Multipage PDF turns into single page when editing in AI

[Rowwiththesong]

My multipage PDF is being dragged into AI to make quick edits and I would normally click file>save and it would update the one page while keeping rest of the pages intact but now it OVERRIDES the mutlipage PDF into a single page PDF. Anyone else experiencing this issue? 

[Rishabh_Tiwari]

Hi there,

Sorry to hear about the trouble you are facing with Illustrator. If I get your query correctly, after you edit the single page from multipage PDF when you save it, it replaces the complete file with that single page instead of just updating that single page in the original file? If yes,  I would request if you can share a few more details like: 

1. Operating system and Illustrator version.
2. In which software the file was created?
3. Could you please share the step by step workflow, it would be great if you can share a small video of the issue.
4. Is the issue related to a specific document? 

Regards

Rishabh

[Rowwiththesong]

Hi Rishabh,

Yes, you're correct.

1. macbook pro 16 catalina version 10.15.1, illustrator CC 24.0.1

2. file was originally created in AI with multiple artboards then exported to PDF file.

3. i will try to get a video.

4. Not specific to document. For all docs

[Rowwiththesong]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_Y7rXiGybI

here's the video

[ELPrepress]

This also happened to me.  

I recieved this pdf from a customer and the metadata says it was created by inDesign 15.0 running on Windows.

I'm running AI 24.0.1 on macOS Mojave version 10.14.6.

They added a few pages to their booklet and I needed to update the table of contents.  I tried updating it with Acrobat, but it was creating misalignment with my end numbers so I opened that page in Illustrator.

A new document wasn't created, and instead of just updating the current page within the document, the other pages of my book essentially no longer existed and my file was replaced with the single, edited page.

It's a really good thing I had a back up of the original file or my day would have turned very badly.

[Monika Gause]

They were using InDesign and you update the table of content in Illustrator? Why? InDesign can do that automatically.

[ELPrepress]

That's too far back up the chain.  Corporate made this file for a local branch which needed to make some modifications... why corporate didn't understand that you can't make a saddle stitched book out of 17 pages I can't fathom. We had to add pages up to 20 for the printed product to actually work. The local branch has no design knowledge or experience and thus as his printer it's up to me to make modifications.  IF you can teach me how to use inDesign to modify the copy in a pdf that would be a interesting skill to learn.

[Ton Frederiks]

Looks like this problem:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator/multiple-page-pdfs-edit-single-page-doesn-t-save-back-to-...

And this one:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator/modify-pdf-in-illustrator/m-p/10795658#M158025

[Rowwiththesong]

same issues but never resolved!

[Rowwiththesong]

yes! and all you needed was update a single page. My previous macbook 2011 with CS5 gave me no issues. I had the luxury of updating PDF files quickly without having to go back and resave AI then export out. Now it is a nuisance having to deal with revisions for small changes.

[Ton Frederiks]

You can report and vote here, and post the link back in this thread.

https://illustrator.uservoice.com

[chrisl41501719]

Constantly.

When opening a multi-page pdf you will get a window that shows 2 sets of numbers.

1. the page you are on, and

2. the pages in the document

You have to open the first page by entering 1's in both fields - save as pg1

Then reopen original pdf and save the second page by entering 2 in both fields

etc...