"Could not edit original smart object because of a program error" (MacOS)

Report · Apr 18, 2017

When trying to open embedded Illustrator document in Photoshop, I get the following error:

"Could not edit original smart object because of a program error"

MacOS 10.12.4 (problem occurred since at least 10.10), latest updated Adobe CC Photoshop/Illustrator.

Steps to reproduce:

In Illustrator, create .ai document and save it
In Photoshop, Create a new document
Drag the .ai file into Photoshop
Now when double clicking the smart object to open it in illustrator, the error occurs

Notes;

The file associations for .ai documents are set correctly, if I open the .ai from the finder, it opens in Illustrator as expected.
Can't find any errors in the system logs
If I create a new user on this machine, it works without a problem
Using lsregister command to clear the file association registry database doesn't help

This is frustrating. I searched everywhere, can't find any solution.

Anything else I can try? Any additional logs to check?

Thanks.

Report · Apr 18, 2017

Hi danielvy,

Open any .ai file from your OS explorer with Illustrator CC2015 and then your OS will record that .ai now open with it. After that you should be able to open smart object from photoshop. Also see Error: This item is not directly editable in Photoshop

Thanks,

Akash

Report · Apr 18, 2017

Thank you for the reply.

As I already said in the original post, the file associations are set correctly. If I open the .ai file from the Finder, it opens in Illustrator normally. The error only happens when trying to open the .ai from Photoshop.

The topic that you linked to is not relevant to this issue. It is a different error and the solution doesn't solve the problem.

Cheers,

- Daniel

Report · Apr 19, 2017

Please reset Photoshop preferences to default, See the steps to reset preferences here Preferences in Photoshop

~Akash

Report · Apr 19, 2017

Reseting Photoshop settings doesn't help, same problem.

In fact, I even removed all Adobe CC applications completely, used the Cleaner app and removed any related Adobe CC preferences, then reinstalled everything from scratch. Didn't help.

Anything else I can try?

Report · Apr 23, 2017

Akash Sharma

Is there anything else I can check or try? Any additional information I can provide to help troubleshooting this?

If you are unable to provide further assistance can you please escalate it to the right people on your team who can?

If this isn't the proper channel to continue support for this issue, can you please direct me to the right place?

In any case, please don't leave this hanging, I'd really like to have this resolved.

Thanks.

- Daniel

Report · Apr 24, 2017

Hi Daniel,

Sorry for the late response. Could you please post the Photoshop System info from Help menu here?

Thanks,

Akash

Report · Apr 24, 2017

Adobe Photoshop Version: 2017.1.0 20170309.r.207 2017/03/09:23:00:00 CL 1107877 x64

Number of Launches: 1

Operating System: Mac OS 10.12.4

System architecture: Intel CPU Family:6, Model:70, Stepping:1 with MMX, SSE Integer, SSE FP, SSE2, SSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX, AVX2, HyperThreading

Physical processor count: 4

Logical processor count: 8

Processor speed: 2500 MHz

Built-in memory: 16384 MB

Free memory: 8635 MB

Memory available to Photoshop: 13108 MB

Memory used by Photoshop: 70 %

History Thumbnails: Enabled.

Touch Bar: Enabled.

Alias Layers: Disabled.

Modifier Palette: Disabled.

Highbeam: Enabled.

Image tile size: 1024K

Image cache levels: 4

Font Preview: Medium

TextComposer: Middle Eastern and South Asian

Display: 1

Main Display

Display Bounds: top=0, left=0, bottom=1200, right=1920

Display: 2

High DPI Monitor

Display Bounds: top=0, left=-1440, bottom=900, right=0

OpenGL Drawing: Enabled.

OpenGL Allow Old GPUs: Not Detected.

OpenGL Drawing Mode: Advanced

OpenGL Allow Normal Mode: True.

OpenGL Allow Advanced Mode: True.

AIFCoreInitialized=1

AIFOGLInitialized=1

OGLContextCreated=1

NumGLGPUs=2

NumCLGPUs=2

NumNativeGPUs=2

glgpu[0].GLVersion="2.1"

glgpu[0].IsIntegratedGLGPU=0

glgpu[0].GLMemoryMB=2048

glgpu[0].GLName="NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M OpenGL Engine"

glgpu[0].GLVendor="NVIDIA Corporation"

glgpu[0].GLVendorID=4318

glgpu[0].GLRectTextureSize=16384

glgpu[0].GLRenderer="NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M OpenGL Engine"

glgpu[0].GLRendererID=16918311

glgpu[0].HasGLNPOTSupport=1

glgpu[0].CanCompileProgramGLSL=1

glgpu[0].GLFrameBufferOK=1

glgpu[0].glGetString[GL_SHADING_LANGUAGE_VERSION]="1.20"

glgpu[0].glGetProgramivARB[GL_FRAGMENT_PROGRAM_ARB][GL_MAX_PROGRAM_INSTRUCTIONS_ARB]=[16384]

glgpu[0].glGetIntegerv[GL_MAX_TEXTURE_UNITS]=[8]

glgpu[0].glGetIntegerv[GL_MAX_COMBINED_TEXTURE_IMAGE_UNITS]=[16]

glgpu[0].glGetIntegerv[GL_MAX_VERTEX_TEXTURE_IMAGE_UNITS]=[16]

glgpu[0].glGetIntegerv[GL_MAX_TEXTURE_IMAGE_UNITS]=[16]

glgpu[0].glGetIntegerv[GL_MAX_DRAW_BUFFERS]=[8]

glgpu[0].glGetIntegerv[GL_MAX_VERTEX_UNIFORM_COMPONENTS]=[4096]

glgpu[0].glGetIntegerv[GL_MAX_FRAGMENT_UNIFORM_COMPONENTS]=[2048]

glgpu[0].glGetIntegerv[GL_MAX_VARYING_FLOATS]=[124]

glgpu[0].glGetIntegerv[GL_MAX_VERTEX_ATTRIBS]=[16]

glgpu[0].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_ARB_VERTEX_PROGRAM]=1

glgpu[0].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_ARB_FRAGMENT_PROGRAM]=1

glgpu[0].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_ARB_VERTEX_SHADER]=1

glgpu[0].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_ARB_FRAGMENT_SHADER]=1

glgpu[0].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_EXT_FRAMEBUFFER_OBJECT]=1

glgpu[0].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_ARB_TEXTURE_RECTANGLE]=1

glgpu[0].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_ARB_TEXTURE_FLOAT]=1

glgpu[0].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_ARB_OCCLUSION_QUERY]=1

glgpu[0].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_ARB_VERTEX_BUFFER_OBJECT]=1

glgpu[0].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_ARB_SHADER_TEXTURE_LOD]=1

clgpu[0].CLPlatformVersion="1.2 (Mar 6 2017 20:53:28)"

clgpu[0].CLDeviceVersion="1.2 "

clgpu[0].IsIntegratedCLGPU=1

clgpu[0].CLMemoryMB=1536

clgpu[0].CLName="Iris Pro"

clgpu[0].CLVendor="Intel"

clgpu[0].CLVendorID=16925952

clgpu[0].CLDriverVersion="1.2(Mar 16 2017 22:07:31)"

clgpu[0].CLBandwidth=4.49989e+10

clgpu[0].CLCompute=206.943

nativegpu[0].NativeName="NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M"

glgpu[1].GLVersion="2.1"

glgpu[1].IsIntegratedGLGPU=0

glgpu[1].GLMemoryMB=2048

glgpu[1].GLName="NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M OpenGL Engine"

glgpu[1].GLVendor="NVIDIA Corporation"

glgpu[1].GLVendorID=4318

glgpu[1].GLRectTextureSize=16384

glgpu[1].GLRenderer="NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M OpenGL Engine"

glgpu[1].GLRendererID=16918311

glgpu[1].HasGLNPOTSupport=1

glgpu[1].CanCompileProgramGLSL=1

glgpu[1].GLFrameBufferOK=1

glgpu[1].glGetString[GL_SHADING_LANGUAGE_VERSION]="1.20"

glgpu[1].glGetProgramivARB[GL_FRAGMENT_PROGRAM_ARB][GL_MAX_PROGRAM_INSTRUCTIONS_ARB]=[16384]

glgpu[1].glGetIntegerv[GL_MAX_TEXTURE_UNITS]=[8]

glgpu[1].glGetIntegerv[GL_MAX_COMBINED_TEXTURE_IMAGE_UNITS]=[16]

glgpu[1].glGetIntegerv[GL_MAX_VERTEX_TEXTURE_IMAGE_UNITS]=[16]

glgpu[1].glGetIntegerv[GL_MAX_TEXTURE_IMAGE_UNITS]=[16]

glgpu[1].glGetIntegerv[GL_MAX_DRAW_BUFFERS]=[8]

glgpu[1].glGetIntegerv[GL_MAX_VERTEX_UNIFORM_COMPONENTS]=[4096]

glgpu[1].glGetIntegerv[GL_MAX_FRAGMENT_UNIFORM_COMPONENTS]=[2048]

glgpu[1].glGetIntegerv[GL_MAX_VARYING_FLOATS]=[124]

glgpu[1].glGetIntegerv[GL_MAX_VERTEX_ATTRIBS]=[16]

glgpu[1].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_ARB_VERTEX_PROGRAM]=1

glgpu[1].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_ARB_FRAGMENT_PROGRAM]=1

glgpu[1].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_ARB_VERTEX_SHADER]=1

glgpu[1].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_ARB_FRAGMENT_SHADER]=1

glgpu[1].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_EXT_FRAMEBUFFER_OBJECT]=1

glgpu[1].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_ARB_TEXTURE_RECTANGLE]=1

glgpu[1].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_ARB_TEXTURE_FLOAT]=1

glgpu[1].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_ARB_OCCLUSION_QUERY]=1

glgpu[1].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_ARB_VERTEX_BUFFER_OBJECT]=1

glgpu[1].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_ARB_SHADER_TEXTURE_LOD]=1

clgpu[1].CLPlatformVersion="1.2 (Mar 6 2017 20:53:28)"

clgpu[1].CLDeviceVersion="1.2 "

clgpu[1].IsIntegratedCLGPU=0

clgpu[1].CLMemoryMB=2048

clgpu[1].CLName="GeForce GT 750M"

clgpu[1].CLVendor="NVIDIA"

clgpu[1].CLVendorID=16918272

clgpu[1].CLDriverVersion="10.16.34 355.10.05.35f05"

clgpu[1].CLBandwidth=1.71731e+10

clgpu[1].CLCompute=52.2434

nativegpu[1].NativeName="Intel Iris Pro Graphics"

License Type: Subscription

Serial number: 90970601878088761706

GUIDBucket:

bucket: 23

test: control

Application folder: /Applications/Adobe Photoshop CC 2017/

Photoshop scratch has async I/O enabled

Scratch volume(s):

Startup, 464.8G, 29.4G free

Required Plug-ins folder: /Applications/Adobe Photoshop CC 2017/Adobe Photoshop CC 2017.app/Contents/Required/Plug-ins/

Primary Plug-ins folder: /Applications/Adobe Photoshop CC 2017/Plug-ins/

Installed components:

AdbePM.framework AdbePM 2.5.00.377243 1.578146

adobe_caps.framework adobe_caps 10.0.0.6 1.584361

AdobeACE.framework AdobeACE 2.20.02.37848 79.579975

AdobeAGM.framework AdobeAGM 4.30.87.37848 79.579975

AdobeAXE8SharedExpat.framework AdobeAXE8SharedExpat 3.8.0.34320 79.562390

AdobeAXEDOMCore.framework AdobeAXEDOMCore 3.8.0.34320 79.562390

AdobeBIB.framework AdobeBIB 1.2.03.37848 79.579975

AdobeBIBUtils.framework AdobeBIBUtils 1.1.01 79.579975

AdobeCoolType.framework AdobeCoolType 5.15.00.37848 79.579975

AdobeCrashReporter.framework AdobeCrashReporter 7.3.2

AdobeExtendScript.framework AdobeExtendScript 4.5.6.5 80.1089815

AdobeJP2K.framework AdobeJP2K 1.2.2.36529 79.262945

AdobeLinguistic.framework 22175

AdobeMPS.framework AdobeMPS 5.8.1.37174 79.577269

AdobeOwl.framework AdobeOwl 5.2.11

AdobePDFL.framework AdobePDFL 15.0.0.36975 79.195992

AdobePDFSettings.framework AdobePDFSettings 1.4

AdobePIP.framework AdobePIP 7.4.1.60.45263

AdobeScCore.framework AdobeScCore 4.5.6.5 80.1089815

AdobeSVGAGM.framework AdobeSVGAGM 1.0.0.37848 79.579975

AdobeSVGRE.framework AdobeSVGRE 6.0 79.579975

AdobeUpdater.framework AdobeUpdater 6.0.0.1452 "52.338651"

AdobeXMP.framework AdobeXMPCore 79.159824 79.159824

AdobeXMPFiles.framework AdobeXMPFiles 79.159824 79.159824

AdobeXMPScript.framework AdobeXMPScript 79.159824 79.159824

ahclient.framework ahclient 2.2.0.1

AIDE.framework AIDE 1.5.0.36540 79.574279

aif.framework aif 6.0.00.1 1.

amtlib.framework amtlib 10.0.0.119

boost_date_time.framework boost_date_time 10.0.0.0

boost_filesystem.framework boost_filesystem 10.0.0.0

boost_signals.framework boost_signals 10.0.0.0

boost_system.framework boost_system 10.0.0.0

boost_threads.framework boost_threads 10.0.0.0

Cg.framework NVIDIA Cg

CITThreading.framework

dvaaudiodevice.framework dvaaudiodevice 10.0.0.0

dvacore.framework dvacore 10.0.0.0

dvamarshal.framework dvamarshal 10.0.0.0

dvamediatypes.framework dvamediatypes 10.0.0.0

dvametadata.framework dvametadata 10.0.0.0

dvametadataapi.framework dvametadataapi 10.0.0.0

dvametadataUI.framework dvametadataUI 10.0.0.0

dvaplayer.framework dvaplayer 10.0.0.0

dvatransport.framework dvatransport 10.0.0.0

dvaui.framework dvaui 10.0.0.0

dvaunittesting.framework dvaunittesting 10.0.0.0

dynamiclink.framework dynamiclink 10.0.0.0

ICUConverter.framework ICUConverter 3.61 "gtlib_6.0" "." "21287"

ICUData.framework ICUData 3.61 "gtlib_6.0" "." "21287"

ICUUnicode.framework ICUUnicode 3.61 "gtlib_6.0" "." "21287"

LogSession.framework LogSession 7.4.1.60.45263

manta.framework manta 2.0.00.1 1.

mediacoreif.framework mediacoreif 10.0.0.0

PlugPlugExternalObject.framework 7.0.0.67

PlugPlugOwl.framework PlugPlugOwl 7.0.0.67

UpdaterNotifications.framework UpdaterNotifications 10.0.0.1 "10.0.0.1"

WRServices.framework

Required plug-ins:

Optional and third party plug-ins: NONE

Duplicate and Disabled plug-ins: NONE

Plug-ins that failed to load: NONE

Extensions:

com.adobe.inapp.purchase 2.7.122 - from the file “/Applications/Adobe Photoshop CC 2017/Adobe Photoshop CC 2017.app/Contents/Required/CEP/extensions/com.adobe.DesignLibraryPanel.html/purchase.html”

Recent Files 1.4.2 - from the file “/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CEP/extensions/CCX_START_EXTENSION_1_4_2_009/index.html”

Libraries 2.7.122 - from the file “/Applications/Adobe Photoshop CC 2017/Adobe Photoshop CC 2017.app/Contents/Required/CEP/extensions/com.adobe.DesignLibraryPanel.html/index.html”

New Document 1.4.2 - from the file “/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CEP/extensions/CCX_START_EXTENSION_1_4_2_009/fnft.html”

Start 1.4.2 - from the file “/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CEP/extensions/CCX_START_EXTENSION_1_4_2_009/index.html”

com.adobe.experimentation.extension 2.0.0 - from the file “/Applications/Adobe Photoshop CC 2017/Adobe Photoshop CC 2017.app/Contents/Required/CEP/extensions/com.adobe.experimentation.extension/index.html”

Adobe Color Themes 6.1.0 - from the file “/Applications/Adobe Photoshop CC 2017/Adobe Photoshop CC 2017.app/Contents/Required/CEP/extensions/com.adobe.KulerPanel.html/index.html”

Export As 3.0.8 - from the file “/Applications/Adobe Photoshop CC 2017/Adobe Photoshop CC 2017.app/Contents/Required/CEP/extensions/com.adobe.photoshop.crema/PSPanel/dialog.html”

Device Preview 1.3.1 - from the file “/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CEP/extensions/com.adobe.previewHD/PSPanel/panel.html”

com.adobe.preview.loader 1.3.1 - from the file “/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CEP/extensions/com.adobe.previewHD/PSLoader/loader.html”

Export As 3.0.8 - from the file “/Applications/Adobe Photoshop CC 2017/Adobe Photoshop CC 2017.app/Contents/Required/CEP/extensions/com.adobe.photoshop.crema/PSPanel/dialog.html”

Installed TWAIN devices: NONE

Report · Apr 25, 2017

Thanks, Everything looks fine in the System report. Could you please PM me the .AI file you're trying to open in Ps?

~Akash

Report · Apr 25, 2017

I don't have any specific file. It happens with every file I create in Illustrator.

Report · Apr 30, 2017

Akash Sharma

Any updates?

Thanks.

Report · Apr 30, 2017

I was able to get the reports compiled and it seems the issue is related to user account permissions. Would recommend you to create a new user account with Administrative privileges and transfer the data from other accounts.

Thanks,

Akash

Report · May 01, 2017

You conclude that this is related to "user account permissions" based on what? Permissions of what exactly? The current user is an administrator on the machine. There is no problem opening the AI file in Illustrator. I really don't see how this can be related to permissions.

A new user account is not an acceptable solution. This being my primary development machine, I spent long time configuring and customizing my environment and redoing it all over again it's not an option, at least not until all other solutions are exhausted.

If this is related to file permissions, there should be a way to resolve it specifically without throwing the entire user account away, please direct me to the data/logs/evidence that led you believe this relates to user account permissions and what exactly are the resources/permissions that preventing it from working properly.

If you are unable to give me more specific information and data that supports this conclusion, please escalate this issue to someone in your team who can.

This issue is taking way too long to resolve, with long delays between responses from your end. I am unable to troubleshoot it myself since I lack the knowledge about the inner working of your software so I request that someone looks at this seriously and provides the required support.

Thank you.

- Daniel

Report · May 03, 2017

Same thing happens to me once I've updated Photoshop and Illustrator to CC17@danielvy

Report · May 03, 2017

Hi
Go to an illustrator file on your window, right click on properties and than in the "opens with" option select illustrator

Report · May 09, 2017

Hi
Go to an illustrator file on your window, right click on properties and than in the "opens with" option select illustrator

Thanks for the suggestion but this isn't the problem. As I said, the file associations are set and the .ai files open properly in Illustrator.

Report · May 09, 2017

Is there any way I can get support for this issue? It's been dragging for weeks.

Report · Jul 30, 2018

Hi,

I had the same problem and was able to resolve it by shutting my computer all the way down and then restarting it. Really simple solution for me, maybe its a different issue for you but I rarely fully shut my work computer down all the way. I think the issue happens when illustrator updates and then photoshop doesn't know where to find it when it's opening a smart object.

Did you try turning it off and back on again? (couldn't resist)

"Could not edit original smart object because of a program error" (MacOS)

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