Problem with dissapearing embbeded files in Illustrator when opening a recovered file

Question

Hi this has happened to me a few times and its super annoying.. I've been working on a larger file size pdf(around 700mb) with lots of art boards and embedded jpgs in Illustrator.  The app crashed on me and recovered my doc but coverted to ai(i use pdf to keep the file size smaller)... When I reopened the app and my recovered file all my embedded images turn into blank squares and now the file is only 7mb.  Whats the deal with this!? Is there a way to fix or do I have to relink 100+ damn images manually.  Stupid Illustrator doesn't have the automatic relink capabilities indesign has even tho I embedded the images.

Mike_Gondek10189183 · Answer

You will have much better reliability with

Saving to the native format of the software, the .ai format
Save as and turn the pdf compatible setting off - for smaller files and quicker saves
Link to images rather than embed them

The recovery, recovers to the native format of the software which is how the file is seen in memory. PDF is not meant to be used as a format for saving your design files, only as an export format.

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