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Nikkiee_POndi
Participating Frequently
June 4, 2009
Question

how to open illustrator file (.ai) using Indesign and save it as XML

  • June 4, 2009
  • 3 replies
  • 111428 views

I know how to open a Illustrator file (.ai) in Indesign.

It would be like :

1 ) Save your Illustrator file as AI. This Native format is most compatible with InDesign.

2 )  Go to -> InDesign, click on your document using your  Frame Rectangle tool (the one with the X through it).

3 )  Fill in the desired size (can be adjusted later).

5 ) Go to File menu > Place.

6 )  Find and select the Illustrator file in the window that opens.

7 ) Click the Open button.

Adjust size, & position of your image using the Direct Selection tool (white arrow), and the cropping with the Seclection tool (black arrow.

Now I want to save this file as XML.

After that,  I say

1 )  File -> Export

But this file saves as XML only shows he the root element nothing else.

Every time , this shows like

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>

<Root></Root>

Nothing is there as contents.

Can anyone let me know, is it possible to store .AI file as XML.

My requirement is simple, i want to store the .ai file as XML.

Some how I am using Indesign to do so . Can any body help.

Thanks,

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    3 replies

    FivePicaPica
    FivePicaPica
    Inspiring
    June 4, 2009

    Is it possible that you mean SVG? http://www.w3.org/Graphics/SVG/

    SVG is an XML version of graphics.

    In illustrator CS4, use Save As and choose SVG,from there you can simply save as SVG or click on Show SVG code to see/use the XML.

    InDesign CS3 had some whisper of support in InDesign, but as far as I can tell it's been dropped (I asked a related question yesterday: http://forums.adobe.com/message/2010911#2010911 ) and InDesign doesn't import SVG files.

    N
    Nikkiee_POndiAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    June 4, 2009

    You are right Mr. FivePicaPica

    We can do it with SVG format , But the again one more problem with SVG file is the parsing would be takes much more time.

    Actaully my AI file contains the Template for business card i.e. it has image and text field(static text) over it .

    The requirement is, the exported xml (like FXG) should have text field attributes like x,y coordinates,font size ,style etc. and Keywords inserted in it.

    I want in the XML form as to get the XML in the format(having x,y cordinates,style etc for text field along with keywords) ??

    Thanks,

    FivePicaPica
    FivePicaPica
    Inspiring
    June 4, 2009

    You can do the same thing with saving as FXG (and grabbing the code, which seems to have the XML format the way you want)

    Still no indesign support though.

    Scott Falkner
    Scott Falkner
    Community Expert
    June 4, 2009

    You cannot open an Illustrator file with InDesign. The steps you describe are for Placing the file, which just creates a link to the external AI file. That's why the XML export is also just a link to the same file.

    If you want to convert your AI file to an editable InDesign file you can try two methods. One is to just try Copying from Illustrator and Pasting into InDesign. If your artwork is simple and uses no effects or gradient meshes, you might get lucky and have a good conversion. That's probably not what will happen.

    The other method, which I've never tried, is to save a PDF then use Recosoft's PDF2ID plug-in. Maybe they have a trial version you can test out.

    Kenneth C. Benson
    Kenneth C. Benson
    Inspiring
    June 4, 2009

    First, Placing an AI file is not opening it. It's Placing it.

    Second, Exporting to XML exports the Indesign file (assuming you have structured content). Graphics can't be magically turned into XML.

    Why do you think you need Illustrator converted to XML?

    Ken

      N
      Nikkiee_POndiAuthor
      Participating Frequently
      June 4, 2009

      Ken ,

      Actually  I am into R& D department as we are into the identification business, My AI file contains the Template for business card i.e. it has image and text field(static text) over it .

      The problem, we are facing is, in exporting AI file.

      The requirement is to export the file in the form of XML, the reason specifically to XML is is we are going for other formats like FXG, it  should have text fied attributes like x,y coordinates,font size ,style etc. and Keywords inserted in it.In FXG I am not getting those keywords,some attributes are getting drop.

      Is there any way to get the XML in that format(having x,y cordinates,style etc for text field along with keywords) ??

      Thanks,

      Kenneth C. Benson
      Kenneth C. Benson
      Inspiring
      June 4, 2009

      Try copying and pasting from AI to Indesign.

      Ken

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