Opening files created in a newer version of Illustrator

[faispe3]

I use illustrator CS version 11, is there a way to open illustrator files saved and created in a newer version of illustrator?

[John Stanowski]

You can't open a file created in a version of Illustrator later than the one you're using.

You can, however, have the file saved for an earlier version so that you could open it in CS.

In the Illustrator Options dialog box which appear while saving, there's a pulldown menu for Version. You can select Illustrator CS from there. This, of course, must be done on the machine with the newer version. If you don't have access to that you could ask whoever does to resave it for CS for you.

[JayJhabrix]

You can or maybe can't open... depending on versions...  but there will be restrictions and maybe errors...

[John Stanowski]

Yes, I should have said. If the newer file uses features that aren't available in CS then there will be problems.

[_scott_]

Try opening the file in Acrobat Pro.

Then "Save As..." a PDF and open the PDF with Illustrator 11. It may or may not work.

[nicoled8002543]

This worked, thanks!

[wazupsam]

I love such tricks. Thanks Scott

[Keti_83]

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!

[Mihie]

This is a great tip, thank you! 

[vallie_babe]

You can open the file by placing it in a new document and then saving it as you like.

[sharondbunting]

THANK YOU!!!!

[Silvio Studios]

Yes this worked, Thank you! 

[canzter]

Also you can use https://cloudconvert.org/ it helped me.

[dennisr2555420]

This was great. Thank you!

[liemduy]

It works. Thank u so much ❤️

[GregRobertson]

If you open it with Acrobat Pro, it will open as if it were a PDF. Then just go to File > Export > PostScript > Encapsulated PostScript.  As soon as you choose "Encapsulated PostScript," you will be offered a chance to Save As an .eps file. If you save it in the same file you stored or received it in, it will override the original .eps file as an older version that you can use.  Note that if the original file was an .ai document, it will still save it as an .eps, then you would just use your older Illustrator to save THAT file to override the original .ai document. 

Some .eps files may not export perfectly, especially if whomever created it used a lot of the most recent tools on it, but most of them will.  Good luck!

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

GregRobertson schrieb:

If you open it with Acrobat Pro, it will open as if it were a PDF. Then just go to File > Export > PostScript > Encapsulated PostScript. 

Please don't.It's an unnecessary step and it effectively ruins your file even more.

Create a new Illustrator file and place the other Ai file in it. That way you will be able to preserve some more of what's in the PDF part of the file.

Best solution is to ask the creator of the file for a downsaved version.

[Aponce75]

This worked for me.  I right clicked on the .eps file and I selected "Convert to Adobe PDF".  Once opened I saved as PDF. 

I then opened the PDF in Illustrator (I'm still working on CS6) and it opened up with one error "An unknown shading type was encountered." I clicked OK and the file opened up just fine.

Hope you guys have the same luck as me.

Thank YOU [Scott]!

[steven lees50590297]

OR,
Contact other Adobe Illustrator Users and initiate a class action law suit forcing Abobe to provide translation support for it's desktop versions.

Adobe should know that forcing customers to contact clients to ask them to downsave a file is often impossible, difficult, and or puts the desktop user in an uncomfortable posution.

In reality you'll usually have to find a friend and trouble them to help you.

[Monika Gause]

I guess when you take that case to a lawyer they might just ask you why you want to burn your money instead of just updating your software?

[Jakaria31758194awj2]

nice

jh