Unwanted layer merge when open the file

[Yifan3578042873s2]

When I reopen my Illustrator file, I only have one layer left. All the stuff is condensed in one layer as a group. Also, my canvas size changed automatically. And it becomes CMYK views. 

Also, some of the patterns are invisible. (I did it with live painting)

I was so frustrated that I lost all my layers and It happened several times these days.  Could anyone help me please?

[Monika Gause]

Was there any warning when you opened the file?

Where did you save the file?

How did you save the file?

Was that an old file that you just saved or did you "Save as"?

THis looks like either: the file got corrupted and now Illustrator had to open the PDF part of the file

or: the file has been saved as a very old version.

[Yifan3578042873s2]

Thanks for the reply. I got the illustrator file from Rhino 8. And I worked on this file directly (no warning when I opened it), then just saved it. Should I use "save as" instead?

[Yifan3578042873s2]

And I used to save in this way. The issue just happened recently. I am using the latest Illustrator version.

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

When saving the file in Illustrator did you ever use "Save as"?

You should, because only then you can save it into the native version.

[Yifan3578042873s2]

Thank you! I usually use "save as" only if I will change the format or other file name. When I first open an illustrator file exported by Rhino, all the layer works well. But if I use "save" and reopen it, the layers will merge together. It won't if I use "save as".

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

I'm pretty certain that Rhino will save AI files in some old version such as 8 or the like. 

When you open that in Illustrator and edit it and use some new functionality, and then just save, then the file will be saved as a version 8 file. That version did not support any stuff that is newer than 1995 or the like. 

THat's why you have to save as.

[Bill Silbert]

Is this happening in just the one file or in every file you work with? If it is happening for all files then try resetting your illlustrator preferences. This will restore the program to its defaults which, hopefully will fix the issue.

To do so:

For Macintosh Users: The User Library folder in which Illustrator’s preferences are stored is hidden by default on most Macintoshes. To access it make sure that Illustrator is closed and click on the desktop to launch a Finder Window (Command-N).With this window in column view follow the path User>Home folder (it’s the folder with an icon that looks like a house—it may have the user’s name rather than “Home”) and click on the Home folder. With the Option Key pressed choose Library from the Finder Go Menu. “Library” will now appear within the Home folder. Within the Library folder find the folder called Preferences and within it find the folder called “Adobe Illustrator <Version #> Settings” (earlier versions of Illustrator might just say “Adobe Illustrator”) and the file called “com.adobe.Illustrator.plist” and delete both that folder and that file. When Illustrator is next launched it will create new preference files and the program will be restored to its defaults.

For Windows Users: You can try the quick way of resetting on a PC which is to hold down Ctrl + Alt + Shift when launching Illustrator and respond affirmatively when asked if you want to reset. There have been some recent reports that the window asking if you want to reset is not popping up but that the prefs are being reset anyway. If this works great but if it doesn’t you may have to manually delete them.

To do so: On Windows 7 and above the preference files are hidden. To find them go to the Control Panel and open Folder Options and then click the View tab. Then select “Show hidden files and folders” or “Show hidden files, folders or drive options” in Advanced Settings. Then delete (or rename) the folder at the end of this path: C:\Users\[User Name]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator [version number]\ Settings\<Language>. Make sure that Illustrator is closed when you do this. When you relaunch the program it will create new preference files and the program will be at its default settings.

The advantage of manually deleting preference files is that after you’ve reset up the program (make sure that no document window is open) to your liking, you can create copies of your personalized “mint” preference files (make sure that you quit the program before copying them—that finalizes your customization) and use them in the future to replace any corrupt versions you may need to delete.