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dianac98255847
dianac98255847
Participant
August 21, 2017
Answered

The file ".ai" is in an unknown format and cannot be opened

Hello

I'm having this issue when I try to open recent files from Illustrator or Acrobat.

See image:

I have a MAC OX El Capitain 10.11.6.

Can you help?

      jamess95197238Correct answer
      Participant
      January 14, 2018

      Hey all,

      I know I'm late to this, but it may be helpful for future problems, on a Mac at least. In Finder, go to the corrupted file, right click, "Get Info", remove the .ai file type from the name, MacOS will prompt with something like "Are you sure that you want to remove the file extension?", click yes. Then add the .ai back, you'll get another dialogue warning about changing the extension, click yes, and it should be good to go.

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      18 replies

      Md. Afjal25369250sg1d
      Participant
      July 24, 2022
      Screenshot_3.jpg
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      Monika Gause
      Community Expert
      Monika GauseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      July 24, 2022

      And you need help with that message?

       

      Which version, which system?

      Where is the file stored?

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      Happydays8
      Participant
      March 30, 2021

      I had an ai file from 2019 that would not open, it said "unkown format and cannot be opened. I opened it in PS 2019, closed it and I was able to open it in AI!!! I did not test to see if I opened it in PS 2021 if it would open in AI

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      jamess95197238Correct answer
      Participant
      January 14, 2018

      Hey all,

      I know I'm late to this, but it may be helpful for future problems, on a Mac at least. In Finder, go to the corrupted file, right click, "Get Info", remove the .ai file type from the name, MacOS will prompt with something like "Are you sure that you want to remove the file extension?", click yes. Then add the .ai back, you'll get another dialogue warning about changing the extension, click yes, and it should be good to go.

      Translate
        lulu5FE1
        Participant
        May 19, 2022

        what a life saver!!! thank you so so so much for this because it worked amazingly! i wish you gonna have a great day cuz you made mine james!

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        @mj
        Community Expert
        @mjCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        August 21, 2017

        Yup, sounds like you have a corrupt file on your hands.

        Try placing it in ID.

        Export as an EPS and open in Ai.

        HTH

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        Monika Gause
        Community Expert
        Monika GauseCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        August 21, 2017

        https://forums.adobe.com/people/master+mo  schrieb

        Try placing it in ID.

        Placing it in InDesign is the same as placing it in Illustrator (only more complicated).

        If placing in Illustrator doesn't work, placing in ID won't either.

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        dianac98255847
        dianac98255847Author
        Participant
        August 22, 2017

        Good morning all

        Nothing really worked. We tryed everything, and nothing.

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        Jeff Witchel, ACI
        Community Expert
        Jeff Witchel, ACICommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        August 21, 2017

        Sounds like a corrupted file to me.

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        Monika Gause
        Community Expert
        Monika GauseCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        August 21, 2017

        Sounds like a corrupted file to me.

        Well, yes.

        But before I give up all hope, I'd like to have those questions answered. If only to prevent this in the future.

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        Monika Gause
        Community Expert
        Monika GauseCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        August 21, 2017

        Which version of Illustrator?

        Are you working on the file on just this machine?

        Where do you save your files?

        What's in the file?

        Is it an older file?

        When did you last restart that computer?

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          dianac98255847
          dianac98255847Author
          Participant
          August 21, 2017

          Hello Monika

          Which version of Illustrator? Adobe Illustrator CC 2017

          Are you working on the file on just this machine? We can work the files on other computers equal to mine

          Where do you save your files? They are saved in a QNAP

          What's in the file? Vector/images/fonts

          Is it an older file? Recent one

          When did you last restart that computer? Today

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          Monika Gause
          Community Expert
          Monika GauseCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          August 21, 2017

          You could try if one of the other computers can still open the file.

          But the network drive most probably causes the issue

          There is a known issue with Illustrator and saving to/opening from networked drives.

          Illustrator support for networks and removable media

          For some people it works, for others it doesn't.

          Also: it might work for some people, but not for others in the same building.

          A more reliable workflow would be to first copy the file from the server, then edit it and save to your harddisk, then upload to the server again.

          If no other computer can still open the file, try and work from an older backup.

          Also: try and create a new Illustrator file and place this AI file in it. But since you also can't open it in Acrobat, there's little chance this will work.

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