserVoice (https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447-illustrator-desktop-bugs/suggestions/43974972-illust...) and share the document with us in which you are facing this issue. You can upload it to the Creative Cloud/ Dropbox/ Google Drive or any other similar service and share the download link here or via DM. We will check it at our end, which will help investigate the issue further.

Thanks & Regards,

Anshul Saini

[puresprings]

Thanks Ive posted on that link. Due to the nature of my work, I can't unfortunally share any files. 

[quatroquattro]

Updating Illustrator did not resolve the issue. I have posted on the link you provided and hope a fix is in the works soon. I spent tens of hours working on a pattern that I can not share to the public yet. Very disappointing. Back to the drawing board.

[Samolevsky]

Unfortunately 26.0.2 Illustrator update does not recover some complex files. I still got a warning message:
Illustrator could partially read this file and To preserve appearance some text has been outlined...

Most of the file content is missing. I can only see one artboard with outlined text, expanded effects and all layers brokean apart... So frustrating!

It's funny that Affinity Designer can open the same file wit no problems! It's such a shame, Adobe! 

[Monika Gause]

It's funny that Affinity Designer can open the same file wit no problems! It's such a shame, Adobe! 

By @Samolevsky

Affinity Designer can import it? AD does NOT open AI files, it imports them.

That tells us that there is a PDF embedded in the file and that this PDF contains all elements. What you can do now:

1. Open your file with Illustrator. Copy everything that is still in it and paste it into a new file. Save that new file.

2. Now create yet another new file and then Place your corrupt file. Analyze it in the layers panel. Ungroup, Ubdo clipping masks.

3. Now copy everything that couldn't be rebuilt in the original and paste into the new file you created in step one.

4. Save your file

5. Make backup copies.

6. Actually make a backup copy after each important new step.

Mind that the stuff copied from the placed file is probably not easily editable. That won't be the case in Affinity Designer either.

[Samolevsky]

Hi, thanks for your suggestion.
Unfortunatly, following that steps didn't fix this issue at all.

The only working solution to fix this problem seems to downgrade and keep using Adobe Illustrator 2020, that dos't have that issue with opening it's own files. I hope this helps!

[puresprings]

Funny, Adobe Photoshop can also read more of the data than illustrator when it comes to opening some of these complex .ai files, that display the partial file error.  Not that that's any help, since it's flattened! Adobe please fix this! I'm avoiding using illustrator right now because it's not working properly. 

[Monika Gause]

Funny, Adobe Photoshop can also read

By @puresprings

An AI file usually consists of 2 parts: the AI and a PDF.

When you open the file in Illustrator (same version or higher) and the AI is OK, Illustrator will use it.

When you "open" the file in Affinity Designer, Photoshop, InDesign or whatever software, they won't read the AI file. They will use the embedded PDF. Those applications don't care whether the AI part is working or not, they cannot read it anyway.

I've made a video about it: https://youtu.be/IpDh8Y7q8yE

[Monika Gause]

Hi, thanks for your suggestion.
Unfortunatly, following that steps didn't fix this issue at all.

By @Samolevsky

Why not? If you think that Affinity Designer does it better, then these steps should work just fine.

[Samolevsky]

Well, you can import the "corrupted" AI file into Affinity Designer and then copy and paste the content back to Illustrator inside the new file.

As you have mentioned all effects will be expanded, the text will be outlined and layers and groups will be merged... That doesn't make any sense in this case, since Affinity preserves most of the editing capabilities of the file.

Unfortunately, there's still no way to access all missing data just using the latest version of Illustrator. Sadly, Illustrator is still unable to open some files saved in the native file format. It took me days, if not months to create those artworks, and now I have to find a workaround to fix the bugs of Illustrator 2021/2022... That's annoying.

[Monika Gause]

As you have mentioned all effects will be expanded, the text will be outlined and layers and groups will be merged... That doesn't make any sense in this case, since Affinity preserves most of the editing capabilities of the file.

By @Samolevsky

The only thing that Affinity Designer can preserve is the structure of the main layers.

And it can preserve editable text - but it comes at the cost of destroying text formatting.

It won't preserve effects, because there aren't any live effects in  the PDF (which is the part Affinity Designer imports)

And that is why I recommend to take what is still left from the AI file and only replace the parts that are gone by using them from the PDF part.

The Illustrator engineers are sometimes able to recover corrupted files, maybe @Anshul_Saini can help you there.

But anyway: make backups of your files. Always. Keep multiple versions. And turn on Time Machine (or something like it on Windows. Don't ever rely on just one copy of a working file.

[Anshul_Saini]

Hi @Samolevsky & @puresprings,

Sorry to hear about this. Would it be possible for you to upload the files to CC/ Dropbox/ GDrive or any similar service and share the file's download link with me here or via DM? I will forward it to the engineering team, and they will further investigate the issue.

Regards,

Anshul Saini

[Essang232781564nqt]

I have the same issue the file wouldn't open instead I see a dialog box saying illustrator could partially read this file,and that the file was recovered as much as possible but when I try to open it another dialog box appears saying Acrobat pdf file format is having difficulties. Expected dict object. 

Please I need help urgently.

[Monika Gause]

Yours went off while saving as you told us here: https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/illustrator-could-partialy-read-this-file/m-p...

[Neopod]

This currently happens to one in five of my artwork files.

When you see the warning dialogue, simply click Cancel, open the file again and most times it opens without the issue. Using v26.0.2

[Samolevsky]

That worked on v26.0.2! Thank you so much.Your help has been invaluable.

[kocnut]

I am having same issue with my Illustrator. It ıs so frustrating because I am working with multiple artboards I mean lot of them. Like 150-170 artboards. Some moments when I need to finish it till deadline, it happens. So I changed file name, change the location and it works like original file. But don't name it with same or overwrite it. Maybe this is a shortcut solution but I hope it saves you.

[emileem23799572]

Anyone having this problem on older Mac's? I'm running a 2011 and am running into multiple files that won't open or even save correctly.
Trying to figure out if it's a fixable problem or if it's just the Mac's lest leg 😞

[Anshul_Saini]

Hi @emileem23799572,

Sorry for the trouble. Would it be possible for you to upload the files to CC/ Dropbox/ GDrive or any similar service and share the file's download link with me here or via DM? I will forward it to the engineering team, and they may be able to recover them. It would help them identify the issue, and they will incorporate the fix in the new release.

Also, I would request you to confirm the macOS & version of illustrator installed on your Mac.

Looking forward to your response.

Regards,

Anshul Saini

[jodieg15629426]

Same issue, and same as everyone else, updating does NOT help. I had 7 files open yesterday and only 1 of them has this issue, but it deleted EVERYTHING. Every layer, every shape, every textbox, over 5 weeks of work. If this was permanently deleted, I'm going to be very upset, and Illustrator ALSO deleted any autosaves, backups or previous versions. 

[Ton Frederiks]

How do you save and backup your files?

Are these regular .ai files or are you using cloud files: .aic?