Illustrator opens text as outlines after update

[EC8400]

Hi, Ive always been able to open a pdf file that contained text in adobe illustrator. However I just updated about a week ago to CC 2017 21.0.0 and since then, whenever I open a PDF that has text, the text automatically turns into outlines. This is very inconvenient as I use Illustrator at work to edit certain forms. The PDF files were sent to me by a different company so I have no idea what program they initially used to create/edit them, but before this update, I was able to open a pdf file, and Id be able to edit the text inside.

I know I can also use Acrobat Pro DC to make some edits, but it limits me a lot.

Is there any way I can make it so that whenever I open a PDF file, the text does not get outlined in Illustrator?

BTW im using a Windows 7 64bit laptop.

Thanks

[Monika Gause]

This is almost always caused by ligatures in the text. You can't change it for PDFs that already exist.

[EC8400]

The documents I work with dont have any ligatures. Some documents hardly have any text in them. As mentioned, before the update, I was able to open a PDF file and edit the text. Just recently after updating, this feature is no longer available.

I have looked into all the new features that adobe talks about on Illustrator, but none of them show anything about converting text into outlines. I also tried looking into as many settings as I can with no luck.

[Monika Gause]

EC8400 schrieb:

The documents I work with dont have any ligatures. Some documents hardly have any text in them. As mentioned, before the update, I was able to open a PDF file and edit the text. Just recently after updating, this feature is no longer available.

With the same files?

Illustrator is not a general purpose PDF editor and PDF is not meant for editing, it will always get interpreted. If something that used to work with the same files does no longer work, please post a sample file, so we can give it a try. Of course you can also continue to have an old version installed for the purpose of opening your PDFs.

[EC8400]

Thats an affirmative, same exact files.

Heres another curve ball, all the files I had previously worked on and edited, are still able to be opened as text in Illustrator. If I had already updated and saved a version of said file, it is still being recognized as text. Anything new that I had not edited and saved before, opens up as vector outlines. Even the underscore signs and punctuation marks are outlines.

Unfortunately, I have no control over what type of files are given to me, and I wish I could post a sample, but these forms are used in a hospital for private information, so I dont want to risk uploading anything online. Ill consider having the previous version reinstalled if I cant get this solved soon. I didnt know that was option and im having my work pile up lol.

[Monika Gause]

EC8400 schrieb:

Heres another curve ball, all the files I had previously worked on and edited, are still able to be opened as text in Illustrator. If I had already updated and saved a version of said file, it is still being recognized as text.

If you have saved it as an Illustrator file or PDF with Illustrator editability then this is expected behaviour.

It would be interesting if you can still open older PDFs (that have not been modified with Illustrator).

The issue might have been caused either by Illustrator or by the application that creates the PDFs.

You might consider using Acrobat plugins to edit your PDFs. What you're doing at the moment is not recommended.

Prepression: The Ten Commandments of PDF

[s.shishmanova@billa.bg]

Hello,

I have the same problem with Acrobat DC v 19 and (or) Illustrator CC 2019 v 23.1.

Please see the link with attached file:

https://files.fm/u/24dtv273

This is the simply test PDF file with one word "Text" inside. This PDF files is in the curves. But my illustrator open it in the Text.

What is the problem?

I prefer to work with new versions of the programs, not for older!

Why the new one versions (both for the programs) is bug?

[Monika Gause]

How did you create that PDF?

You know how Illustrator files work?

https://youtu.be/IpDh8Y7q8yE

[s.shishmanova@billa.bg]

I Creae PDF file from illustrator.

Save As>Adobe PDF>Adobe PDF Preset - Press Quality>Save PDF.

[s.shishmanova@billa.bg]

Please see this screenshots.

[Monika Gause]

So you want the text outlined in the AI file as well?

[s.shishmanova@billa.bg]

So, Yes... But i just ask, why PDF file (which is outline) is not to curve in Illustrator?

Tomorrow i will have a multypages PDF, and i will prefer to convert it in outlines in Acrobat than in illustrator.

[s.shishmanova@billa.bg]

I opened this PDF file in illustrator, just for double-check and just in case. Then i saw that it's not in curves!

May be illustrator don't open this file correctly.

[Monika Gause]

So you opened the PDF in Acrobat, converted text to curves and then opened the file again in Illustrator? Please watch the video I posted in order to understand how Illustrator saves files.

[s.shishmanova@billa.bg]

Yes, I wached your video. I know how to save PDF files from illustrator. But, i ask you, why my new version of illustrator don't  open PDF file corectly? Is it a bug?

Because until lastest update i have no any problem with this or other case. Please look my previous comment and see the share test file. When you open it, the text is in curves, right?

[Monika Gause]

Yes, the AI part is text, but the PDF is in curves.

Still: How did you create this? Did you edit the PDF in Acrobat?

[s.shishmanova@billa.bg]

I Create the file in Ai. I save it on PDF. After that i opened in Acrobat and i create the text in curves there.

[Monika Gause]

So you have to expect this result. When converting text to curves in Acrobat, you only edit the PDF part of the file. The AI part of the file still has text. And even worse: when you re-open the file in Illustrator and save it again, then the PDF part of the file loses its curves.

You have to reconsider your workflow, because this way it doesn't work.

[s.shishmanova@billa.bg]

OK, but how did all this work perfectly before lastest illustrator update?

[Monika Gause]

It didn't. This hasn't changed.