Placing multiple PDF pages into Illustrator document

[alistaircmunro]

I'm familiar with placing multiple pages from a pdf into an Illustrator document, using the Place dialog/Import Options window, however when I tried to do it today I only got the option to select a single page at a time. From memory, I was expecting a checkbox below that, to select a range of or all pages (as described at https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/importing-pdf-files.html).

Is this something that has changed/moved in the latest update, or are there limitations that mean the option may not be available for all PDF files?

[Monika Gause]

Which version of Illustrator are you using?

Maybe there are multiple on your computer?

[alistaircmunro]

This is using the latest, 24.0.2, which is the only version I have installed

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

When you did choose to Place the PDF did you select Show Import Options?

Or did you want to Open, which will give you a full range of options.

[alistaircmunro]

Perhaps that's the issue - I thought I remembered it working with either command, but indeed if I use Open instead the option is there, whereas with Place it isn't. Has it ever worked with Place or am I mis-remembering things?

I ended up using Open to get all the linked objects in a new file, then copying and pasting them into my existing file, but having the option of that checkbox in the Place workflow as well would be much simpler.

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

There is a Place option dialog, but it only allows you to select a single page.

[Leanne5E15]

Hi Tom,

I'm having a similar issue too. Is there a way to place multiple artboards in illustrator? I have "show import options" checked; however, it does not allow me to select the pages or artboards I want to place all at once. I used to be able to do this on a PC but have now switched to a Mac but I find it odd that this feature is not available. 

Thank you in advance! 

[Ton Frederiks]

You can open the Illustrator file with the multiple artboards,

With the Artboard tool selected do a Select All.

Copy and Paste into another document.

[charles26739850738f]

You can use the "Open" command to place all the pages of a PDF into a new document as links, then copy them all and place them into your original document. Seems like a roundabout way to do this, but better than having to re-open a multi-page PDF for each page.

[Monika Gause]

As has been mentioned by Ton 2 years ago.

[david_6755]

I've never seen seen a dialog box (as shown in above link) when opening a pdf to allow multiple pages to be placed.

How can this be activated?

[Ton Frederiks]

The PDF needs to have multiple pages when opening the file.

[david_6755]

Tried about a dozen different multiple page pdf's and 'import dialog box' only appeared on one when opening. Must have something to do with how it was originally set up. (customer files, so I have no clue) Sure wish the place command would allow all to be placed...

[Ton Frederiks]

Did you try Open or did you use Place?

[david_6755]

I used the 'Open' and the dialog box appeared only one time. All pdfs tried were multipage.

I'm aware that using 'place' will only let one selected page to be placed.

[Larry G. Schneider]

Were all the PDFs saved with AI editing enabled? Were some not made in AI?

[david_6755]

pdf's come from many different customers, so I don't have control over how they are setup.

But it is good to know that I can always try opening first to see if multiple pages can be placed at once.

normally just open with acrobat and extact as singles, then place all singles into illustrator. Not a big deal.

[Bobby Henderson]

Having to deal with client-provided PDF files is the main reason why I use Astute Graphics' Vector First Aid plugin. The time I save running placed PDF content through Vector First Aid makes the subscription cost more than worth it. Many of the other plugins in the Astute Graphics suite are pretty nice too.