Saved pattern files (color swatches) are broken

[Kustenklar]

I have previously saved several patterns in the color swatches library (as .ai files). After I updated to the latest Illustrator version (I guess that's the reason) and now try to open my saved patterns, this message below opens in illustrator, I don't understand why. Translated into English it says: This is an Adobe Illustrator file that was saved without PDF content. If you want to open the file in other programs, you should resave it in Adobe Illustrator with the "Create PDF Compatible File" option enabled. This option is found in the Illustrator Built-in Format Options dialog box that appears when you save an Adobe Illustrator file using the Save As command. 

Please help! 

[Ton Frederiks]

That should not prevent the file from opening in Illustrator.

What happens if you open it?

[Kustenklar · Accepted solution]

What happened was that the file attached opened instead. Help center asked me to go through these steps and it somehow solved the problem for now (if anyone else has the same problem).

[Ton Frederiks]

Good to hear you can use them now, although I do not understand what cloud documents have to do with the problem. Swatches files are local saved .ai files that are indeed saved without a pdf version, but that is not needed for opening them as .ai.

[Kustenklar]

I know, I don't get it either ... but it seemed to solved the problem.