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david misconish
Known Participant
January 3, 2020
Answered

Unable to open older Illustrator files with CC2020

  • January 3, 2020
  • 2 replies
  • 5493 views

I have many older files I created over the years using AI- many dating back to version 5, and likely earlier. My problem is that most of these will not open with CC 2020. Additionally, I delete my older versions of the app in order to save space on my hard drive.

Does anyone have a solution?

 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer boots_n_patches

if  they  are  freehand  files … and  you  are  desperate  to  open  the  files … tensai  has  a  plug-in  for  converting  freehand  to  illustrator.  however … you  have  catalina (v10.15),  which  accepts  only  64-bit  software … so,  i  doubt  their  plug-in  would  work.  you'd  probably  need  to  use  an  earlier  mac-os … as  well  as  illustrator  on  that  platform.

2 replies

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boots_n_patchesCorrect answer
Inspiring
January 7, 2020

if  they  are  freehand  files … and  you  are  desperate  to  open  the  files … tensai  has  a  plug-in  for  converting  freehand  to  illustrator.  however … you  have  catalina (v10.15),  which  accepts  only  64-bit  software … so,  i  doubt  their  plug-in  would  work.  you'd  probably  need  to  use  an  earlier  mac-os … as  well  as  illustrator  on  that  platform.

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 7, 2020

    Those are FreeHand 3. Tensai cannot open them. You need a copy of FreeHand 7 or even earlier to open FreeHand 3 files.

    Rishabh_Tiwari
    Community Manager
    Rishabh_TiwariCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    January 3, 2020

    Hi David,

     

    Sorry to hear about the trouble you are facing with Illustrator. I would request if you can share a few more details like:

     

    1. The exact version of Illustrator and the Operating system.
    2. What message do you get when you try to open the file? Will it be possible for you to share a screenshot?
    3. Is this happening with specific files created in an older version or you are unable to open any file created in the older version?
    4. Where is the file saved, locally or on any network or shared drive?

     

    All this information would help us understand the issue better and work accordingly. Looking forward to your response.

     

    Regards

    Rishabh

    D
    david misconishAuthor
    Known Participant
    January 3, 2020

    Thanks for the inquiry Rishabh.

     

    The error message reads, The file "file name" is an unknown format and cannot be opened. The same error occurs when I add the .ai extension.

    I'm working on a Mac OS v10.15.2, the file is on my hard drive, and I don't see the version # of .AI when I "get info." however, it looks that the file was generated back in 1995.

     

      Monika Gause
      Community Expert
      Monika GauseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      January 3, 2020

      Which file format exactly is it? AI, EPS?

      In which way did you get it to your current computer?

      Has the file been created on Mac or Windows? And which are you using now?

      If the file has been created on the Mac, are you sure that it's not compressed by some system extension like DiskDoubler? That has been really common back then.

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