"save as Tiny SVG" leads to invalid file

[Barbara26365678emhi]

Good day everyone

I opened a specific .svg file and saved it as SVG Tiny 1.2. The resultinv .svg cannot be opened anymore. Error messages say: "Invalid file. Check before opening" and "unknown error" (find the original German error messages attached).

The .svg contains elements which are unknown to me: xmlns:x="&ns_extend;" xmlns:i="&ns_ai;" xmlns:graph="&ns_graphs;" Once I delete them, the file opens perfectly fine.

The problem is, that all new SVG Tiny 1.2 get the questionable xmlns elements and get corrupted, no matter what content.

The only solution was to uninstall and reinstall Illustrator. Therefore the issue is low priority to me as I can avoid the first .svg file which caused the problem. But anyway, does one of you have an explanation for the issue?

Thank you and kind regards, Barbara

[Barbara26365678emhi]

I forgot the resulting Tiny SVG... please find it here.

[Monika Gause]

I hope you are not using SVG as the file format for your work file. That is not recommended, because you lose all live objects and because saving as SVG might even deform your paths (at least slightly). Also Illustrator is famous for not being able to open its own SVGs. SVG is an export format. Don't roundtrip it with Illustrator.

When exporting an SVG, use "Export for screens" resp. the "Asset export". That produces the more modern code.

Are you sure you need an SVGTiny?

[Barbara26365678emhi]

I need SVG Tiny 1.2 for display UI buttons which need to be scalable and as low file size as possible, the Tiny profile is what the display/controller manufacturer recommends. 

Via "export for screens" and "Asset export" I don't see the Tiny option, would be nice if you could advise me on that.

Though your answer is helpful in another way, it doesn't explain why the "save as SVG Tiny" of my particular file makes AI write unnecessary information to all SVG (as explained in my first post).

[Monika Gause]

WIth simple graphics in buttons do you see any file size difference between saving as SVG Tiny and using the "Asset export"?

Your file is unreadable in Illustrator. Is it also invalid as per the W3C validator? Because if not, then it doesn't really matter of Illustrator can read it. The receiving application must be able to read it.

[Barbara26365678emhi]

I see your point, and I would probably do as you suggest, but I'm hesitating because the controller specialist told me to use the SVG Tiny. Anyway, I will keep your input in mind when I'll talk to them again.

[Monika Gause]

Did you check the SVG in the W3C validator?

Is the code valid?

Does the SVG look OK when you open it in Inkscape or Chrome?

If so, then it will probably just work.

[Disposition_Dev]

Monika is not saying you shouldn't use svg tiny... she's saying that you should use a regular Illustrator file for creating and manipulating your artwork, and then the svg tiny file is exported from illustrator and sent to whomever needs it.. If adjustments are necessary, you open up your .ai file, make the adjustments, then re-export the svg tiny.

The point is you shouldn't be using svg files as your working files. They are only export files. Always keep a regular illustrator file to use for working with the art, then export the svg when the art is ready.

[Barbara26365678emhi]

I understand that and agree completely. Nevertheless thank you for that input.

What I was asking in the first place: "The problem is, that all new SVG Tiny 1.2 get the questionable xmlns elements and get corrupted, no matter what content. (Adobe Illustrator or its settings gets corrupted in some way.) The only solution was to uninstall and reinstall Illustrator."

I attached the .svg file to this discussion. It was originally an .ai file, but the forum didn't allow me to update it. If one of you experienced users could open the file and reproduce the issue, that would help me a lot in understanding the issue and avoiding it in the future. 

[Monika Gause]

You attached 2 SVG files, no AI file. You could upload the file to Dropbox or the like and post a link in here. I have checked your Tiny file in the W3C validator, which produced a warning and an error. The error is probably caused by Illustrator. But since Tiny files are saved via the "Save as" function, it might not get a lot of attention.

So your only chance might be to make a bug report.  http://illustrator.uservoice.com

Have you sent that file to the developers so they can test it? As I already wrote, your files don't need to be readable in Illustrator. The only thing that matters is that the developers can work with them.

[Barbara26365678emhi]

1) Thanks for the advice with the bug report. I will try that.

2) The uploaded svg file that starts with 704... is an svg file that causes the same Illustrator issue than its original ai file. 

3) What concerns me is that Illustrator changes the Tiny SVG headers permanently(!) after one "open" and "save as..." of the 704... file (no matter if .ai or .svg source file). BEFORE there have never been any xmlns:x="&ns_extend;" xmlns:i="&ns_ai;" xmlns:graph="&ns_graphs;" entries.

But as we have raised a lot of different topics already and some repetition in statements, I'd suggest we close the topic.

[Monika Gause]

Don't get yourself into a situation where you have to  open your own SVGs in Illustrator.

Export them and hand them to the developer. That is the whole point of SVG in Illustrator.