Start Workspace in Illustrator CC 2017 missing

[Ignatius Fay]

This question applies to both AI CC 2017 and Photoshop CC 2017 running on a MacPro, OS 10.12.2.

The Start Workspace in Illustrator CC 2017 is absent from Preferences and doesn't appear when the program starts. In Photoshop, the option  is available and checked in Preferences, but the workspace does not appear at start. This behavior started a week ago. InDesign CC 2017 works fine.

Anyone know what gives?

[jane-e]

Can you post a screenshot of the General tab for Preferences?

Did you try resetting Preferences?

[Ignatius Fay]

Yes, I tried resetting the preferences. All I got was the hassle of redefining them.

[jane-e]

Hmmm, you are missing some things!

When you go into Illustrator > About (Mac), what does it say for the version?

(again, ruling out the most common first)

[Ignatius Fay]

That's what mine says - 2017 release, 21.0.0

[Ignatius Fay · Accepted solution]

I got it! Believe it or not, the problem seems to have been a corrupted alias in the Dock. I tossed it out, replaced it, and all is fine.

Thanks for your assistance.

[jane-e]

The old Dock alias may have been opening an older version.

I keep older versions, and have to create a new alias in a different part of the Dock for the new version. Usually the new version (no matter who the vendor is) is flakey until the first patch. That may have been going on here. Check your Applications folder to see if you have more than one version. Another thing I do with Adobe products is change the Interface and make one version a light gray so I don't get confused.

But regardless, I am glad it's working for you now!

[BLUE731]

I am confused about Dock alias. My Start Workspace has gone missing as well as the option in Preferences since updating to CC 2017... O.o

[jane-e]

A dock alias will open a specific program, meaning you will have one for Illustrator 2015 and another for Illustrator 2017. When you open the program, the alias appears in the Dock, and disappears when you Quit.

If you want the alias to stay, you have to force it by dragging it to a new location on the Dock or press and hold, then choose Options.

(The question mark in my screen shot is for a program I don't have any more (Muse 2015) and now that I see it, I will remove it from the Dock by dragging it off and will replace it with Muse 2017.)

If your Start Workspace is missing, the first thing to do is look in About Illustrator and tell us the version.

If 2017 is the version that is actually open, then go to Preferences > General > enable the Start Workspace

If that doesn't work, then report back with screenshots!

[BLUE731]

Still a little confused and my screenshots would have looked exactly like those submitted above. I deleted a 2015 folder in my Program Files and for some reason that seemed to work. Whether that was the culprit or not, I am unsure. Thank you though for your help!

[kaiqin91402559]

Hi I'm currently facing the same problem.

My Adobe illustrator is the 2017 version 21.0.0

Am I suppose to delete the all the 2015.5 folders?

[Monika Gause]

The thread starter solved this by deleted a corrupt Alias. An alias is not a folder. And I hope you don't keep the installers in your dock.

[BLUE731]

That's what I did and it seemed to solve the issue. Remember, a Restart of your computer is usually a good thing to try after making changes like that. Hope that helps.

[SatosMai]

I have the same issue but nothing seems to solve the problem.

I deleted the alias, restarted the computer but the workspace is not showing up. Any other suggestions?

[jane-e]

What version and OS do you have, SatosMai?

[janw16966308]

My workspace has disappeared now, too, with the update to CC 2018. I have done the above -- no old alias, restarted a few times, logged in and out of Creative Cloud, and the preference is checked. My Photoshop and INDD workspaces are there after this upgrade. Only Illustrator has disappeared. Suggestions?

[jane-e]

Jan W,

Which workspace disappeared? Go to Window > Workspace and select Essentials or another Workspace. Then go back to Window > Workspace and Reset the Essentials (or other) Workspace. Does your workspace return?

Is that what you are asking?

If not, please post a screen shot.

[janw16966308]

[janw16966308]

Sorry -- I meant to add my text to the image above. I can't show you the screen I am missing, but this is the INDD startup workspace that I can see as well as photoshop. I have tried resetting it and it doesn't appear. I do have the workspace checked in preferences.

[PIJEGO111]

I have Hp spectre folio. When i go to dropmenu for workspace, touch workspace is missing. And i cant work without that with my pen....