Ungrouping an imported pdf into Illustrator

[AngieGray66]

Is there a way to ungroup the elements of an imported pdf in Illustrator 6? Do you have to change the settings in Adobe Acrobat first to allow the elements to import individually rather than a group? Thank you.

[Jacob Bugge]

Angie,

You should be able to Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+G to Ungroup once it is in Illy. If there is a Clipping Mask or something blocking the way, you may release that. You can see it in the Layers palette.

Illustrator 6

The one from 1996 or the slightly newer one called CS6/16?

[AngieGray66]

Hello
Many thanks for that its CS6/16 but it did not work.

[_scott__]

If the PDF opens as one big image and can not be ungrouped, then it does not contain vector objects. It's just a big raster image. If you use the Direct Selection Tool (the white arrow) you should be able to select individual objects. If you can't, then it's just a raster image.

[Guest]

Okay found a solution! (3 years later, lol)

Steps

#1. Import PDF

#2. Click on object (PDF)

#3. Once selected click embed (Located under File, Edit, Object, Type... Window and help)

#4. Once embedded, right click object (PDF) and select ungroup.

Done!

[Romello28317344akgh]

Stupid answer!!

[miron.av]

This is not a stupid answer, the solution actually works. Thanks to Romello for posting it.

I have attached a screenshot with the designation of the required button!

[Guest]

not even close to stupid.

I am brand new to illustrator and this worked PERFECTLY for me. Thanks OP!!!

[Guest]

TYSM it worked perfectly!

[MartinKehoe · Accepted solution]

Use this script:

function releaseAllClippingMasks(doc) {
    var items = doc.pageItems;
    for (var i = items.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
        var item = items[i];
        if (item.typename === "GroupItem" && item.clipped) {
            try {
                item.clipped = false;
                for (var j = item.pageItems.length - 1; j >= 0; j--) {
                    item.pageItems[j].move(item, ElementPlacement.PLACEATEND);
                }
            } catch (e) {
                $.writeln("Error releasing clipping mask: " + e);
            }
        }
    }
}

function ungroupAll(doc) {
    var changed = true;
    while (changed) {
        changed = false;
        var items = doc.pageItems;
        for (var i = items.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
            var item = items[i];
            if (item.typename === "GroupItem") {
                try {
                    for (var j = item.pageItems.length - 1; j >= 0; j--) {
                        item.pageItems[j].move(item.parent, ElementPlacement.PLACEATEND);
                    }
                    item.remove();
                    changed = true;
                } catch (e) {
                    $.writeln("Error ungrouping: " + e);
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

if (app.documents.length > 0) {
    var doc = app.activeDocument;
    app.executeMenuCommand('unlockAll');
    app.executeMenuCommand('selectall');
    releaseAllClippingMasks(doc);
    ungroupAll(doc);
    alert("All clipping masks released and all groups ungrouped.");
} else {
    alert("No document open.");
}

[kzzRuan]

you're a lifesaver, tysm.