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Gamecreature
Gamecreature
Inspiring
August 21, 2021
Answered

Unable to create new Artboards using the Artboard tool in Illustrtaor v25.4.1

  • August 21, 2021
  • 2 replies
  • 3518 views

I have regularly been opening PDF files in Illustrator without any issue. But recently, the artboards are no longer part of the file. If I try to open a PDF with multiple pages (artboards) it says it "exceeds the available drawing area," again an issue I did not have until recently. What changed and how do I get it back to the way it was? I am running version 25.2.3

 

 

{Renamed by MOD}

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Correct answer Anshul_Saini
  • Using Windows 10 (build 19042.1165)
  • No errors now or recently when launching Illustrator or creating an artboard. The only error is when opening a multipage PDF where it says "exceeds the available drawing area," Screen grab is below.
  • Since it started, it has been happening to all PDF docs, even those that I had no trouble with before. AI docs are unaffected. When I try to create a new art board in a doc with an existing artboard (usually AI) then the tool works fine.
  • Files are currently stored on local and external HDD.
  • No changes
  • Resetting preferences has no effect (thanks, he says sarcastically)

Thank you for sharing the details. I would suggest you to perform the steps shared in this post (https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator/resolve-slow-performance-and-unexpected-behaviors-in-illustrator/td-p/11561981) step by step and share your observation with us.

 

Regards,

Anshul Saini

2 replies

Gamecreature
GamecreatureAuthor
Inspiring
August 22, 2021

UPDATE:

 

I also cannot create new artboards using the artboard tool and dragging. Activating the artboard tool changes the normally grey, artboardless background from grey to white, and no amount of dragging with the tool can create any new artboards. The ONLY way to create an artboard is to make a rectangle and use OBJECT>ARTBOARDS>Convert To Artboard.

 

This behavior has not changed in spite of upgrading to v25.4.1

Anshul_Saini
Community Manager
Anshul_SainiCommunity Manager
Community Manager
August 22, 2021

Hi there,

 

Sorry about the trouble you are facing. Could you please share a few more details in addition to details asked by @Monika Gause:

  • Operating System
  • Are you getting any errors while launching Illustrator or opening a file, or creating a new artboard. If yes, please share the screenshot of the error.
  • Is the issue happening while working on a specific document? If yes, could you please share the document with us? You can upload it to the Creative Cloud (https://helpx.adobe.com/in/creative-cloud/help/share.html) and share the download link here or via DM.
  • Where are you saving the files (Network Drive/ System HDD/ Shared Folder on System/ External HDD)?
  • Are there any recent changes made to your system? For example, any antivirus, system updates, or web extensions installed recently.
  • Does resetting Illustrator Preferences (https://helpx.adobe.com/in/illustrator/using/setting-preferences.html) help to resolve the issue?
    Disclaimer: Please note that resetting preferences will remove all the custom settings, and Illustrator will launch with default settings. You can also take a backup of the folders in case you want to. Location is mentioned in the article.

 

Looking forward to your response.

 

Regards,

Anshul Saini

Gamecreature
GamecreatureAuthor
Inspiring
August 22, 2021
  • Using Windows 10 (build 19042.1165)
  • No errors now or recently when launching Illustrator or creating an artboard. The only error is when opening a multipage PDF where it says "exceeds the available drawing area," Screen grab is below.
  • Since it started, it has been happening to all PDF docs, even those that I had no trouble with before. AI docs are unaffected. When I try to create a new art board in a doc with an existing artboard (usually AI) then the tool works fine.
  • Files are currently stored on local and external HDD.
  • No changes
  • Resetting preferences has no effect (thanks, he says sarcastically)
Monika Gause
Community Expert
Monika GauseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
August 21, 2021

Can you please tell us the details?

How many artboards have there been in the file?

What's in it when you open it now?

Anything else suspicious about the file structer? The layers?

Exactly how do you save files? Which options?

Where do you save files? On a network?

Is there still something left when you open the file in Acrobat?

 

What could have happened: The (editable) AI part of your file got corrupted, The PDF part as well somehow and that's where you are. PDF is not a good file format for a workfile.

Gamecreature
GamecreatureAuthor
Inspiring
August 22, 2021

It does not seem to matter if it was a file that I had previously opened successfully, hence the suspicion that some setting has changed.

When I am able to open the file, I can see the content without issue, just the artboard is missing and the program assumes that the file must be gargantuan, so I cannot open more than a single page at a time.

These are all files that have been save by others as PDF, so I have no control over the parameters. Generally, the files are saved on A4 artboards which I am trying to convert and save as letter sized.

Other than being in A4 format, there are zero issues with opening the file in Acrobat.

 

I am considering going to a previous version of Illustrator, but I don't know how far back I need to go or if it would make any difference at all.

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