Please fix the SAVE TO PDF AND NOT CLOSE THE DAMN WINDOW!

[Herbiedriver]

I am on the verge of quitting.  I have been using illustrator since 1988, and today, again, I lost days of work on a stupid change you (Adobe) did.

When you save out a .pdf file the file should close, as it did in previous versions. Now, when you save as a .pdf, the file remains open, so when you do last minute changes or updates, you are inadvertently updating the pdf. Great!  So you hit Command S to save and go along your way, only to find out you just updated the pdf and the text is now outlines and you have to start over, again....

PLEASE FIX THIS!!!!  HAVE YOUR PROGRAMMERS USE THESE APPLICATIONS FOR ONCE!

[SJRiegel]

I don't recall Illustrator ever closing after saving as a PDF. (Maybe this was the case a long time ago, but certainly not in recent memory) If you use save a copy, your Illustrator original will remain open. A plain Save as... has always saved a new file which is then the open working file (As is true in virtually every program I use). 

The difference is that Illustrator can save a different file type (PDF - with an illustrator component) with Save as instead of Export that InDesign has to use for that purpose. 

The only fix is to change your work habits around saving when using Illustrator. 

[Herbiedriver]

Correct, the Save As... will save a PDF AND keep it open! Wherein thats where the problem lies. Illustrator now has an open PDF file that may have been saved with Preserve Illustrator Editing unchecked.  Leaving that window open, which happens in a busy workflow environment, you are now editing a non-illustrator compatible file!!!

Which when you get done with the edits requested by 497 clients, and you close it out to go enjoy your cold Heineken, you are greeted the next day with a non-editable PDF file that has now converted your text boxes to outlines, the entire document is now bound by a clipping path and all your work is in the toilet.

I am sorry if this is not your workflow when you are listening to Yanni on your Airpods and able to enjoy your artistic freedom to create what your heart desires, but some of us are in a hellfire and damnation workflow situation where this is "gotta get it done NOW", screw your Yanni, plug in this Rammstein CD and dance!

[JonathanArias]

i am sorry i don't think illustrator ever closed after making a .pdf?

I agree that i too often made changes and was working on the .pdf. if you however check the keep editable with illustrator option you should be able to open that .pdf back in illustrator ,and keep your layers/editable text.

Seems that the issue here is that the text changes to outline? what font are you using? are you keeping the file editable in illustrator option checked?

If you want to report a bug, issue or as for something you can do it here:

https://www.adobe.com/products/wishform.html

This forum is made of volunteers,  using that link will allow you to submit your request to the developers. 

cheers

jonathan

[Herbiedriver]

Thanks for the link, but text converted to outlines is but one of many issues:

Text to outlines

Hard returns after a sentence wrap

Separate lines of text after character kerns

Photoshop alpha channels disappearing

Style sheets gone

Bleeds gone

Clipping masks on all elements

Overprints/transparencies missing

Gradients converted to step values

So I will try to be more conscious about closing out when I save, but PLEASE just automate the close of a project when Save as... is completed, I doubt I am the only one.  Just like the new Photoshop release to save a file as .jpg now requires a separate click on the Save a copy button.

[JonathanArias]

Again, you are talking to volunteers here, not adobe developers. Send your input to that site

[JonathanArias]

I have to agree that I too would like this feature to change, I think it should work like indesign, as in you export a .pdf but the file remains a native application file, and does not change to the exported format. 

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

So I will try to be more conscious about closing out when I save, but PLEASE just automate the close of a project when Save as... is completed,

By @Herbiedriver

You can do that yourself.

Go to Edit > Shortcuts.

Delete the shortcut for "Save as" and assign it to "Save a copy"

Done. Illustrator will now keep the orginal file open and close the saved one.

It's as simple as that. Workflow preparation.

[Herbiedriver]

Thank you! Yes you can correct this with a shortcut, but... it's machine specific, in a workfarm enviro you better be sure every machine has the same shortcuts. This will work for personal machines and thank you!

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

"in a workfarm enviro" ...

This "issue" is about a general conception of how "Save as" works in contrast to "Save a copy". This is computer basics lesson 1.

The Save as operation as well as the handling of PDF saving/export (whatever you want to call it) has been working like this for ages. It is part of a gazillion of scripts, actions and whatnot. It can't easily be changed or half of the user base will be raging.