The operation cannot complete because of an unknown error. [!now]

[skey000]

I'm new to illustrator and am trying to export a png but illustrator keeps coming back with this error.

The operation cannot complete because of an unknown error. [!now]

What could be the cause? I have tried different solutions I have seen for other problems such as deleting hidden layers but nothing seems to be working.

I am running illustrator CC on a windows 10 computer. (Not sure if that helps.)

Thanks.

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

As already stated in that other thread:

Where do you save the file?

Which system, which version?

How large is the file?

How large will the exported file be? Does it work when you export a smaller file (pixel dimensions, lower resolution)?

[Ahmeed]

i get the same error just when i attemp to export a large file or great resolution but it does work with smaller files and lower resolution (i'm runing illustrator on windows 8.1)

[Srishti Bali]

Hi skey,

Please update the discussion if the issue is resolved or if you have any further query.

Regards

Srishti

[nathanl39995532]

I keep having this issue when I open and close random files. All files I open and close are in PDF format. It completes the opening and/or closing of the file but still throws up this error--

"The operation cannot complete because of an unknown error. [x!fd]"

It's rather irritating because I am dealing with hundreds of files throughout the day (not all at once).

Files are also fairly small in size (under 1MB).

Working on Mac Pro.    OS High Sierra 10.13.1     Illustrator CC 20.0.1

[Monika Gause]

nathanl39995532  schrieb

Working on Mac Pro.    OS High Sierra 10.13.1     Illustrator CC 20.0.1

That version of Illustrator is not compatible with High Sierra. You need to update.

[nathanl39995532]

But that is the latest update available for Illustrator? Are you saying I should downgrade Illustrator?

[Monika Gause]

The latest is 22.0.1

[nathanl39995532]

Oops that was a typo on my part to begin with. I am currently on 22.0.1

[Monika Gause]

Please contact support:

Contact Customer Care

[Depone00]

I am having the same issue. I am on Windows running the latest version. I just downloaded the Adobe program last week. I opened the same file 30 minutes ago and it was able to export fine. All of a sudden I am getting this error.

[Monika Gause]

Depone00  schrieb

I am having the same issue. I am on Windows running the latest version. I just downloaded the Adobe program last week. I opened the same file 30 minutes ago and it was able to export fine. All of a sudden I am getting this error.

Exactly where are you saving?

Exatly what are you saving?

Is a printer installed?

What's in the file?

Do you use font management?

[Farish]

I am having this same problem as well. I do not see an actual answer on what is happening, or what I can do to fix this problem.

[Monika Gause]

Please contact support via the link in this thread.

[Depone00]

Why would you mark this as the answer? You have answered nothing.

[Christopher Liam Ivey]

I'm experiencing the same issue in 2019.  What gives?  The error message is useless.

[Monika Gause]

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Christopher+Liam+Ivey  schrieb

I'm experiencing the same issue in 2019.  What gives?  The error message is useless.

Which issue?

Opening files?

Exporting a PNG?

Which system is it?

Where are the files located?

Is a printer connected?

Please create a new thread.

[Christopher Liam Ivey]

Here are my responses to your questions:

Issue: The operation cannot complete because of an unknown error. [!now] appears when attempting to export art to a .png.

It may be because the of the desired output dimensions, but I have no way of knowing because of the ridiculous error message.  This is on the latest build of Illustrator, on Windows 7.

In this case I ran down the issue to canvas size by trying different file formats.  Just commenting on the fact that the message is still not useful.

[Monika Gause]

Please report feature requests to http://illustrator.uservoice.com

The forum is 95% not Adobe staff trying to help you with your problems. We can't change Illustrator.

[MichU_mk]

Guys, I think I have a solution for you, maybe it will help. I had exactly the same problem, "The operation cannot complete because of an unknown error. [!now]" while exporting files to png. Only you have to do is:

1. Turn off GPU acceleration (in settings>performance)

2. Close Illustrator

3. Open Illustrator, turn on GPU acceleration

I think that this error might be caused by some troubles between gpu and illustrator while rendering or something.

[omargh]

this worked for me. thanks

[eleanorc14944101]

Hi,

I know this is an old thread, and I don't have an answer as to why this is happening, BUT - this kept happening to me, too, and the workaround I used was to save out the illustrator file as a print-quality PDF, and then open that in Photoshop and save as a PNG. 

I hope this helps anyone else having this issue, because Adobe seems to be no help whatsoever.

[TCG-CLT]

So I am fairly experienced in Adobe CC and have worked with Illustraotr everyday for the last 4 years. I recently strated a map of Wilmington NC that measures 60"x48".  I had to start over becuase I needed to zoom the map in more.  Upon starting over the file size nearly quadrupled from the prior iteration (this shouldnt have been the case, because by zooming into the map, the number of labels and paths was cut in half. Since attempting to export this new iteration I have been unable and receive the following error message each time: "The operation cannot complete because of an unknown error. [!now]".

Originally I had both iterations of this file saved on an external drive connected to my Desktop PC running Windows 10

The (oversized) file came in around 1.78 GB, but by removing the basemap imagery and linking that image I got the file size down to 870 MB.  The Final export would measure 5'x4' (60"x48").

I did manage to remedy my issue however by doing a Save As onto my desktop (included linked images) and exported the new file.  This did not result in an error message.  I wonder if my exported image's file path was too many characters in length...that is te only time I've had such out-of-nowhere export errors. FYI the file path of the file that would not export is: D:\HUCKS MAP STUDIOS\200331_Wilmington NC_Residential Map Poster_Brooks\Exports\60x48 v2.0 (Zoom)\Wilmington NC - Downtown Residential (60x48)-ZOOM v2.0 - Renderings\200401_Wilmington NC - Downtown Residential (60x48)-ZOOM v2.2 - Map Rendering [Converted].ai

Would love to hear anyone's insight.into why the error might have occured.  Thanks

[TCG-CLT]

To test my theory about file path length, I re-saved the file from my Desktop back onto my external drive but into a subfolder that wasn't nested within 3 additional subfolders.  When I went to export this file, it exported successfully.

Thus, THIS PROBLEM IS SOLVED for my particular issue, and I'd recommend that anyone who has not had this issue resolved try a similar process for shortening the file path of the export image file.

[Manasi5DD1]

Thanks.. It was the easiest solution which worked with me.