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U
ulf_9108
Participant
April 1, 2025
Question

Suddenly I can´t open SVG files that I created before, SVG is Invalid.

  • April 1, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 1177 views

Hello!

I recently got a new computer and reinstalled the Adobe Illustrator and other Adobe software, and now I can´t open SVG-files that I previously created and could open. And the strange thing is that in Adobe Bridge, some SVG-files does not have a thumbnail but some do. And those who do have a thumbnail, those I can open. 
I get the error message, see pictures below. I have added two files, one that dont work and one that do. The file that dont work is 20066, anbd the file that do work is 20125.

 

 

 

Please help! 🙂

 

1 reply

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Monika GauseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 1, 2025

Did you already validate the SVG?

If the validator shows errors, you could fix them in the code (make a copy of the file before doing so)

 

You could also try and install a different version of Illustrator and try there.

 

Does the file open in Inkscape? If so, try and open it, then save it with a different name.

 

Illustrator is famous for not properly being able to open SVGs it has previously saved. SVG in Illustrator is a one-way street. You either import them (and then save them as AI) or you export them (only to never touch them again in Illustrator). Your work file should be AI, the native file format.

    U
    ulf_9108Author
    Participant
    April 1, 2025

    Well look. SVG is not a one-way street. I have been able to reopen these files before, on another computer and make adjustments to the SVG-file in Adobe Illustrator without any issues. This is a workflow we have had for over two years now. So what you are suggesting is nothing new, not a solution or anything that, if I may be frank, is viable. Since we have over 1000 illustrations now, created with export from Adobe Illustrator, and all of them have been ready to open in Illustrator, and been able to edit.

     

    And yes, I have been cheking them in validator. But the thing is that even those that can be opened in Adobe Illustrator has errors. So it has to be something else.


    So I will reinstall Adobe Illustrator and see if that works. But as a solution to this issue, it is not.

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 3, 2025

    I understand your view, but we are working with technical communications and are using an XML editor and XML system to produce our documentations. And in that environment SVG is king, since it is based on XML. I generally dont agree with your assertions that SVG is in generall bad, it is used so much in the industry now, especially since most documentation material is being used in webb and mobile solutions nowdays. And I think it´s a bit worrying that most of you who have commented doesn´t come up with any solutions, but rather complain over a workflow and fileformat that is used extensivly in technical documentation industry. But I do appreciate your replys and I will try to make use of Adobe software as best I can.


    I totally get your workflow and I know that publishers are experimenting with SVG for their workflows and also the RGB problem can be solved with certain color profiles.

     

    BUT: SVG is not a native file format for Illustrator. And until it is (which will probably never be the case), SVG is not suitable as a workfile format when you are working with Illustrator. In Illustrator SVG is a one way street. Once exported, you better never open it again and instead use your AI file, make the edits and then export SVG again.

     

    That is the situation. There is no solution.

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