Open CDR in Illustrator

[Archaeologist]

We have just upgraded our office graphics computer. As part of that, the company has bought Illustrator, (despite our objections) because they said it's more industry standard.
However, we have used Corel Draw draw 13 years and every publication figure we have is a CDR file.
Shouldn't be a problem because  -- according to Adobe -- Illustrator can open Corel draw files from versions 5 to 10. Right?
Except it can't. It says they're unrecognised files.
Open source programmes and online converters are not permitted (because we're part of a local government department.)
So can someone please tell me how to get this software to do what the company claims it does?
There are a LOT of files involved and converting them all in Corel is not an option.
 
If Illustrator actually cannot do this, why does Adobe say that it does?

[Monika Gause]

Which version of CorelDRAW are your files? version 10 is like 20 years old.

[Archaeologist]

They're X5. 13 years old version of Corel. We were assured that Illustrator could open them. We'll be going right back to using Corel if it can't.

[Monika Gause]

version 10 is way older than X5

[Archaeologist]

Which isn't obvious. The info we had said it was compaitble. We now know it's not. Which is a huge issue. Given how much his software costs, this kind of basic compatibility should be standard.

[John Mensinger]

It's really not worth much of an argument. I understand your frustration, but you had correct information:

Illustrator can open Corel draw files from versions 5 to 10.

But you're expecting it to do something outside of that specification.

Given how much his software costs, this kind of basic compatibility should be standard.

Really, no maker of software is beholden to compatibility with any other, price notwithstanding. It took me less than a half-minute to find and read the CorelDRAW version history, along with reliable information indicating that Illustrator does not open X5 CDR files directly (but X5 can export Illustrator format and PDF). So if this really is a "huge issue," the only possible conclusion is that (someone at) your company failed in the area of due diligence before executing on the expenditure.